Sylvia Bradshaw
Staff Writer
Wanting to inspire a positive attitude in both in the city's people and their participation in Black History Month, the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center invited a notable motivational writer to their facility.
Award-winning author Iyanla Vanzant spoke to a capacity crowd Friday at the Shrine Cultural Center, near the University of Houston. Houston was Vanzant's eighth city to visit since Jan. 7, where she has promoted her two recent books One Day My Soul Just Opened Up and In the Meantime, Finding Yourself and the Love You Want.
Vanzant is described as an empowerment specialist and has authored seven books including bestseller Act of Faith on topics such as the empowerment of women/men and affirmations for people of color.
More than 400 people attended as Vanzant detailed her mission. "I am a teacher, a cultural custodian. My goal is to teach, and I have created my own teaching tools because my subject matter did not have texts," Vanzant said.
Patricia Proctor, an employee at M.D. Anderson Hospital, was very uplifted by Vanzant's talk. "I was just amazed at the amount of energy that she has, and it inspires me to do more. As a parent and student, I can use encouragement, and she brings out the best in us all," Proctor said.
Vanzant took early command of her audience, insisting that she would rather "teach" than sign hundreds of books. "You're never going to read that page anyway; you're concerned with the heart of the story. You're here because you are willing to grow, and you are ready to try doing a new thing."
Anika Sala, manager of the Shrine Cultural Center, brought Vanzant here as a part of her February Black History Month Celebration.
"We've always been committed to promoting black history, not simply in February but year-round," Sala said.
Sala has a permanent exhibit of the African Holocaust (at the Shrine Cultural Center) which depicts the struggles and trials of African-Americans during slavery. "It's a healing experience for all who visit. It shows the pain, but it's the only way we can be healed, by feeling and looking at our painful past. Only then can we go forward to the future," Sala said.
Vanzant's message was filled with hope and urgency. "We don't have anymore time to waste. We have been wasting time about stuff that has nothing to do with nothing. The things that seem to be occupying our time and our energy and attention are not the things that are going to get us into the new mind we must have for the new millennium," Vanzant said.
Aminata Ojore, graduate-education major, called Vanzant "exhilarating."
"I started not to go, thinking it would just be boring, but once I heard her speak, I was drawn to stay," Ojore said.
Vanzant seemed to captivate all those present in the room. "We keep looking for love, and we are love. God loves you. Millions didn't make it through disjunction, abuse, stroke, addiction, accidents, heartache and hunger. You are here because you have something to do, and you don't have time to be fooling around."
The Shrine Cultural Center, for those interested in visiting, is located at 5309 MLK Boulevard and is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further information, call 645-1071.