Preserving A Legacy Through Cultured Vibes
09:37 AM
The legacy of Ti Mari Martinez; Matthew, Saint Helen, And Michael. pictured March 18th, 2023
“Life’s a bible; We living in biblical times! ”
On the morning of the 18th of March, I was rushing to get to Queen Coffee Bean to meet with my brother Dyronne Maybre Jr., founder of, The Depot Street , about No More Suits first book club. I was in for a surprise because this is an organic coffee shop that is actually owned by people from my village. As I was there, they were preparing to roast some coffee beans from Yemen. The atmosphere is very eccentric— Definitely worth a visit. they are located at 1200 Eastchester Dr. in High Point, North Carolina near the 80th meridian west. After I left there, I had to get back to the Tre4 for the Grand Opening of Cultured Vibes.
This day was a special day for multiple reasons; for one it was Ti Mari Martinez solar return and the grand opening of her son’s Michael Clinton Jr. Mike planned the grand opening to be his mother’s birthday, who transited last summer around the summer solstice.
“My mother wrote me a note around 2015, coffee stains and all, which wrote baby boy ‘I’m proud of you; You did it, You did this, I am your mother and you are my son.’ Therefore it was written” - Michael Clinton Jr.
The Tre Fo always has always had a cultured vibe. Lately with all the all the madness that’s been going on in the city the vibes have been off. However Mike and I grew up in this era of a cultural vibe that stretches back far beyond the time of Montezuma, we are products of it, The Last of the Mohicans . The goal is to keep this legcay going.
I was born off the Cultured Vibes Exit [112], back in 95’, on the northern side of Ogburn Ave in a community called Montview, originally called Flat Branch near Oak Summit School constructed around 1890 which later became Mineral Springs before it moved to the Corner of Ogburn Ave and Motor Rd. That’s what makes this so dope, my brother called me before he spoke to anyone about this deal and asked me about the area, I’m like cuz that’s my port of origin. Ironically Cultured Vibes is right across the tracks from the airport, on the southern border of Montview.
Montview
Situated between Ogburn Ave on its Western Border, Oak Summit Rd to the north to where it connects to Old Rural Rd. it’s the eastern border til she runs into Akron Drive, its southern Stretch begining at tthe bridge de Akron. #justakidfromAkron. Plotted in 1915 by Ogburn Realty Company on what once was Samuel A. and Mary Ogburn’s 256 acre farm. On the south Side of Akron runs an industrial park, Cultured Vibes sits in this area where Glenn and Ogburn Avenue meet. This area used to be Rural until industrial companies such as Hanes Rubber, Inverness Cotton Mills, Mengel Box, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and Oakland Manufacturing built factories along Glenn Ave in the early twentieth century that changed the game. From industrial zones come sub division due to the population growth. Montview was the first large residential neighborhood to be developed followed by Whiteview to the east, Tallywood and Forest Hill to the west, and Bon Air and Greenway Place to the south during the Mid 1920s. The picture of my brother, Carlos A. Jones, and my mother Darrell Louise Jones, on cover of 1975 a Tale of Two Cities was in Greenway in my mother’s two bedroom apartment on Inverness St right off Patterson Ave circa 1985. Click Here to watch the innerview I did with my brother, Carlos A. Jones, on the wealth is a state of mind podcast, for the release of 1975 .
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Maya in the Tre Fo? Fosho!
Jack Weatherford, in Indian Givers, writes from two perspectives when talking about the dominions of The Aboroginals who occupied the Americas. The first is from a modern perspective on how the children of Israel if you will, were in bondage, on the lands of there inheritance. The second, from the Ancient Empires that were on these same lands, however new, not being aware of the old because of the frequencies of everyday life. For example he talks about a kid who worked in the silver mines on Poto Si Biolivia, one of the worlds largest silver mines, the kid had no clue of the ancient civilization, he was really just working to stay alive, then Jack Weatherford gives the history on how the Spaniards with the doctrine of Discovery after the fall of Grenada the last strong hold of the Moors, exhausted them mines, and reduced the populations to servitude. I highly recommend this book to my people along with Native Roots by the same author.
