the young people's professor: August 2007

Another angel gone. I cant take it anymore. Legendary Mother Angie Infiniti passed away yesterday.

Its especially tragic and ironic that this should happen only days after the Latex Ball. I can remember back to just four years ago, Mother Angie coming on out stage for Legends, Statements and Stars at the Latex Ball 2003 with the crowd up in arms and Jack Mizrahi roaring on the mic his classic "angie chant" : "when ya mama cant tell, when ya cant mama tell, its everyday, everyday realness!"

May she truly rest in peace.

And with this death, i'll always remember 2007 as a holocaust year for the ballroom community. Our community is suffering from Genocide by neglect, and thats real. I'm not trying to preach, just hoping that maybe these deaths can teach us how to learn to love and hold onto each other just a little bit tighter---as corny as that sounds.

From Mystery Dior to Javonte Mugler to Brandon Mizrahi to Pinky Prestige to Leon Khan to Angie Infiniti. Half of them passed this summer alone. They're all looking down on us now---lets make them proud.

A public vigil for Angie will take place on Friday, August 31st at 8pm on the corner of Christopher Street and 7th avenue.

Frank Mizrahi

Posted by the young people's professor at 7:19:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

NOTE: I was too busy running around to take the kinds of high-quality pictures I usually like to. But I'm sure if you search the net you'll find plenty of images by great photographers who covered the ball. But here are a few of my snapshots. The Latex Ball was a success. Legendary Luna Khan 007 is a wonderful man, he deserves much praise for the work he has done in this community. What I love about this event is that it has truly become a community affair--not just the ballroom community, but the larger African American community. This year there were dozens of black women that walked the ball and even a little girl! (this little lady could not have been older than about 8 years old!) The crowd was jam packed and this year's celebrity appearances included Jay Alexander and the cast of America's Next Top Model (Keenyah, Bre, etc).

Oh, another side note: I'm totally too tired and lazy to arrange these pictures and put captions underneath them all. But you can view more pictures of the ball, including more images of the actual categories, by going to the following link: more of Frank's Latex Ball images. But again, nothing really flashy this time.

P.S.---Thank you for all the birthday shout-outs. Some of you have been doubting my age. Someone even had the nerve to accuse me of lying about my age!! How dare these muthafuckahs! (lol). Maybe the "maturity" throws people off, I dont know. But sorry folks, I really am 25. And its a blessing.

Peace.

Frank Leon Roberts

THE HOUSE OF LATEX BALL 2007:

FUTURISTIC CARNIVAL

(click on images for full size)

Jackio-O Miza, Miza, Miza, Mizrahi

" Harpo, who dis woman?"

Speechless.

Miss Jay Alexander of Next Top Model was in the building!!
I went to the ball with my long time friend and former college roommate, Charles Wades, contributing stylist to VIBE andVIBE Vixen Magazines. Dont be fooled by that innocent face, he reads the kids for filth!!!!

My other guest for the evening was my beautiful homegirl, the Berkeley-Boho Diva Marisha Scott. This is a woman's face diva in the making, mark my words dammit!

Thank you MAURICE BALENCIAGA for being sweet enough to led Marisha your shoes! LMAO

Keenyah from America's Next Top Model

Young visual artist and filmmaker Adam Rhodes, an undergraduate at the East Village's mega-fabulous art and science institute, Cooper Union. Look for big things from this man in the future!