A Princess for Us  
    ​by Sherri Holmes, Triangle FAAA Founder

    In the third grade, I was the only girl on my soccer team so I felt obligated to knock over any boy who got in my way (Go, girl power!). Still, like many young girls, I also wanted to be a princess. Perhaps it was the flowing dresses, pretty slippers, sparkling crown and a fairy godmother to make all of my dreams come true. Wouldn’t that have been wonderful?

    When I was growing up there weren’t any princesses who looked like me. And the most famous princess of all, Cinderella was blond. Studies have shown that it’s important for children to see characters who reflect themselves and their families. There is a relationship between low self-esteem and negative media portrayals of racial groups. So really, Black Princesses Matter.

    Fortunately, today young girls have more options. There is Tiana in the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog.  African Princess Shuri is in Black Panther. And the singer Brandy starred in a TV production of Cinderella. If you want to share these shows with your own princess, you can find them at amazon.com.

    Still, there is nothing like live theater. It draws you in and allows you to connect with the characters and become a part of the story.  It can foster a child’s creativity and imagination as well as help them develop a lifelong love of the arts.  

    And guess what? The NC Theatre is presenting Lythgoe's production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish. It will run from November 29 – December 2, 2018. And the princess is being played by African American actress Nia Sioux!  She starred in Dance Moms for 7 seasons and appears on The Bold and The Beautiful.  The Genie is also being portrayed by an African American actor.

    If you want your child to really feel like a princess or prince, you can even purchase a “Golden Ticket”. It will allow children ages 3-13 to have a special on-stage experience during the show.  So take advantage of this great opportunity to engage your child with the theater. It may even make you feel like a royal! For more information about the performance, go to nctheatre.com.



    ​Ebony Fashion Fair: Empowering African American Women
    November 5, 2017 at 1pm  

    Location: African American Cultural Center
    NC State University
    2810 Cates Ave., Raleigh


​North Carolina Museum of Art Exhibition

Ebony Fashion Fair: Inspiring Beauty exhibition tells the remarkable story of an extraordinary fashion show. The exhibition features 40 stunning ensembles (gowns, coats, suits), the exhibition includes works by designers such as Stephen Burrows, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Patrick Kelly, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Bob Mackie, Alexander McQueen, b. Michael, Missoni, Jean Patou, and Vivienne Westwood. To tour the exhibition, attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets to the art exhibition in advance. The NC Museum of Art is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. It is just 3 miles away from the Triangle FAAA event at the African American Cultural Center at NC State University.