LINCOLN PARK MUSIC SPEAKS Relaunches with author Raqiyah Mays

On Saturday, April 16th, 2016, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District officially launched the first event in its Music Speaks humanities series entitled Rock Your Soul, our official partnership program of the Newark 350th Celebration, with journalist, actress, activist, WBLS 107.5 FM on-air personality and new author Raqiyah Mays, whose debut novel The Man Curse is out now on Simon and Schuster digital. For Raqiyah, this milestone held special meaning . "My immediate family is from Newark. I still have family living and working in Newark. It was fitting to share and celebrate the birth of my newest baby, The Man Curse, in the place where I was born that also happens to be celebrating 350 years of its own birth" says Mays.

 

Raqiyah Mays, Author, The Man Curse

This past weekend, Music Speaks: Rock Your Soul was highlighted with the retweeted hashtags #LPCCDMusicSpeaks and #RockYourSoul. But the day's worth of activities were so much more. With a focus on literature, Music Speaks: Rock Your Soul began with an Afternoon of Empowerment hosted in the West ward's Providence Missionary Baptist Church, and co-presented by our partners Babyland Family Services, Inc., Newark Circle of Sisters, The Brickerati, and Newark Arts Council. A group of woman gathered together for an author reading and interactive talk back around issues presented in Mays' The Man Curse, a self-fiction novel which touches on generational cycles like domestic violence. Leading the discussion, based on the book, was Stephanie Smith, M.S.W., President of Vesta Project.

 

Stephanie Smith, M.S.W., President of Vesta Project and Raqiyah Mays

 

Photo Courtesy Raqiyah Mays

That evening at Music Speaks: Rock Your Soul, the official book release for Raqiyah Mays The Man Curse, co-hosted by Newark Arts Council, In A Word Fab, The Brickerati, Newark Circle of Sisters and Tammi LaMorn of Taste Venue, Newarkers rocked out The Taste Venue with a live performance by JaE, who is best described as a cross between Lenny Kravitz and Lauryn Hill. This high-heeled guitar slayer, singer/songwriter and her all girl band definitely brought a funky, soul-fueled rock vibe to LPCCD's Music Speaks.

Attendees grooved to the tunes of DJ Just Love while sampling the "Rock Your Soul" and "Meena-tini" drink specials inspired by a character in The Man Curse. "It was a beautiful full day of inspiration," says Mays. "From the afternoon, being able to work with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District to empower courageous women through my "Leading You to Love" workshop, to the evening's book release party, where I felt so much love and support from those effectively working to rebuild Newark. Truly amazing."

 

JaE performing live at Music Speaks: Rock Your Soul at Taste Venue