This has been an awesome week!
On Tuesday [10/16/07 @ 10:00 AM], Dr. Marcus Allen (Mt. Vernon Spine and Rehab), Jewel West (The Jewel Salon), Ogun (Real On Purpose Entertainment) and I were invited in-studio guests of the Doni Glover's Empower Hour (WOLB 1010 AM). The topic was "Supporting Black Owned Businesses". Thank you Mr. Glover for the opportunity to come on the show and contribute. It was interesting to watch the host mold all our varying points of view and perspective into one cohesive discussion. Everyone bought something totally different to the table and from the amount of people calling into the program...I'd say the synergy was good. The questions were all over the place. Thanks again!
I'd been in the 92 Q studios before, but after Tuesday, I realized I'd only entered through the back door. I was so impressed with the Radio One Baltimore Headquarters set up, especially the entrance - WOW! I also found the vibe of the the studio comfortable and relaxed. Big Ups to Marc Clark, Konan, Sonjay, Pork Chop, Nikke and all the other Q-jays I saw in the building.
Later that same night, I attended the Maryland Humanities Council's Martin and Malcolm: One Vision-Two Voices: A Living History Panel Discussion. The discussion was moderated by one of my favorites Baltimore's Marc Steiner (host of the Marc Steiner Show on NPR)
Veteran performers Bill Grimmette as Dr. King and Charles Everett Pace as Malcolm X lead a discussion on race in America. Unlike the previous Living History Panal Discussion , where the panal stepped in a time machine and ended up in 2006, this audience was taken back in time to 1965 (Malcolm had just returned from Mecca).
I must admit......while I've grown up knowing who Dr. King and Brother Malcolm were....I never really understood what each individually stood for and what made them dynamic men. I knew that MLK's motto was "non violence, non violence" and I knew that Malcolm as a Nationalist stood for total Black independence....but what made Malcolm's approach wrong and Martin's so right? As a result of this talk....I now understand better than ever before not only why these men inspired African American people so much (and why their untimely demise was so unsettling), but also why they were killed (but that is a whole notha discussion). This was a truly moving experience. The interactive portion of the panel (Q&A) was very entertaining. The audience was able to ask them question about the past as well as their hopes for the future. I loved hearing the black guy somewhere in the audience behind me everytime Malcolm X said something profound. I was not the only person that was truly into it. I wish that I could have recorded the talk and post it on here. I'd like to watch it again myself. I found it be a great example of EDUTAINMENT! This talk was part of the "Free Fall Baltimore" campaign. I really love this Free Fall concept. Thanks to a series of grants, this program allows for Baltimoreans of all socio-economic backgrounds to take part in the rich culture that envelops this great city we all call home. I've more than taken advantage! Thank you Baltimore.
For those of you that missed the panel discussion on Tuesday.....there is another opportunity coming up where you interact with MLK:
Oct 27, 2007 @ 2:00 "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Living History Performance"
This interactive, living history performance with veteran scholar/actor Bill Grimmette appearing as Dr. King and the after school students at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center will be a high-energy afternoon of dance, music, and theatre.
This event is part of MHC's One Vision ~ Many Voices series of fall programs and is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Maryland Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, Maryland State Department of Education, David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Walters Art Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art .
This event is free and appropriate for the whole family, but reservations are required: www.eubieblake.org
This interactive, living history performance with Dr. King at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center will be a high-energy afternoon of dance, music, and theatre. Open to all. Reserve your seat at http://www.eubieblake.org/ or 410-225-3130.
In addition....there are several ways that you can GET INVOLVED! and make some $$ for your organization:
Would you like to plan a community conversation? Contact Lydia Woods, Grants and Community Outreach Coordinator, at lwoods@mdhc.org to discuss your ideas for a conversation in your community.
Looking for program partners? Click here for a list of interested cultural organizations, museums, libraries and community and civic groups.
Looking for a grant for your organization to plan a humanities program? Click here for grant guidelines. Want to see what is already planned? Click here for a schedule of programs and events.