Drusilla Dunjee Houston talks about, in her Wonderful Ethiopians, how the Mayan Empire stretched through North America into the Mississippi River Valley and on past the Unagas into the Carolinas; the Unagas the stretch of the Applachias the dividing line between Carolina and Tennessee which was once the same providence prior to 1796, we also had silver mines in them Unagas reference 1491, Charles C. Mann.
“There the mystereous mound builders represent the ancient Cushite race; we examine the higher development of the wonderful Mayans of North America, whose ruins are attracting special study today, we find there transplanted, the Cushite arts of the ancient world.”
The Tre4 is the Mayan ruins, it’s stretched this far and further however, here we wuz born, therefore we are restoring, through dees writs. My brother Mike and I grew up in this city; Where we from, mommas wasn’t just mamas to they babies they was mommas to the kids in our communities, to dem motherless childs nah mean? Ma Ti read these articles, when she was living, she told me that these writz should be books. It was only right to cover this story. Bismiallah.
“Of course this the Mayan Empire, Maya Angelou lived here.”
A Tre Fo proverb
I often reiterate that our city the Tre4 was established by us; The Aborignals of The Carolinæs, had it not been for our natural resources, and human labor the city would not be what it is today. In 1796 Tennessee declared independence from the Carolinæ providence by the sovereigns who across over the Unagas, the tribe we called ‘Tanasi’ which means “Over the Hills”. The Unagas is the mountain ridge in the Appalachias that stretch from South Carolina to Virginia on the Eastern border for the original Tennessee republic who state name is derived by that tribe.
In the early 1900s still had a prominent civilization ; we were grocery store proprietors, restaurant owners, barbers and beauty salon owners, physicians, bank owners etc. What we call Black Wall Street wasn’t just in Oklahoma it was all over our empire. In fact the Black Wall Street in Oklahoma was started from them Cherokees [Aniyunwia• Da Real People of the Planet] who was forced off their lands in 1835 and traveled the Trail of Tears, a lot of them may have originally been from Carolina de Nord . Therefore we are all the same peoples, you can go to Atlanta and here the same stories, in Chattanooga fosho, Nashville they have Alkebulan, Louisville (my mother’s hometown), Harlem nights is the Arabian nights, Washington DC, in Baltimore, you name it, the Moors built America.
Over the summer I did research on Blythe The Ferry, which was the crossing point in the Tennessee River which used to be the Cherokee River [Charaque Rivus] near the mouth of he Hiwasse Rivus which actually flows from Carolina de Nord near Murphy. Millions of aboriginals who was force off their home lands had to cross at Blythe Ferry and onto the Oklahoma. Not everyone went tho some of us some of us stayed and fought in the Chickamuaga wars, some joined the Union and became citizens. If you force us in a corner, we gon run the Block.
Sequoyah was a profound Cherokee born in the Over the Hills village that dates back to 10,000 BC [I’ve went there in 2020 ad it’s actually an island ] near modern Vonore along the Little Tennessee River, traveled the trail of tears and settled in Oklahoma; Sequoyah is noted for scribing the The Cherokee Alphabet which in my opinion is very similar to Amharic.
Ref. Point Jefferson Chapman, Tellico Archaeology: 12,000 Years of Native American History, 1985.
Sequoyah Bronze Statue in our Nations Capitol; Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee alphabet, was probably born in 1770 in the Indian town of Taskigi, Tennessee which was then still apart of Carolinæ. He was raised by his mother as part of the Cherokee community, with no knowledge of the English language he created a script system for his people who used there vocals to communicate for ages he’s daughter is said to have helped him create this Alphabetical script in Oklahoma, and Sequoyah a hunter and fur trader.
