Author: Margaret Evans

    The Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation is going above and beyond for this year’s Valentine’s Ball, creating a full-scale Venetian Masquerade.

Though I’ve never attended, I’ve heard and seen a lot. My first exposure to the annual Harlem Renaissance Gala was when Carol Tuynman, one of the originators of the event and an ACBC boardmember, got her hair marcelled to complete her outfit. Later, Melba Cooper, who is a guiding light of arts integration in the schools, mentioned to me, “Lisa, the Harlem Renaissance is a wonderful, joyous event. I was on the committee for five years, and I met lifetime friends in the African American community that I would have never met without it.” Now that I work for ACBC, Harlem Renaissance gets a lot of attention from us staffers because it’s such a significant fundraiser, and I’ve also overheard some fascinating remarks about a Josephine Baker acolyte from last year. For the Billy & the Duke-themed 2008 event, I’ve worked closely with the 30-member committee put together by co-chairs Claudette Humphrey, Marie Lewis, and Ethel Denmark in order to fill the four hour gala at the Parris Island Lyceum with glamour and enlightening cultural perspectives. In preparation for finally attending, I’d like to share what I’ve learned, so maybe I won’t be the only new skirt attempting the Lindy Hop:

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