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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 13, 2003
Feb. 14th is traditionally associated with cards, candy, flowers and even marriage proposals.
Bet you didn't know that for some Americans, Feb. 13 is just as special.
Today is Black Love Day, which is, its founder says, a "commemorative holiday of observance, celebration, atonement and demonstration of love for and within the black community."
The holiday is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Ayo Handy-Kendi, the founder of the African American Holiday Association in Washington, D.C., came up with the idea for Black Love Day after watching the movie Malcolm X in 1992.
"I saw a black man shoot Brother Malcolm, who's always been one of my heroes," said Handy-Kendi, 51. "Just thinking about that scene and getting teary-eyed, I remember thinking, 'What can I do to stop the violence?' "
Handy-Kendi organized the first public observance of Black Love Day in Washington in 1993. Since then, the concept has spread as an increasing number of African-Americans recognize it each year as an alternative to Valentine's Day.
But it has yet to reach the Tampa Bay area; an informal survey this week turned up no local observances.
Today participants in Black Love Day are wearing purple and black. Purple is for spirituality, and black represents a blend of all colors. They will greet each other with Nya Akoma (pronounced Knee-ah Ah-coma), a phrase from the language of the Akan people of Ghana. It means "Be patient, get a heart."
And instead of candlelight dinners, their focus will be on performing five specific acts of love.
Handy-Kendi says that Black Love Day isn't just for black people.
She also wants whites to join in the celebration by showing black people some love. Through love in action and introspection, she says, whites can use the day to address lingering racial attitudes, guilt or fears of blacks.
"It's very important for their healing that they, too, return to love," she said of whites. "So we can heal all our relationships.
"I think it's critical that we recognize our interconnectedness and give ourselves a big, big dose of healthy, holistic love."