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Wednesday (10/17) was life altering! For the first time in my whole life I truly felt PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. As an avid NPR listener, my knowledge of world news and global politics has grown 10 fold over the last several years. Several weeks ago the monks of Burma took to the streets to protest what they perceived as the militant government's starvation of the people. They were only asking for PEACE LOVE AND TRANQUILITY and after several weeks of civil unrest, followed by several days of sterns rebuffs...the government stepped in to squash the opposition PERMANENTLY. Some reports estimate that several hundreds civilians were killed by gun fire directed in to the crowds. They did this to MONKS. I truly value the freedom to protest and assemble....this was the first time that I understood what FREEDOM means. We could have been killed for expressing outrage over injustices perpetrated against us by the government. I know that word "freedom" is open to so many interpretations and if I wanted to get philosophical about it....I could come up with a million reasons for why one could say I'm not free, but for now....I just want to continue enjoying my time in the Matrix. smile
* It was so great to see that quite a few members of the Baltimore Hip Hop community (FAMILY) showed up to support the courageous young people and adult mentors of the Baltimore Algebra Project. The main student spokesperson (SUN PAPER: pictured below) and member of conscious hip hop group, Sons of Naat, really made me proud to walk with him. All the talk about the people that terrorize our communities and we have young people asking us (ADULTS included) to stop being numb to what is going on around us. Baltimore has so many young revolutionaries in her arms....I sure wish she'd (Baltimore) embrace them. We all want a better Baltimore! We all want a better Baltimore!
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Big Ups to First Fam Ent. (Chopper, Dave the Barber and Sonny Gramz - please peep the Baltimore Sun Video below), Orphan (Mr. Hip Hop and Politics are my life!), Verb (Major League Unlimited) Ike Carter (Head Nod Ent), Yance, Buck Jones, Snapz, BmoreHH.com (Please check out their video pod cast below : Love it! Q.O.D. "Wonder if Shelia is Home?"), Ogun, Tislam, Rip the Ruler (THIS BROTHER WAS AMAZING!!! NEVER EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, PEOPLE!!!), Ike Carter, EZ Jackson, Patrick Parents, Ty Gudda, Mic Viper and Lil Purp (Welding Productions), Sport Mills, King David, Kessino (P.M.G.), Gambit (I love that he bought his daughter out. Way to inspire the babies), DJ Jabril and Fam (Again......I think you two are exceptional parents. I love that you are exposing the children to the concept of REVOLUTION- early!), Proton (of Pro & Reg), Big Patch, Shaka Pitts and Crew, Kelly Connelly (Music Monthly), Cee (Charm City Records), Rulah Ra (Very nice to make your acquaintance)....and everyone else that SHOWED UP for something righteous! I am so inspired by seeing you guys standing up and speaking out like the men and women I know you all to be. This was a proud day in not only Baltimore Hip Hop History, but American History as well. Its almost as if the Sun paper staff could not believe the demographic of people that showed up for the rally. NOTICE: Their idea of keeping the camera on the "young black men clad in Hip Hop gear" in the crowd was on one hand comical, but on the other very profound. Were they trying to use the image to spread a message or were they surprised. Was that like a Jerry Springer moment or something? No conspiracy theories...just wondering out loud. Subliminal messages maybe? * In the hearts and minds of even the most "undesirable" of our society.....lies genuine concern for the next generation. Often times....its the manner in which "the required contribution" is presented that makes many feel like they can't do anything to help. IMO its sort of like church....everyone knows they need the "good word", but until something clicks in your mind that makes you realize that you can't live without the word....most will not go consistently and mean it. The slogan "NO EDUCATION. NO LIFE" seem to easily roll of the tongues of everyone.....some because they are fighting for a CHANCE and others because the message rings so true. There are movements occurring all over America....it makes me feel so good to know that I am one in my hometown. I often used to look at the problems facing my community and get overwhelmed.....but now...I see that I too can make a difference by simply showing up. Now....how can we take this message global? mmmmmmmmmmmmmh I have an idea - RAP MUSIC or Hip Hop!
Shout out to J5 (bmorehh.com). Phenominal Work!
found this one on Youtube.com
Thanks Shaka Pitts for the link (courtesy of King David):
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I was interviewed for Baltimore.IndyMedia.org by Ron K. Williams. Shout out to that brother for reaching out! I am not sure when they will publish it, but I can't wait to see what he does with the audio he captured. The air was electric and oftentimes this can be captured a lot better with sound compared to video. In the mean time...please check out this article they wrote on the Baltimore Algebra Project.
Big Ups to Rev. Huber Brown III! Great seeing you!
the pics . Please enjoy...
 
 
 yup that's me in blue......
(October 17, 2007) Chanting their familiar refrain, "No education, no life," an estimated 300 city students and supporters met at City Hall and marched along downtown streets Wednesday demanding that the governor pay the school system $800 million from a court decision.
The video that accompanies this story is awesome! Big Ups to the Sun Paper, FOX 45 NEWS @ 10 and WJZ for covering this worth while story. Its time for all of us with the power and influence to take a stand for our children. Im so proud of these young people....I am so inspired.
 Photo courtesy of Patrick Parents. BMORE Hip Hop Represent! Represent!
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