The latest effort to bring together Tampa Bay's African-American leading professionals came with a Harlem Renaissance theme, an accomplished jazz band, and a comedian from Black Entertainment Television.
Carolyn Lighty (Collateral Marketing Concepts) teamed with Aj Jemison (Just Aj Communications) and Renita Anderson (Urban Exposure) to bring a Taste of Sugar Hill to the A La Carte Pavilion on Friday night. More than 200 people made it out.
Sugar Hill was the African-American community in New York that rose to prominence in the 1920s as the center of the Harlem Renaissance. It was frequented by musicians, educators, scientists, poets and leaders: Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois and so many others.
Dressing for the Taste of Sugar Hill proved a little daunting. In an effort to match the Harlem Renaissance theme, I paired my blue suit with a gray vest, gray bow tie and black fedora. I worried I looked more like Fred Sanford than a man from Harlem's golden age, but I took a chance.
Plus, if I was going to be Fred, my cohort, the otherwise serious federal prosecutor Ken Lawson, was more than willing to be Grady with a white fedora that perfectly complemented his black suit.
When we arrived, we found a few women dressed as flappers, another dolled up with a gardenia in her hair, and a guy with pinstriped pants perfect for the Lindy Hop.
I can't say the event snared every notable - it was a holiday weekend - but faces in the crowd included insurance agent Ken Anthony, Florida Prostate Cancer Network head Bob Samuels, WTSP-Ch. 10 reporter DeAnna Sheffield, Carlton Fields attorney Penelope Dixon, Books For Thought owner Felicia Wintons, real estate agent Cleanza Lanier, WTMP-AM 1150 host Jettie B. Wilds, WTVT-Ch. 13 reporter Amani Channel, and state Rep. Arthenia Joyner.
Steffon, the comedian, proved amiable and there were raves for Marcus Hampton and his Hampton's House of Jazz musicians.
Still, I wondered, why take people back to the days of zoot suits and flappers? Lighty said what made Sugar Hill the perfect theme was that the period was about more than just sharing ideas. In a speech, she encouraged attendees to seek out opportunities to collaborate with others.
"Your combined strengths can become an asset that can be leveraged for mutual benefit," Lighty said. "You are the key to the development of a strong African-American community."
See, the Taste of Sugar Hill was as much about networking and creating business alliances as it was about bringing people together for a party.
The music was ample, but not the kind of wall-rattling boom that makes it impossible to carry on a conversation. And adjoining rooms, including a patio, gave folks the space necessary to do more than just exchance greetings. A real estate agent said she acquired two new clients and another entrepreneur believes he's planted the seeds for a new venture.
The networking goal contains so many positives, it would seem a simple task. Yet it has been fleeting for many in Tampa Bay.
Even Lighty conceded she waited five years until she believed she had the contacts and the credibility to make this event a success.
The next event is tentatively scheduled for August.
Hopefully, it will prove to be bigger and better because when we talk about bridging the divide between folks new to the community and longtime residents, a Taste of Sugar Hill could prove to be part of a sweet solution.
