THE BOYCOTT--IN THE HAND DANCE COMMUNITY
"We have a participatory democracy.  Every citizen has a right, and maybe even a
responsibility, to participate in civic affairs.
That means we've got to share our thoughts and opinions and ideas.  We've got to communicate.  We've got to talk.  And that's why the
First Amendment guarantees free speech. 
Without freedom of speech, life would not only
be boring, but we'd not be exposed to the
theories and ideas--along with the criticisms
and complaints--that make us think about how
our government is doing and how our
elected officials are representing us." -- Timothy Harper, The U.S. Constitution

Since, hopefully, this Website will be a part of "Hand Dance" history, I might as well be honest about an issue as it happened to me against my 2003 Most Creative Hand Dance competition sponsored by Creative Concepts by Marcia. More importantly, I have always considered myself and strived to be a very nice, approachable, generous hearted, honest, and thoughtful person that adore and love people.
Some hand dance competitors that were in my January 2002 competition were going to California to compete in the U.S. Open Swing competition in November 2002. 
About September 2002, I thought it would be proper and thoughtful to have the hand dance community to give them a little support for there journey.  So, I asked the deejay at a local VFW, if we could have a little fundraiser for these four hand dancers.  Reluctantly, she agreed.  Everything was set.  The four hand dancers gave a demonstration, the deejay and myself asked the patrons to give a little money, and we had about four or five individuals collecting the money.  Everyone who was in the VFW at that time was so generous. We collected enough money to give the four hand dancers, approximately, $50 each, to help with the finances of the trip. I thought the four hand dancers were appreciative, but later I found out they weren't.  Since I was going to the US Open Swing competition, myself, the contributors asked me to let them know how it turned out.  They had every right on this earth to ask me that because in reality--they paid for a report.
Went to the U.S. Open Swing competition in California in November 2002 for the "first and last" time.
When I arrived home, before anything, I wrote and sent an email to the contributors (as promised) about "my" observation, experience, and opinion regarding the U.S. Open Swing competition.  (See "Report to the Hand Dance Community" on this web page.)
I told the truth, as I saw it; and, in my opinion, the four plus two other representatives from the hand dance community--were all competing in West Coast Swing categories.  In my opinion, they were not that good--dancing competitively--against the real West Coast Swing dancers.  Considering their placements, I was totally correct in my analysis. I didn't write anything slanderous, malicious, disrespectful, or hateful about the performances of those six hand dancers.  However, I described what I saw, how I saw it, when I saw it, and where I saw it. 
Well, those six hand dancers were pissed with me because I came back and shared my perspective with the hand dance community.  Considering they were all much younger than me, I needed to show wisdom and be sincerely apologetic to them if I offended them in any way.  I sent out an email to the hand dance community apologizing to those six individuals.  I invited them either to breakfast, lunch, or dinner to properly apologize in person and to discuss how I could repair the issue.  They declined.
Then I was told that those six hand dancers and some small-minded followers were going to "boycott" my January 2003 Most Creative Hand Dance competition.  I prevailed.
How did I handle this situation????? Personally, I was deeply and emotionally upset and hurt.   After I got my emotions together, I realized that I had spent my money (big money) to organize a competition for the hand dancers to enjoy and they were going to "boycott" it over some "b - - - s - - t"!
Knowing that I was dealing with some mean, evil "black" people, I decided to go to a lawyer to see if what I had written was slanderous--libel.  I truly do not want to hurt anyone.  (Libel is when you write something about someone that is not truthful or not of your opinion.)  The lawyer educated me on this subject.  First, he said that "all boycotts manifest themselves from someone's hate".  Secondly, and the gist of it is that, "ANY PUBLIC FIGURE" is subject to compliments, as well as, constructive criticism, legally!  Thirdly, it is only fair, because "public figures" cannot "FORCE" anyone to accept them because that's dictatorship.  (A public figure is anyone that performs before and for the public.)  Public figures need to have a strong constitution.  Those public figures that do not want to be complimented or criticized shouldn't perform in public. Some examples of "public figures" are the President, his family, his cabinet, etc; Radio and TV personalities; singers, dancers, actors, clergy, and speakers; and politicians, teachers, and writers; etc.  The lawyer explained to me my personal situation as it relates and happened to me.  He explained to me that the individuals that "boycotted" my competition were 1) "FORCING" me to "not" be honest, 2) denying me my rights under the 1st Amendment, 3) dictating how I should write, and 4) to fail in my endeavor.  I told the lawyer he forgot one and he inquired which one, I said, "they were cracking on my eyesight and I have 20/20 vision".  The lawyer thought that was humorous.   However, the lawyer did inform me to come back to him after the competition because if I lost any money due to the boycott, I could sue those six people on the grounds of a Tort, Personal Injury of an Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress because they instigated, encouraged, and was responsible for the boycott and I "legally", did nothing wrong".
After that I felt much better.......................on with the competition--which was executed from start to end--and successful, in my perspective.  Of course, I lost money but GOD has always made sure that I have the money that I need!
In summation, I am blessed that my love, spirit, personality, mentality, and heart are "nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, and I mean NOTHING" like the people who considered themselves hurting me by, deliberately and cruelly, "boycotting" (Lawrence Bradford and Kermit Banks, not included) my "very special" competition.  With all of the love that I have in my heart and in my mind, I want to thank Russell Price, Jr. and Rodney Elliott Weaver for their "genuine" support.

May GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS "ME"!

WRITTEN BY MARCIA FOSTER
REPORT TO THE
HAND DANCE COMMUNITY
On December 7, 2002,  I authored a report to the hand dance community, specifically, to the people who contributed, upon my solicitation, and who trusted me regarding this endeavor. This collection was for the four hand dancers who competed in my 2002 Most Creative Hand Dance competition.  In the report, I included the other two hand dancers who competed in this Swing competition because it was my prerogative to inform about a "public appearance".

"EVERY WORD THAT I WROTE WAS THE TRUTH AS I SAW IT AND/OR MY OPINION!"

The following descriptive statements are verbatim as they were written in the report.

Couple 1: "She appeared to the audience with a new look. She had gel on her hair to make it appear longer and under control--wearing a light color of orange lipstick and sparkling earrings.  Her pants outfit was ...........  The sleeves of the jacket had a ruffle.  The front of the outfit was revealing.  Her appearance was both feminine and sexy which gave her that sensual look.  She performed very confidently and of course, she knew the routine with her eyes closed.  He had on a ........... .......... shirt that was buttoned to his chin.  The color of the .......... shirt didn't do anything special for their outfits.  He appeared to be nervous towards the end of the performance.  Of course, we all know what music they danced to......................!  I hope they file that song that they have been dancing to for 100 years (smile) and get a new song and rearrange their routine.  I am sure they can put together another 1st place award winning performance before January 18-20, 2003."
Couple 2:  "They came out and stood in their composed stance.  I admired their outfits that she had created and ......  His 2-piece outfit was ............. made out of that .............. material.  He had a dickey that was sort of a .......... color.  She had on ................ ............ pants with the slits the same color as the dickey.  Her blouse was the same color and made of lace.  Their outfits looked good and they both looked beautiful.  He gave the sign to start the music and everything went down hill from there.  It appeared as if they were trying to chase ............... the music.  Then she stumbles over her feet.  Then her blouse opened.  (As she told me later, there was nothing she could do.)  So she kept dancing.  Then after they had chased ............... the music to death, it was ending time.  It appeared to me that he had to force her to do the ........... ending.  It wasn't smooth as I had seen it done before.  (I asked him about it and he said that was the way it was suppose to be--part of their new coaching.)  If that was the way the ................. piece was suppose to go, then I think they need to get their money back from whomever coached or helped them mess up the choreography in this routine.  Their 1st place award winning ........... routine won at different places, I can't figure out why they didn't take that to the U.S.Open.  I am sure they will have something new that's 1st place award winning before January 18-20, 2003."
Couple 3: "They came out in their all .......... outfits.  He acknowledges the deejay.  They danced their smooth type dance.  Only in this case, their dance appeared low/no energy because the music was high energy.  As far as their performance is concerned, I saw him as a perfect gentleman dancer.  She dances as a lady until she starts playing around and having fun with her shoulders and hips.  The audience loved it.  However, he never misses a beat of being that perfect gentleman dancer.  She dances in real cool shoes.  I don't know if they had a coach or choreographer but if they did they need a new one or a third pair of eyes and ears that can inform them that they need to dance off of gentle, soft types of music."

Marcia Foster