BY TALEEF FALLS, GUEST WRITER TO THE TIMES
Puzzled Peace
Puzzled people, poetry , prose
What it all means, art shows.
Write the puzzled alphabet
Sing the puzzled song,
SPEAK UP you puzzled people
Share your puzzled tone
Create your puzzled stories,
Express your words of wonder,
United you are strong
Ponder how anyone could treat
A puzzled people wrong
ASK questions, LISTEN to answers
SHARE your opinion, SEEK truth,
Do not quit, carry on.
Puzzled people will persist
Resolute to tarry long
Respect the opinion of others
Be fair, BE AWARE, be strong,
BE READY, BE SURE
Observe, relay, note,
Puzzled Peace has power
Connect and VOTE
Written by Valada Flewellyn
The Puzzle Peace Project first surfaced at the Mt. Olive AME Church in Orlando, Florida and has journeyed to the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Florida! On Sept 1, 2024, at 2:30pm it will officially kick-off at the Winter Park Community Center.
Puzzled Peace is gaining momentum. These are puzzling times we live in. Like any serious condition, we must acknowledge it before we can address it. WE ARE PUZZLED, about so many things…
Poet Valada Flewellyn is puzzled, “Why is Teaching African American History an Issue”? A sentiment she shared as Mistress of Ceremony, at the Black History Month kick off breakfast hosted by The Dorothy Turner Johnson (DTJ) Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in February. Annually, ASALH assigns a theme for Black History. This year’s theme is “African Americans and the Arts”.
Playing off of puzzles containing the fine art of, Aurelia Durand and Graffiti Egypt, (from the Spinmaster : Artist Spotlight Series), which served as centerpieces on the tables at the ASALH Kick-off Breakfast, Valada exclaimed, “ We are puzzled, Why is Teaching African American History an Issue”. The statement brought resounding applause.
The next day, she received a call from retired principal William “Bill” James, asking if there were leftover puzzles he could share with the children’s choir at his church, Mt. Olive AME. James’ call reminded Valada, that puzzles can take us away from the technological world in which we currently operate and bring us to a table, where we are able to convene and turn our attention to solving the puzzle.
“Seeing the puzzle as a metaphor for what brings us together”, says Valada, “the puzzle exhibit idea was born”. Sparked by the request from Bill James, Valada ordered more puzzles. She continued to give them away, asking individuals, businesses, civic and social organizations to complete African American themed puzzles in support of the idea of a campaign for Puzzled Peace. She received overwhelming response which inspired her to pen poems based on the puzzled theme.
Her idea was to curate exhibits that would display the puzzles along with fine art by local artists who were willing to respond to her question with their art. The first artist to respond was textile and multi-media artist Linda Alexander. After reading Valada’s poem “Puzzled”, Linda created a textile fine art piece entitled, “I Am Still Puzzled”. Linda’s art will be unveiled at the reception for the Puzzled Peace exhibits to be on display at numerous locations throughout Central Florida, and other cities throughout Florida.
Puzzle Peace demonstrates that we are coming together to address why “Teaching African American History is an Issue” and reminds us of the importance of addressing issues together.
A few weeks into the puzzle project it occurred to Valada, this question was not one that was new to her. She recalled how at age 13, living in Cleveland, Ohio, she had waged a campaign to get Negro history into the Cleveland Public Schools. That was 1965, it is now almost 60 years later, and she is concerned about the very same issue.
It was during her childhood campaign that she met her mentor, Icabod Flewellen, founder of the African American History Museum in 1953. Until that time, most African American collections were kept in Black Colleges. The Cleveland Call & Post, a Black newspaper, wrote about the young Valada Parker’s campaign.
Although their last names are spelled differently, Valada’s father-in-law is the brother of museum founder Icabod Flewellen. It was Icabod Flewellen who first told Valada about Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated African American municipality. He told her about Zora Neale Hurston and her literary genius. Mr. Flewellen had never visited Florida but in 1995 he was able to visit his nephew Tom and his wife Valada, and attend the festival, where he met after many years, his former teacher, Dorothy Turner Johnson, namesake for the Central Florida Branch of ASALH. Valada shares that she “appreciates that it has always been our artist who speak boldly to the issues that plague us”. Valada has curated a number of historical art exhibits. Most notable among them is an exhibit about the first African American naval aviator, Ensign Jesse Leroy Brown, entitled “A Pilot Lights the Way”, which is the title of a poem she penned for the Association of Black Pilots. The “A Pilot Lights the Way” exhibit traveled in 2011 and was a part of the National Naval Aviation Museum’s Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation. It traveled to Ensign Brown’s hometown, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The exhibit called attention to the Ensign Jesse Brown story, which was recently made into a movie, entitled “Devotion” based on a book by the same title. The author, Adam Makos credits Valada for introducing him to the Ensign Jesse Brown’s family.
Valada was installed as an Honorary Member, of the Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2002, she has written commemorative poems for numerous historical occasions, including the closing of the Naval Base in Orlando. She was the poet at the instillation of Howard University’s 18th president, Dr. Ben Vinson III, she is the author of seven books, among the history of the oldest Black family organization, Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated. Her life work reflects her love and appreciation for the history of African Americans. A love that was inspired by her mentor, Icabod Flewellen.
The Puzzled Project sponsors are: EYESEEIMAGES, Bridging the Color Divide and The Orlando Times newspaper, with a host of other supporters.
Valada Flewellyn will perform at the Central Florida Zoo: Sunset in the Park, celebration of African American culture, Friday, July 26, 5:30-6:30pm. “Puzzle Peace” featured artist Linda Alexander will have art on display.
Please stay tuned as The Orlando Times newspaper covers this ongoing adventure: history, art, education and community coming together: “Puzzled Peace”. We are STRONGER TOGETHER! Join Us.
For more information about “Puzzled Peace” contact: [email protected]
Website: Allwepuzzled.com to launch August 15th.
