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"Well," she began. was 148 ΟΙ '49. Lonely.

"I believe it I was by myself. I hope y'all know what I mean. I ain't talking about the kind of alone that come from being by yourself cause you ain't talking to your mother, or you between loves and you just had a fight with your best friend, either.

I mean to tell you about the kind of loneliness that comes when these situations could be turned around and it still wouldn't mean nothing.

Miss Burma rocked with the rhythm of her own words, as did the women.

"Lonely," she said. "So lonely. Lonely. Walk under the sun in dry grass looking for a four leaf clover

so this thing will change. Lonely. Cook dinner for another person and yourself, eat both cause you know you wouldn't have anybody over on that day if there was somebody, cause you know they couldn't help your condition. "Now ain't that

.?"

Before Miss Burma could beg the answer to her question, someone said, "That's lonely

"Yessssss,' continued Miss But you know what I did?"

"What?"

Burma.

Sharon asked and she

couldn't sit still.

So

"Oh children. .there was in '48 or '49, before I was this old and not willing to give in to a bad feeing, a creeping up on me. It can happen around noon or it can happen around midnight. say the time don't matter much. before this creeping up on you happens you go through something. I say, before

I

But

it is done. .you go through something. You listen to the blues. You know, the I'm-gonna-beat-my-own-self-upside-the-head kind. You lean against the wall trying to rub away a dull ache in your thighs. You live on top of, under, and in between lonely. But when it's done.

"when it's done," begged Sharon.

"I say, when it's done, you move with this creeping up on you, get hold of a tenderness for your own self, a delight in yourself. You look at yourself with a bit of admiration. I say the next time you feel as bad as I'm talking about take hold to this new devotion to yourself. don't have to go no further with this do I?"

I

four

The

Miss Burma heard the word no times. She began to rub one eye with the hand that was not holding the wine glass. She began to slump and lean forward. women knew she was growing tired, so they helped her from the steps and into her apartment.

THIRD WORLD LESBIAN AND GAY CONFERENCE Bay Area Black Lesbians and Gays and National Coalition of Black Gays/West are planning a Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference in the Bay Area this fall over Thanksgiving weekend other

the

other

in Third

of

co-sponsorship with World/People of Color lesbian and gay organizations. The conference will provide educational workshops, forums, speakers, and materials to enable participants to more effectively combat homophobia and forms discrimination and provide opportunities for expression and sharing of culture and artistic achievements by Third World/People of Color. For those wishing to participate in the planning of this conference, please contact Billy Jones, (415) 621-8078 ΟΙ Midgett, (415) 864-0876.

PAT NORMAN CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR IN '84 Pat Norman, Coordinator of the Lesbian and Gay Health Services at the Dept. of Public Health in San Francisco, has officially announced her candidacy for Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. There appears to be a considerable amount of support for Norman in the city health services community. Norman plans to do outreach to women and ethnic minorities. Pat Norman is the first openly self- acknowledged Black lesbian candidate to run in a political election in San Francisco history.

CASSELBERRY-DUPREE PLAN TOUR

The very popular Judy Casselberry and Jaque Dupree will take their highly stylized music to women audiences abroad. They are planning to tour the East Coast, Europe, and Jamaica in the fall and winter. Please watch for announcements about a big bon voyage party for the duo in late September.

LINDA TILLERY, singer extraordinaire, is planning a new solo album. She needs your financial support in this important venture. If you can assist in any way, leave a message at ONYX/BLN (415) 540-0671) and we will get you in contact with Linda,

"Yes," Miss Burma said, "You say you want women stories. I say got lifetime of them stories."

I

a

1983

JOIN US in supporting our local artists and musicians. These are just a few of the many talented women in our community: Mary Watkins, Casselberry and Dupree, Linda Tillery, Sarita Johnson, Helen Keller, Vicki Avotcja.

Randall,

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