Interior of Jones Drug Store 1904 downtown Shalom. Courtesy of the daughter William H. Jones III
Dating as far back as the early twentieth century what we calling Black Wall Street was in tons of cities east of the Missippippi, established by these aboriginals, who are often misclassified as Black, or African-American. In Modern city Winston-Salem downtown business district centered on Third, Fourth, and Church Streets in the Tre4, now the Innovation Quarters near Bailey park . In March of 1904 Pharmacist W. A. Jones and his brother John W. Jones opened Jones Drug Store in the downtown District of Shalom [Salem] which was indeed the name of the city until 1913. Jones Drug Store was the leading Negro drug store in the country during that era! This just one of many successful business owners from that era. Reference page 89 Winston Salem Architectural Heritage. The point I want to make here is that slavery isn’t are only narrative, there is so much moor history.
The Grand Opening of Cultured Vibes
“We where kings and Queens Never porch monkeys, there was empires in Africa called Cush; Timbuktu, where every race came to get books . ”
My son, Nasir, who is actually about to be three this upcoming Sunday, and I was at the Grand Opening, we got to witness the establishment the primitive vibes that this cultured lounge will set in stone for our city in the future. This vibe represents the past, the right now, and the future. At the release I ran in to the granddaughter of William Blackburn, who is featured on the cover of the Silver Hill Article that we did back in 2021, Mrs. Gwendolyn Dervin who knows me, she witnessed my mother raise me, St. Peters World Outreach Center is what cented them Tribes of Judah, there is power in the church, looks what comes from it.
Mrs. Dervin is a mother for our community, she actually grew up on Wiley St. in Silver Hill in the house of William Blackburn, her grandfather. Everything came full circle, she expressed to me how much that article meant to her at my brothers grand opening in the Grooming Lounge, this meant so much for me. These articles are essential, I take pride in crafting them and sharing these stories with the world, this is the purpose of our foundation. Mrs. Dervin and her tribe was appalled at Mike’s accomplishments, they’ve know him his whole life. Preserving our legacy is a necessity, I am honored to be able to share this with you my people.
Interior of Cultured Vibes Barber Lounge 2023 near Monteview. Here you can see the Descendants of William Blackburn, The Jenkins Family, Ms. Gwendolyn Dervin, embracing Michael Clinton Jr. on the day of the Grand opening for Cultured VIbes March 18th, 2023 anno domini.
A rabbi in front the Caswell County line marker the near the Virginia Crowne 86 southbound.
“Preserving The Past, Embracing the Future”
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Da Innerview with Michael Clinton, Jr. Saturday March 18th, 2023 Live from Cultured Vibes
No More Suits Publishing Co 📸 pictured Michael Clinton Jr. in front of his new Establishment
“This house is my house is your house, mi casa su casa, treat it like it your spot bring yo culture and come vibe with us. When you bring disrespect you bring division therefore come with respect”
A young brother named George was at the shop during the interview and he spoke about how he grew up round Mike for seven years and seeing the impact his family had on him inspired him to bring the same energy to his own family, the conversations they had, the moves they are making, they way his mother loved him.
For Mike, this was not an overnight success it took a look a lot of hard work and dedication. Cultured Vibes is a reestablishment of what once was Frank’s Barber and Style Shop on southern ends of Ogburn Ave where it meets Glenn Ave. Mike did the renovations himself, this is how he grieved the loss of his mother, now those hard works have paid off, and we all came together to celebrate the success of this new enterprise. Napoleon Hills say for every seed of disadvantage is an equal seed of advantage.
When I came from being out on the Indian Road for the past four years back in December of 22’ Mike invited to me to the lounge and literately showed me the progress he was making, this was right before the new floors where being installed. Shoes by Ascend Apparel.
Brian Mosley was present during our interview at the Grand opening, he asked Mike what’s the future for this grooming lounge, Mike said the wanted this vibe for this lounge to have a global impact, thinking big starting small; a franchise in communities all over the world, just like home, places that you’d never think of.
He welcomes all walks of life into his establishment as long as they come with respect.
