Lighting The Road To The Future Data Zone XULA Students Volunteer Page 6 “The People’s Paper” March 3 - March 9, 2018 52nd Year Volume 44 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive LEDISI A Phenomenal Woman Page 2 Fashion 42 Tribes Try a Big Chief John Shirt Dress “Twin” Ohillia Page 7 Page 5 Page 2 March 3 - March 9, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com The DefinitionLEDISI of a Phenomenal Woman New Orleans native Ledisi is a 12 time Grammy Nominee who has in her two decades career won legions of fans that include Stevie Wonder, the late great Prince and Michelle and Barack Obama where she performed at the White House eight times during his Presidency. By Edwin Buggage what true beauty is . Ledisi is the Essence of Phenom- she prepares to perform a Nina Simone Retrospective Data News Weekly Editor enal womanhood, with 12 Grammy nominations, her with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra . talent is limitless, and her style, grace, and beauty are I have known and followed Ledisi’s career for many The True Essence of Beauty impeccable . Over her two decades career, Ledisi has years; seeing her grind and now with her ninth studio The late great Maya Angelou wrote a poem called come to redefine the industry with her brand of girl album “Let Love Rule” climbing the charts she has Phenomenal Woman about embracing and defining power as she embodies the spirit of many greats who come a long way and shining as bright as her lumi- beauty beyond the eye, but the depth of the soul is have come before her . On this day I am meeting her as nous smile is on this day when we meet . She is sitting Cover Story, Continued on page 3. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. 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Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story March 3 - March 9, 2018 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. in a restaurant dressed casually in entails you are going to get work .’ a black t-shirt and shorts; she is a The people embracing me and chocolate skinned delight; ebul- wanting to hear from me that blew lient, effervescent and engaging as me away that people wanted to hear we began to talk about her life and me beyond singing . Now I can write career . and empower other women, and I She is relaxed and glad to be realize that I was just doing that be- back to the City of her birth, “It ing myself .” feels good to be home, it just feels Most recently, the Me Too natural and it’s just what I need Movement has given voice to wom- right now,” she says of her time in en who have suffered abuse and the Big Easy . “I’m just loving com- harassment at the hands of men . It ing home and seeing my family has been a rallying cry empowering and friends; I also love it when I am women and, in some cases, causing playing with musicians here, I do men to speak out . Ledisi has been not have to explain a feeling they on the frontlines before the move- just get it . It is that soulful thing; it ment through her music and her life is like a comfortable chair you sit empowering and inspiring with her in . It is something spiritual that con- amazing gift . “I was abused when I nects people in New Orleans and I was younger and calling it out was love it .” brave, but we should always call out Offstage, Ledisi is undoubtedly things that hurt us and say that hurt confident but comes off as a bit me,” she says with a tone of a trium- shy like a cute chocolate girl next phant survivor . “And at first I was door; very soft-spoken, sweet and afraid then I realized there were humble . But once she hits the stage others like me I am doing the right during one of her own shows or as thing . Also, it wasn’t just women it Nina Simone on this recent night in was men too and people of different New Orleans, she transforms into races and I was like wow, so me tell- something amazing and indescrib- ing my story in my book writing it able . She has a je ne sais quoi, that’s out was scary . I let my mom read it captivating to watch as she morphs first and saw if she was ok and she into a sexy, empowered, confident was fine with it . She said to call it diva, with a voice and presence that out, other women gave me courage, leaves one spellbound . other men, my fan base gave me the courage to call it out . I think it’s Making History great we are finally talking about In addition to singing the songs it the Me Too Movement . But you of Nina Simone, she played Maha- know what, the problem of abuse lia Jackson in the movie “Selma” it’s always been in our community, speaking of her approach to the but we swept it under the rug, but performance she says, “Doing Nina now it’s time to talk about it and it’s takes over your whole being and good . I hope we have some action your soul . You cannot fake that kind behind bringing it up and making it of singing and then you have to get an issue .” those words out . Studying, prepar- ing, studying her phrasing, but I Embracing your am me at the same time . I have to True Beauty be me, but I have to carry over the When one comes to a Ledisi’s tradition with what her singing was show, it is beautiful to see people about . Her stance on the political of all shapes sizes and hues em- side, love side and being Black side brace their natural selves . In her all of it, so I wanted to make sure we years in the industry, she has be- encompassed all that when we did come an icon and sex symbol that the show; so, preparing is basically many women mimic and copy . You understanding who she is, but also can see at her shows, sisters with how did she relate to me .” well-coiffed locks walking with Ledisi has traveled across the confidence and sassiness as Ledisi globe winning legions of fans that chimes many of her hits that in- include musical greats Prince, Ste- cludes her showstopper “Pieces vie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Pat- Ledisi as Nina Simone with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra dazzles audience with her amazing perfor- of Me” where she encourages the mance. (photo by Marcus Smith) ti Labelle and many others . But one audience to embrace their natural of her biggest fans is the Obamas, Lady’s Birthday or I am singing at about our conversations that would and most recently an author in the selves and love who they are . “The who during their time in the Oval the Inauguration before the Inaugu- be about music; it was like talking book, “Essence Presents Ledisi… goal is to make sure women under- Office invited Ledisi to perform ration at the church,” she says with to your aunt or uncle or talking to Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, stand their power and men too . To at the White House eight times . excitement ringing in her voice . one of your good friends about just Love and Power” that explores the express to the women what men, Speaking about what it was like to “They invited me to come and life and being a woman, the world, inner depths of her life that is now like, they don’t want you to play the be part of such a historical time speak to kids, to campaign for Pres- politics . They are regular people impacting others, “I am grateful same sad movie . They want you to and getting to meet and know the ident Obama and now I am looking who love the world, but just happen that people have always embraced be confident and embrace yourself . former first couple she says, “Be- at that and thinking wow I was part to be two the most famous people in me for being me . That first began Just how you got that man that is ing part of their journey has been of history . I was part of a change in the world . And they make you for- with me being from New Orleans what will keep him by embracing profound . I didn’t have a chance to our culture a change in how we see get that and that is what I enjoyed .” where we were taught we can do who you are .