R&B Singer comes to Birmingham not only to croon, but to educate

By Marie Sutton

[Link]On the day after performing to a rousing crowd at downtown's Alabama Theater, R&B Singer Raheem DeVaughn was still lingering in Birmingham. Instead of icing his feet or sleeping late, the Grammy-nominated artist was at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute speaking about women's issues, health disparities, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

"Black women are at the center of the household and the backbone of the family," he said, dressed in a gunmetal gray suit and donning dark shades. "Women carry a lot and I feel a level of responsibility to protect them."

While on his short break in Birmingham in between performances across the country, DeVaughn and his Lovelife Foundation partnered with the City of Birmingham to host an intimate women's empowerment luncheon. Area presidents, educators, journalists, politicians, mothers, daughters, mental health professionals and veterans were invited to gather and discuss local challenges and also identify resources and develop solutions.

"It's about changing the narrative and being ten toes down in the community," DeVaughn said. "Knowing what organizations, foundations, and black-owned businesses are here to assist; to find out what the needs are but also what information is out there. Prevention, too."

Among those there were representatives from Gilead Sciences, who have partnered with DeVaughn to help improve the HIV landscape for Black women and girls. Birmingham was just one of his empowerment stops. He has gathered similar groups in Oakland and Newark.

This is particularly important in the Magic City, Birmingham Mayor Randall L Woodfin said.

"Sixty percent of Birmingham households are led by women," said Woodfin, who is also a big fan of DeVaughn. "I love that he uses his platform to promote issues that affect the community, particularly the minority community and especially women."

"I am excited to talk about what we can do," said DeJuana Thompson, president and CEO of BCRI, the venue that hosted the event. "We want to be the place that opens the door for an event that will bring light to these issues."

On a breezy Thursday afternoon, more than 20 women and a smattering of men sat at a long, white draped table in the center of the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery. The diverse crowd of folks from all walks of life filed in wearing African prints, spring dresses, business attire, Afros, kinky curls and funky glasses.

The room was lined with framed images of powerful black women: Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and African faces. It felt like a visual manifestation of DeVaughn's 2008 song, "Woman."

Woman, woman, woman

Strong woman, woman, woman

When the double doors were pulled closed, the video cameras were silenced and a private, transparent conversation began. While the group munched on strawberry salads and pecan praline cheesecake, they talked about statistics, resources, and their passion work.

There were some laments.

"We often spend our days feeling attacked, overtalked and I am tired," one woman said.

"It is not easy to be a black woman," another remarked.

"I love Black Girl Magic but sometimes I am not," one woman noted. "I have to give myself permission to not always be magical."

[Link]Compelling statistics were shared.

"1 in 4 girls has an STI before they are 14," one noted.

"53 percent of new HIV diagnoses happen in Black women," an attendee revealed. "When you look across this table it is not a pretty discussion. We need to continue to raise awareness with forums like these."

They talked about problem-solving.

"What barriers exist for women," one woman started the conversation, "and how do we partner for the advancement of Black women?"

"Who are the youth in the community who are the leaders that young women can connect with and relate to," one woman asked. "We need to find out who those are and get behind them."

In the end, the group planned to exchange contact information, start a group chat and develop ongoing collaborations.

"I am blessed by everything I heard today," one woman said with a smile. "I see you, my sisters."

DeVaughn was beaming, too. "This is a way I can continue to be of service," he said.

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