This made me think to the article my mother was featured in in the WS Chronicle back in 1984 when she expressed that her dream was to have a salon from all different nationalities behind the chair in her salon. Cultured vibe has the potential to do that. I personally had my hair cut by Haitians, Rastas, Dominicans, Europeans, Phillipinos, and most importantly Carolinas.
Courtesy of The Winston-Salem Chronicle, orignial print April 4, 1985 innerview with then Darrel Jones.
“We are more alike my friends than we are unalike. ”
In my innerview with Mike for this article at the lounge, my empress, Imani MuhamMa’at, who owns a natural hair oil company, called Hairshey’s, was also present during this innerview after the grand opening; her question was where Mike derived his inspiration for his professionalism from. Mike response was that the professionalism comes from his mother, to give the world you best always, however his inspiration for business comes from his father, Michael Clinton Sr, who is well known in the city. Michael Clinton Sr. had a lot of notable establishments throughout the city, his most notable establishment Flashback Smoothie, off Brookstown Ave. Mr. Clinton now is the Minister of Infusion Worship in Bethabara. On this past 4th of March [Tre Fo Day] Buzzz Motivation and Cultured Vibes held an amazing event called Bee You at Infusion Worship and it was night to remember.
Kinston native and Alum of Winston-Salem State University @chosenvibezofficial, performed an unreleased track that complimented the Cultured Vibes movement, this track was also played exclusively at the grooming lounge on the 18th. I got to speak with Chosen at the Grand Opening and he informed me that evening at Infusion Worship was his first time performing in front of a live artist. Another artist who made his debut that night at Infusion Worship center was Topmatt, who is actually Ti Mari and Michael Clinton Sr. youngest born son; the song was about living a sustaining bad addiction habits such as drinking and smoking. Rev Clinton as I call him, used to be the choir director at St. Peters World Outreach Center prior to him branching off to start his own ministry. Other Performers were, Taj, Darrell Q. Slade, TonySpillburg, Mike Gray, Buzzz, and Paris Harris did a Live painting for the Culture Vibes grooming lounge.
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Preserving The Legacy
Michael Clinton, Sr. Pictured with his mother, Ti Mari Cougar Martinez , at The Cultured Vibes Lounge circa May 2022 nunc pro Tunc March 18th 2023. Al Shalom Lake.
“I got this spot May 1st, and I lost my mama June 23rd. If it Wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have this would have happened.” Said Michael during the inner. Before Ma Ti passed she actually crossed path with Mr. Frank as she was walking one evening and from that interaction she was able to introduce him to her son who been had this vision for a grooming lounge. That night at the Bee You event, Mike shared his journey of cutting hair since he was a jit, at WSSU, in the neighborhoods, even would go on travel missions to other cities. Mike expressed that this was a hustle however becoming a barber wasn’t his end goal, Cultured Vibes essentially would be a wework’ 4 barbers and hairstylists, etc . Only a mother can know her son’s vision more than anyone else; not only did she know the vision she felt it, walked it, spoke on it as if it was her own, and because of that she was able to put her baby boy in position to make a difference. Mike said I literatelly was looking for apartments before this opportunity came about. A few months later she was able to sit in her sons establishment which is her legacy; keep in mind she had been battling cancer for a few years now, this is remarkable, in Revelation in sayeth this.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”…
Revelations 22 and verse Fo’
Mama Ti was one of few people who I known personally who has read The Alarm Clock, this novel was the first time I opened up about the impact of me losing my momma, when I was 14 years old. Life is about purpose , this was my purpose for writing this book is bigger than me is bigger than a profit, we are prophets, Ti Mari was a prophet, Dareal was a prophet, as was Isaiah, ye and Moses. I’m so grateful Ma Mari was able to read them words more than anyone else. Chapter 9 raps about how Habakkuk 2 verse say write that vision clear. If it wasn’t for her sons vision she would not have been able to do that before she departed, and what is so real and where me and my brother connect is the simple fact that we both our doing this for our mothers, who was close, before we was brothers, they was Sol sisters, you feel me, they born four days apart, this article is being released on my mother’s birthday, this day 3/22/2023 as Venus enters the house of Ram and the moon passes through the sun as it conjuncts Mercurcy, Neptune and Iuppiter this day. You have to appreciate life, this why we celebrate birthdays, my mother would have turned 72 on this day. Al Shalom Lake.
