'Chocolate Me!' Book Signing

Taye Diggs at The Soul of South Florida Book Expo.

I love to celebrate literature. So Nov. 19 I attended The Soul of South Florida Book Expo at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale.
I went to hear actor, husband and father, Taye Diggs of the TV show "Private Practice" discuss his current children's book, "Chocolate Me!" 

The book is based on a poem he wrote while a student at Syracuse University reflecting his experiences growing up in Rochester, N.Y., when he was the only black child in his complex.  The questioning of his complexion by peers and teasing, made him reflect on skin color at a young age.  Those memories inspired the words of his poem, which he now uses to inspire youth who might be going through the same experience.  He also wishes to use the book to celebrate multiculturalism, and self-acceptance.

I was a little early for his discussion, so I stood outside of the book signing room with a few preteens and their chaperones.  Five minutes later, Diggs wearing a pink polo shirt, jeans and a checkered applejack hat, walked coolly into the building with his friend and illustrator of "Chocolate Me!," Shane Evans and I think his publicist.  He greeted the preteens, "Hey, how are you doing?" flashing a smile.  I immediately knew it was him, and so did the chaperones.  When the three walked into the room and closed the door behind them, one of the female preteens  asked excitedly, "Was that Taye Diggs?" An elder in her group confirmed it was, and she proceeded to almost jump up and down saying, "Oh my God, that was Taye Diggs; I've never been so close to a famous person before."
That is precisely why I really enjoyed the event.  It was free and open to the public.  The auditorium where the presentation took place was intimate enough for the children and teens to really interact with Diggs and Evans.  

Taye Diggs and Shane Evans invite brothers to sing.

There were no security guards making fans stand at a distance.  They were able to connect with the young audience, freely.

Diggs read from "Chocolate Me!" while Evans played the guitar.  He then fielded questions from the audience on the book, his friendhip with Evans and even some off-topic questions like, "Were you in the movie 'Malibu's Most Wanted'?"  Diggs confirmed it was him.  He and Evans then invited two brothers on the stage to sing with them.  It was heart-warming.

Diggs signs young fan's shirt.

Afterward, we all headed to the book signing room where they signed copies.  As I waited in line to get my book signed, fortunately closer to the front of a long line, a boy who looked around age 11 or 12 approached me.  He said, "If I give you five dollars, would you let me cut you in line?"
I told him he didn't have to give me five dollars, and of course he could go ahead of me.  The young man asked Diggs to sign the back of his T-shirt, which he did.  Really cute moment.
When I approached the table, I mentioned to Diggs I am an alumna of Syracuse University, and he smiled and said while he signed my book that he and Evans were up there the week prior for a signing during Homecoming.  He then passed my book over to Evans to sign; he was friendly as well.  The artist's signature even includes a smiley face.

Sade Shines in South Florida



Sade performs at Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale



I’m listening to Sade’s “Kiss of Life” as I write this entry.  Since seeing Sade’s Soldier of Love World Tour Friday, July 15 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, I’ve been elevated, riding on a cloud of soulful goodness.

From watching her music videos on MTV as a kid in the ‘80s to playing the Love Deluxe CD over and over again while I studied in college, to listening to “Soldier of Love” the other day on a long drive, I’ve been a Sade Adu fan for a while.  This was my first time seeing her live in concert.

The artist has a cross-section of fans.  Concert attendees were diverse in ethnicity, age and nationality. I saw men and women in their early 20s, as well as men and women appearing to be in their 70s.  Everyone seemed excited.

John Legend, the opening act in the U.S., began with his cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”  He is definitely a debonair and charming performer and instrumentalist with a great voice.  Favorites like, “Ordinary People,” “Save Room” and “Green Light” had the audience singing along.

During intermission, I got into a conversation with a couple looking to be in their late-40s.  The male, originally from England, now lives with his wife in South Florida.  In England, he said he had the opportunity to see Sade perform many times, and boasted her biggest fans are there.  Though across the pond they’re privy to more performances since she resides there and in the U.S. we are graced by her presence about every 10 years, I told him her fan base here is pretty solid, too.  He then asked me if I knew where Sade was born.  Of course I knew; it’s Nigeria by the way (her father Nigerian, mother, British).  Right after that exchange, it was time for her performance.  We parted ways agreeing there’s enough Sade love to go around.

You could feel the excitement and energy in the air when she walked on stage.  Sade thanked Fort Lauderdale for having her back.  She told us that as a youth growing up in Holland-on-Sea in the UK, she dreamed of being in a place with warm, beautiful weather and was happy to be here. 

“Your love is king,” she said to the crowd.



Sade souvenirs



And, that’s the hit she began her performance with.  Her singing voice live sounds just like, if not better, than her recorded voice.  She’s the real deal.  From “Soldier of Love” to classics like, “Smooth Operator,” Sade sang her heart out accompanied by an awesome band and creative set designs.  She is simply gorgeous.  The crowd was mesmerized.

I didn’t want the concert to end, even after Sade did an encore.  In my opinion, nowadays there’s a limited number artists who create music that inspires, soothes and promotes the positivity of love.  Sade's music does that.