meet the GrandASSA WOMEN
Queen Black Rose
Goddess of Afrika Culture: A title bestowed by Nigerian Evening Times, which also refers to her as a” Woman of many parts” Black Rose became a licensed Master Barber an original specialization of Afrikan hairstyling. She managed two Black Rose Afrikan Beauty Centers in Harlem, N.Y.C
In 1962 Black Rose was an original Grandassa Model with the honorable monumental challenge of advocating and reinstating Afrikan Beauty that was not acceptable at that time. Carlos Cooks inspired the African Jazz Arts Society and established the Grandassa Model’s, and the Black is Beautiful Movement. This evolved into a legacy of 57 years. In 1977 she was one of featured artist in Nigeria’s Festac Festival, where she created and produced an Afrikan Diasporic hairstyle Extravaganza, ”Tributed to Nigeria” at Lagos City Hall. Black Rosa shared the life and times of African people. She has performed in Nigeria, Ghana. Namibia, Jamaica, WI, and in the USA in theaters, educational, cultural institutions, on radio and TV. She has created and produced four editions of Black Rosa Afrikan Hair styles and Afrikan language calendars in Swahili, Yoruba, and Twee. This phenomenal women woman’s other talents include certified aroma therapist with her own product line of nutritious hair and body oils: Black Rosa Aromas of Dignity.
Eunice Townsend
My name is Eunice Townsend. I am now retired from the Board of Education as a Speech and Language teacher. I became a Grandassa model with the sole intention of merely modeling clothes. However, my experience as a Grandassa model ushered in the knowledge of my African self. Elombe, taught history and pride, and Kwame made me realize the beauty in my blackness: my unique hair texture, my full hips, my succulent lips and to be proud of all of that.!!!
How could I possible be anything else but proud. Up to that time, the media did not reflect me, the opposite of what I looked like was constantly espoused instilling in me and most young black women the emotional feeling of inferiority.
After becoming family with the Grandassa women another woman emerged and continues to be a proud African woman. Hotep!
Sikolo Brathwaite
I am Sikolo Brathwaite who is the mom of two amazing children and four very special grandchildren. Family both nuclear and extended is very important to me.
I am also the wife of the photographer Kwame Brathwaite who, because of his dedication to portraying our people as our natural, best selves, is referred to as “The Keeper of the Images”.
Because of my commitment we are honored with proclamations from both New York City and the New York State assembly.
Upon joining the Grandassa models in 1966, it immediately became apparent that being a part of this organization would be a lifelong, life changing, lifestyle experience.
From its beginning, five years earlier, the Grandassa were, and we still are, dedicated to educating, affirming and uplifting our people.
I am, we are, the embodiment of a phenomenal people.
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Shirley McIntosh
I was born raised and educated in New York City. I worked with developmentally disabled adults for 18 years in different capacities.
After receiving a Master’s degree in education. I went on to teach in the New York City Department of Education. After 22 years I retired from teaching Elementary School. I was blessed with my two daughters Omoyele and Dara. My grandson Khalil warms my heart with pride and joy.
My experience being a Grandassa Model had a huge impact on my life. Modeling helped me move out of my comfort zone. It gave me the confidence to embrace my natural beauty. I emphasized black culture throughout my teaching career. I wanted to instill in my students the pride that I had from being a Grandassa Model.
Ajuba Grinage-Bartley
I am a retired School Librarian who served in the New York City Department of Education for over 29.
Academic Background:
Fellowship in Shakespearean Theatre June 1991- June 1992ollege Bank Street College School of Education September 1988- June 1990,
Master’s of Science in Education in Honors.
Marymount Manhattan College 1970-1975,BA in Scoiology and Art
Harlem Preparatory High School1969-1970, Academic Diploma
I am the youngest person to ever join the Grandassa Models. My parents, John and Jo Grinage, would take our family to the Naturally dancers annually. My father always sold a lot of tickets for this affair and my mom was one of the jazz artist that performed. We Would bathe in our African culture and enjoy the beauty of our people, The men from the African Nationalist Pioneer Movement would perform drills in their uniforms and Mr. Peeker would give lecture and Elombe would host the show, Frank Abu, would always perform, Fredrick Douglas ’speech about the 4th of July.
