Declaration.
....in this issue
W
ow where do we begin? Lots of things still going on in our country and I come to you all this month bothered by the treatment of my fellow citizens. So, this month I am going to speak about injustice.
Now before we start going down the anti-police road, for the record, I whole heartedly believe in service to others. As a Navy veteran service to others has dominated my entire adult life. I believe that service to others is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to the fellow citizens of this great country. Regrettably, everyone does not understand this value, and without this value you will always feel that you are in a position to determine how someone who you feel is inferior should exist, what they can say, or how they should act. As a service member it was and will always be part of your oath that you could give your life while following the rules of engagement established by someone who is nowhere close to the battlefield. I will agree that it is not fair but is something that we all except. Of course, this does not apply to every law enforcement officer and in my heart, I know that anyone who is willing to die for the good of others is inherently a good person with initial good intentions. They just need to remember that it is not us against them, it is not black or white. It is just right and wrong. My hope is that this thought does not just find those who are on the far sides of this agreement, but it finds those in the middle. The ones that think that this does not affect them or their family so why care about it. Those people, the middle are the ones that are going to make a difference in this injustice. Those people are the ones that will give a voice to the voiceless. Those people are going to be the ones that are going to make change happen.
Elysian Wonders, page 46
2nd Annual International Influence Fashion Show, page 62
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Ever been stopped for a traffic ticket? I venture to say that if you have driven for any amount of time that at some point and time a police officer has pulled you over for something. Ever since I have been a driver the one thing that I fear the most is the day that I am pulled over for something that I do not agree with while I am having a bad or emotional day. A day to where my normal even keel temperament is disrupted by life and the things that life brings. Or even worse the day that I am pulled over and the officer is having that day. Unfortunately, that is something that every Black driver must think about. You see in America it does not matter if you are right or wrong, guilty or innocent, being Black comes with a burden that no one else in our country has to bear.
Kemp AEffect, With Your Lips You Can Change the World, page 22
Contributors
Karl M. Lee Bobby Lee Marina Bobrovnik Scott A. Miller Charmagne Haxby Photography Katie Morrison
these troublesome times.
Bobby Lee Editor in Chief
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Writers
It is as always, my wish that this finds you all well and safe during
Raymond Kemp Bobby Lee Robe Brybel
Contents Check us out
Featured Models Sarah B Peyton Nicole Kyleigh Howse Alessia Jordan Michaels Cookie Madera Kayla Winters Viviane Davis Colette Williams Samantha Page Jana Dela Cruz Ciara Gaines Maria Clark
VIVYD Magazine Editor in Chief Bobby Lee Magazine Design Bobby Lee Creative Consultant Aimee Rivera In Style Director Aimee Rivera
Looking to become a contributing writer or photographer. Send us an email at submissions@vivydmagazine.com or send us a message on any of our social media pages.
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Staff Photographer Sly Echols
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In these trying times we need some strength, and everyone can use some medical attention. So, call in the nurse, CPR please fast fast. In the heat of the day Sarah gets the blood pressure flowing, taking a simple look beyond simple and making it super sexy.... Transitioning to an artistic feel of creativity...meet this beautiful flower girl...a Daisy why not, it’s such a beautiful flower for sure!
on the cover Model Sarah B Instagram: @thin_waist123
Photographer Karl M. Lee
Instagram: @karl_fashion_photographer
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on the cover
on the cover
F
Summer Flowers
lowers so colourful and bright, In their glory in the sun’s light, At home amid the summer’s heat, Giving out a perfume so sweet, The summer flowers seem perfect, In near enough every aspect, So effortlessly they distract, As one’s attention they attract, Countless different kinds carve their mark, Throughout every meadow and park, There for us to enjoy and pick, While we waste our days and frolic, As gifts more poetic than speech, When lovers and their loves meet, One of nature’s finer artworks, Saving scenes from seeming bleak.
Christian Lacdael
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Submission
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Submission
Peyton Instagram: @peyton.nnicole
Photography by Marina Bobrovnik Instagram: @marinas_photography
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Editorial
With O
ur language towards one another is the principle way we show respect, particularly when there is a recurring meeting between people, the consistency of speech and the way people are treated create an environment of comfort or discomfort. Depending on the part of the US your foundation was laid, you’ve probably heard these two common maxims or sayings: You teach people how to speak to you by the way you speak to them Treat people the way you want to be treated In our current worldwide climate these are particularly good rules to consider. By the way there is a global pandemic that is still raging like the movie “World War Z”. And the world now knows
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the inequities of living Black in America as protests for change continue; not only in the United States but on every inhabited continent. Meanwhile many Americans long for the drunkenness of entertainment over the reality that this pandemic is sending people to their grave at a steady pace. Herman Caine for example, said masks were ridiculous and this was a hoax but, he was dead 30 days after he attended an rally with a group of fellow “hoax” believers. COVID-19 seems very similar to racism, it isn’t real until you have experienced it, and once you experience you’re a believer for life. Treating people with dignity, respect, equity, and inclusion are a part of our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. YOU have more of an impact on the perception of these rights than you may think.
