Lifestyle guru welcomes guests and celebrates businesses
By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor
“This has never happened before,” the young valet attendant said after he and his coworker were summoned inside the newly designed and furnished home after hurriedly containing and bringing everyone’s keys with them.
Lifestyle influencer Dr. Keith Harley introduced their company, Black Tie, and had all holiday party attendees applaud them for their work. The southern Dallas suburb of Cedar Hill’s new residents, Harley and Darryl Bullock, welcomed many to their housewarming event on Dec. 14, 2024 that was filled with art, food, drinks, business and laughter.
It was a very intentional display of the power of supporting Black-owned businesses. From their home designer and builder Jocelyn Ramos of Art Deco Designer Homes, realtor Nia Alston, furniture from Blucci, food and drinks by L. Fitzgerald Dodd of Chef Fitzgerald, Inc. and luxurious artwork, including African pieces from South Dallas staple Pan-African Connection, Harley had each business owner speak and encouraged all attendees to support them. The call and response was evident as transactions were made on the spot, embodying the spirit of many principles of Kwanzaa steeped in unity and cooperative economics.
Akwete Tyehimba expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend and showcase pieces from the Pan-African Connection collection.
“It is a difficult time for Black businesses right now because the economy is slow,” Tyehimba said. “I was grateful to be able to come out and meet new people, and people who were economically able to purchase some of the art that we have. I thank Keith for making sure that Black businesses are supported.”
Harley and Bullock’s new home is picture perfect. Their hearts for embracing and supporting others are even more spacious and grand.
“Our communities are shifting and we don’t have the opportunities that we used to have which is going to require us to elevate ourselves to focus on excellence, inspire and influence people to take it to another level,” Harley said. “It was about us coming together to celebrate the holidays, but more about us coming together to create excellence.”