Frank Linton passing the keys of his long time establishment, Franks Barber and Style Shop over to Michael Clinton Jr. of Cultured Vibes. From the Old School to the New. The Essence of Moving in Silence
This is what the Alarm Clock is all about testaments of faith that will create vibrations so radically that it will wake up the world especially them ones who slept on you and them dark clouds will turn into golden suns. Amon.
We represent them kids in the city who the journal only write about when they die. But here go our life from us by us the living,oh how it fells to be alive. Here’s the positive stories that you may not read about on the front pages everyday. Raw and uncut, we don’t have to get approval from nobody to release these stories, da realest. These articles are like my literature mixtapes, I’m on that 06 Gucci wave, Mike know, Ma Ti stereo know.
If someone would’ve came up to us in Morningside in 2010’, on Ma Ti porch [cuz that’s fosho where we would’ve been, especially on her birthday and she would’ve cooked too on her day man listen] and they told Mike and I that my publishing company would’ve been covering the story of the Grand opening of Mike’s grooming lounge some 13 years later, man cuz would’ve had to leave because couldn’t nobody tell us anything back then, we had to live it, I can hear Mike now man shut up and go grab a plate . But look us at us now man we young Execs, dont let em hold you down, reach for the stars’.
My most profound memory with Ma Ti was this Saturday afternoon at her house in the summer of 09’ right after Michael Jackson died and my moms earlier that same year, we was cleaning her house, and Man in the Mirror came on, and all I remember was her being so touched by them words, to the point that she stopped what she was doing and embraced the moment and tears was flowing from her eyes like the river Jordan, my my my.
Mike my brother, first I would like to say that I extremely proud of you for executing on this opportunity, I know the Vibes will create a radical change in our city and all cities in that Mayan Empire god, for especially them kids who come from similar walks of life as do we. You got the stamp from Mari so everything else automatically solid. Long live our Mothers. May em rest in Shalom May em continue to watch over us. We love y’all we miss you we appreciate y’all, Da’real Saints, y’all are the law of success.
Dareal Luz Jones, The Mother of No More Suits Publishing Co [March 22nd, 1951- February 27th, 2009]
Ti Mari, The Mother of Cultured Vibes Grooming Lounge [March 18th, 1967- June 23, 2022]
In my purist form.
Hapi Solar Ra’turn To My Tribe: Darel Jones from Oregon Ave my dearest mother Louise, Amon Gooden the son of Ayo, Tawanda Matthews Wells the descendant of Mother Abbott, and my Uncle Stanley Jones by way of Newburg born the year after my mother. and Hapi belated Ti Mari,
Bibliography
https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/sequoyah-statue
Jefferson Chapman, Tellico Archaeology: 12,000 Years of Native American History (Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Valley Authority, 1985).
Jackson, Michael, Man in the Mirror, 1988
Slade, Darrell Q, The Alarm Clock, 2o17
The Winston Salem Chronicle, page 2, 1984
Jones, Endyia, Silver Hill Article, 2021
Fearnbach, Heather, Winston-Salem’s Archectural Hertiage, printed in China, 2014
Jones, Carlos, 1975 A Tale of Two Cities, 2021
Houston Drusilla D, Wonderful Ethiopians Ancient Cushite Empire, 1926
Mann, Charles C, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, 2006
Davis, Radric, Back in 95, 2010
Jones, Nasir, My Bible, 2021
Jones Nasir, I Can, 2002
Photo Credits
Winston-Salem’s Architectural Hertiage