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Editorial
h Your Lips You Can Change TheEditorialWorld by Raymond Kemp Kemp Leadership Solutions @kempsolutions @rdkemp @kempn3d Speaking life and being the encourager to others is fulfilling and satisfying. Think of the time when someone significant gave you a compliment, personal or professional, do you remember that feeling? Do you remember when someone gently challenged you to do something that was a bit beyond your capabilities but, you persevered and met the goal? A subtle measure of encouragement will go a long way and create a outward measure of comfort, an “I believe” notion for our family, friends, associates, and strangers. I was running White Rock Lake and some random stranger says to me, “great pace”; and onward I went without the thought of slowing down crossing my mind until I completed the circumference of the path. Those words lifted my confidence and they were from a stranger. That can be you, offering encouraging words to someone lift them higher than you know. You have total control of the words that you say. Every word that proceeds out of your mouth, you are in total
control. A way for us to change the world is to STOP SAYING NEGATIVE STUFF. This sounds simple and it is. I was listening to a podcast the other day and the guest (Trevor Moawad) commented, ‘that the words people speak are 10 times more powerful than if they just think it, and negativity is a multiple 4-7 times more powerful than positivity’. Examples of people saying something negative, aloud, and then it occurs are ubiquitous but I will share one: In an interview 12 days before the World Series Bill Buckner said, ‘the nightmare is to lose on run scored on a ground ball through you legs’; which he then became famous for. So, lets stop. Stop saying negative things, especially to others. No more insensitive, racist, misogynistic comments to anyone. No matter how subtle a comment may be, it may hit its target with the precision of a Harpoon Missile causing grave damage to another person. Instead let’s follow the lead of Jim Kwik, instead of allowing negative thoughts to dwell, lets “Stomp A.N.Ts.”! (Automatic, Negative, Thoughts) WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
Editorial
Driving through town one afternoon I encountered a flashmob that abruptly stopped traffic. A group of protestors jumped out with a speaker and microphone, and began to make proclamations about their cause. As I felt a rise in my own irritation I paused and thought about what must be on their mind. Besides what they were shouting about. They were so compelled and so passionate about their cause that they risked their lives in an unauthorized protest that shocked and stopped traffic in this major thoroughfare, in the middle of downtown. Isn’t it interesting how we are so pressed about driving that sometimes the driver will toot their horn with an expectation someone walking will rush across the street or parking lot? Isn’t that peculiar? A person sitting in a climate controlled environment, likely outfitted with their favorite music and/or movies, drinks, and most creature comforts one can think of, hands free phone included…so privileged and so impatient with someone’s walking pace that honking their horn, from within this luxurious environment, to express their intolerance at having to wait on the pace of the walker’s gate or the glide in their stride, SMH. So privileged is the driver, we can not wait. As I listened to the protestors speak with boldness about their cause, making declarations about how they should be treated, thoughts of Patrick Henry and John Lewis flooded into my mind. Those two patriots and their voices, their protests, and their passion is borne again in this group. I honked my horn in support as they drove away, flags blazing, hands out the window, and though that was my only means of supporting the moment it felt good and was memorable. And now as I see those folks, I have become more compassionate. All because I listened instead of complaining, held onto the reigns of my thoughts like a cowboy until I learned something
in my silence. As we continue to stay home and stay safe let us begin now, in our small groups of family and friends we live with, to treat people with dignity and respect. Let us begin now to use words of affirmation, acts of kindness and service as we make infrequent trips outside of the house and interact with the Grub Hub & Uber Eats, Amazon, and our extremely reliable postal service. Begin now to practice the art of lifting the countenance of others with encouragement and stomping ANTs whenever we see & hear them, in person and online. We can do our part to change the world, with our lips. None of us, no one living on earth at this moment started the inequities we endure today however, every one of us can do something about it. Encourage yourself often with these 10 two-letter words: IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME. For more information on Kemp Leadership Solutions please use the following links: www.kempleadership.com www.facebook.com/Kemp-LeadershipSolutions-106215177457656 www.instagram.com/kempsolutions
www.linkedin.com/in/rdkemp www.twitter.com/kempn3d
The Art of War Avoid the Faults of Leadership There are five dangerous faults that may affect a general -If reckless, he can be killed. -If cowardly, he can be captured. -If quick-tempered, he can be provoked to rage and make a fool of himself. -If he has too delicate a sense of honor, he is liable to fall into a trap because of insult. - If he is of compassionate nature, he may get bothered and upset. These are the five serious faults of a general, ruinous to the conduct of war. The ruin of the army and the death of the general are inevitable results of these five dangerous faults. They must be deeply pondered.
Today’s application: Leaders must first know both their strengths and weaknesses in order to be affective. Knowing these traits will allow a leader to become balanced and not bias to fault. WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
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SCOTT A. MILLER
P H O T O G R A P H Y
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She’s Like the Wind Writen by Patrick Swayze
Featuring Models Kyleigh Howse Alessia Jordan Michaels
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Editorial
Gangsters Go Heeled: A Fedora Photoshoot Written by Robe Brybel Photography by Bobby Lee
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Model: Kayla Winters Instagram: @awesomeright Photographer: Bobby Lee @blu.horizonphoto WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
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e d
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s y l
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Instagram: @elysian_wonders
“Roses do not bloom hurriedly; for beauty, like any masterpiece takes it time to blossom” Photography by Bobby Lee
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2nd Annual International I WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
Influence Fashion Show WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
2nd Annual International Influence Fashion Show Hosted by Bella White and Candi Rester Story and Photography by Bobby Lee
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bserving and bringing awareness to bullying and suicide, Bella White and Candi Rester present, the 2020 International Influence Fashion Show. This mid-summer event rescheduled from the spring was held on July 11, 2020 in Loxley, Alabama at beautiful Bella Sera Gardens and was the premier summer fashion event in the region as it merged fashion models and designers together in a beautifully set runway.
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Colette Williams
EMPOWERING THE COURAGE TO ASPIRE
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