I love traveling and extrapolating the greatness and beauty of each culture that I experienced into my own life. One of my passions has been to work with and assist the less fortunate in my community. I am married to Hisani Bartle and have a daughter Saeida hall. As a teenager, I worked with Brooklyn Core, with Sonny Carson and was very active in the Civil Rights Movement. I enjoyed sharing our liberation struggles with students, as our struggle continues. One of my current goals is to setup a research and Arts Center, to embrace ethnic, racial, culture and diversity in an ethical and practical way. My husband and I worked with Elombe with the Patrice Lumumba Coalition in Harlem, chronicling his programs through videography. At this season in my life, I’m doing things for the community, and I help care for my 93 year old, mother.
Ameiye Ballard
Professionally, I am a retired OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, a lay midwife, and CPR instructor. I also teach Pigeonese/Piglatin as a language. I am an ordained Minister of Metaphysics, since 1992, and I have a Masters, degree in Metaphysics. “The Spirit of A Woman” and “Don’t Push the River” are two books that I have published. My five wonderful and creative children are my lifeline and keep me sane.
I met Kwame in 1967 one Easter Sunday while at the Bronx zoo with my two oldest daughters. He approached me and began telling me how black and beautiful I was, and that he was part of an organization that puts on fashion shows for black woman with natural hair. He was talking very fast because I was looking at him like he was crazy. Although I knew he was telling the truth because my father always told me how black and beautiful, and I looked like the Nubian woman of Africa.
Kwame then presented me with his business card. About a week later I went down to meet him in Harlem at his studio. There I met his brother Elombe. He introduced himself and when I told him that my name was Eleanor, he said, “oh no we will have to find you an African name.” We then walked over to a wall, and he showed me an article of a woman who had just returned to Nigeria and her name was Ameiye. It meant the innocent one in Yoruba and was pronounced (AH-May-EE-Yey).
My experience with the Grandassa models has given me the courage to forge ahead in my life. (GANEHO) (It is all good.)
Dr. Rosetta “Thokozile” Gethers
As Drug Court counselor I witnessed the phenomenal bounce back of many clients.
The Grandassa impact on my life makes me humble to know that love is the fulfillment of the Law of the Universe as well as knowing thyself, no matter what happens in the World God oversees all things and wants the best for everyone.
My Family is responsible for who I am today, next to God. They provided me with the love, spiritual guidance for life that caused me to have humility and love for humanity. My family believed in me and reminded me often that I can do whatever I put my mind and heart to.
I earned an Honorary PHD in three areas, Divinity, Scared Writing and Christian Counseling from the School of Divinity in Richmond Virginia.
Master of Science in Education, New York City College.
Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Development, Mary Mount International College, New York City.
Licensed Teacher, International Montessori School, New York City N.Y.
Studied and performed at the Harlem Theatre of the Arts, New York City N.Y.
I dedicate my accomplishments to my ancestors, Kings, and Queens of Mother Africa.
Adzua Solomon
In 1959 I was encouraged by Prince Evans, my boyfriend, to become a contestant in the first beauty contest entitled “Miss Natural standard of Beauty.” The only qualification to enter was that all contestants had to wear their hair in its natural state. No straitened or processed hair styles were permitted. There were only three contestants, which speaks to the time and mental state existing in the Black community at that time. I won the contest without understanding how it would impact the rest of my life. Later in 1962, I joined the Grandassa models. It was part of the spark, encouraged by my boyfriend, that moved me to accept who I was, and see the true beauty that God had blessed me with. Using the prism, “Black is Beautiful “ my world view changed providing me with energy to change my environment for the better.
Prince would later become my husband and we would sire one child and four grandchildren from this union. I would go on to teach school and finally retire, after 32 years, from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Retirement opened new opportunities all fueled from the original beauty contest spark in 1959.
I have become a published author of several children’s books, inspired by my grandchildren, all with African themes targeting ages 5-8.
My books offer an enjoyable storyline and share valuable empowering lessons from pre-colonial Africa. I have a storied career of community service as a former member of NACCP Act-So program for youth; founded Summer Internship Program (SIP) for youth, organized to provide teens with performing art skills cultural enrichment during the summer; served on the Board of Directors of the African American Cultural Society (AACS) in Palm Coast Florida; member of Delta sigma Theta Sorority in Palm Coast; and member of the award winning Harlem Honeys and Bears synchronized swim team in the United States.
I want to saturate this generation with Black is Beautiful so they can love themselves as I do. When you love yourself there can be no space for hate to exist.