Alternative News: W.E. A.L.L. B.E.

We Shall Be Overcomed…With Joy!!!

Tha Artivist Presents…Words, Beats and Pics is a resounding hit with people of all walks of life and generations…Tha Artivist Reports.

Also check out the wonderful article done on this event by the Memphis Tri-State Defender, the official Black Newspaper of  Memphis,Tn.

Greetings family,

I just wanted to let you all know that new seeds of historic, epic, and spiritual proportions were planted on Saturday July 29, 2006 from 1-4pm at MO's Memphis Originals…The earth definitely shaked and quaked and brought forth the true essence of human libations and liberation through the art of expressing self…For those who witnessed it was a welcomed birth right and for those who missed or never got it in the first place, don't worry you will be feeling the blessed aftershocks for years and generations to come…

  What Am I Talking About You May Ask??? Well what I am talking about is of course the birth or re-birth of Tha Artivist Presents…Words, Beats and Pics!!! Thanks to all who participated by either performing and/or showing up and made this event such a definitive moment in time and turning point in one grateful artivist's humble existence… Three of  Amerikkka's Blackest and Brightest cities best creators and griots were repping (representing) in  that small yet big hearted venue known as MO's Memphis Originals for three pleasant and breathtaking hours…

Legendary St. Louis' Own Sister Nineties Literary Group repping' truth , knowledge of self, and wisdom through cross-generational African Diaspora unification and teaching...Pictured here with Tha Artivist from left to right: Wilma Potts, Kiarra Lynn Smith, Mama D Morrowloving, and Papa H Morrowloving.

  First up or leading off were Sister Nineties Literary Group from the city of St. Louis, of the state of Missouri or as they would say the State of Misery…S90LG didn't disappoint fore they set the bar high with emotionally packed, socially cognizant, politically fiery commentary through the gifts and combinations of both the spoken and the written word respectively for one hour…S90LG founder and literary diva Debra "Mama D" Morrowloving actually set the tone letting her Afro-centri-consciousness blessed the mic and and minds of those who were open and honest enough to receive this real very healthy and nourishing soul food…I have known Mamma D for over 6 years and I consider everyday that I known her to be a true blessing from Creator…Mama D has in many ways been like a second mama to me hence the name Mama D…Native Mississippian and fellow journalist Marie Chewe-Elliott biblically pontificated her "Psalms of a Woman" recalling coming of age where southern trees bearing strange fruit was the rule and not the exception and where kids whether it be the murder and torture of Emmett Till or the bombing of four little girls in a church from Birmingham can  and did become victims of tragedies transformed into symbols of martyrdom which inspired true affirmative action in regards to civil rights and bringing down the walls of  segregation…

A young artivist to watch: The multitalented Kiarra Lynn Smith

  S90LG'S YOUTH MOVEMENT a.k.a. Yari Yari also repped well with dazzling and stirring renditions of original prose and verse given by Kiarra Lynn Smith, a young lion and amazing talent whose star is definitely on the rise to greater altitudes and frequencies…Her FEMA Blues is one of my favorite works by this versatile 'artivist'…Not to be outdone fellow Yari Yari member Sharifa Taylor did her part to honor the past and Black womanhood by creating and reciting a poem dedicated to the amazing diva and native St. Louisian and cosmopolitan citizen Josephine Baker whose centennial birth year is currently being celebrated as I write this report...Ms. Taylor also gave a valuable lesson and blueprint in urban planning with another Black nationalistic call for building community or re-enforcing the old African proverb not Hillary Clinton so-called quote "it takes a village"…The very resourceful and pleasant S90LG veteran and personal favorite Wilma Potts definitely brought intensity and heartfelt emotion through the hypnotic power of her bittersweet words dealing with abuses and pains given by and to humans through sexually devious means…

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Quotes of the Moment

    Nannie Helen Burroughs:

"What we need are mental and spiritual giants who are aflame with a purpose . . . We're a race ready for crusade, for we've recognized that we're a race on this continent that can work out its own salvation."

"When the Negro learns what manner of man he is spiritually, he will wake up all over. He will stop playing white even on the stage. He will rise in the majesty of his own soul."

"Don't wait for deliverers.... I like that quotation, "Moses, my servant, is dead. Therefore, arise and go over Jordan." There are no deliverers. They're all dead. We must arise and go over Jordan. We can take the promised land."

"To struggle and battle and overcome and absolutely defeat every force designed against us is the only way to achieve."

12 Things The Negro Must Do For Himself

  by Nannie Helen Burroughs

(Circa Early 1900's)

1.  The Negro Must Learn To Put First Things First.  The First Things Are:  Education; Development of Character Traits; A Trade and Home Ownership.

·The Negro puts too much of his earning in clothes, in food, in show and in having what he calls "a good time."  The Dr. Kelly Miller said, "The Negro buys what he WANTS and begs for what he Needs."

2.  The Negro Must Stop Expecting God and White Folk To Do For Him What He Can Do For Himself.

·It is the "Divine Plan" that the strong shall help the weak, but even God does not do for man what man can do for himself.  The Negro will have to do exactly what Jesus told the man (in John 5:8) to do--Carry his own load--"Take up your bed and walk."

3.  The Negro Must Keep Himself, His Children And His Home Clean And Make The Surroundings In Which He Lives Comfortable and Attractive.

·He must learn to "run his community up"--not down.  We can segregate by law, we integrate only by living.  Civilization is not a matter of race, it is a matter of standards.  Believe it or not--some day, some race is going to outdo the Anglo-Saxon, completely.  It can be the Negro race, if the Negro gets sense enough.  Civilization goes up and down that way.

4.  The Negro Must Learn To Dress More Appropriately For Work And For Leisure.         

·Knowing what to wear--how to wear it--when to wear it and where to wear it, are earmarks of common sense, culture and also an index to character.

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Brother and Mother of Slain Civil Rights Martyr James Earl Chaney Urge Support For Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, Senate Bill No. S. 2679

         

Ben Chaney requested that the  attached letter from his mother Fannie L. Chaney to members of the U.S. Senate,  be forwarded, especially to veterans of the civil rights movement. Ms. Chaney  asks in her letter that Senators support the  Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, Senate Bill No. S. 2679 which calls for the  Department of Justice and the F.B.I. to investigate surviving perpetrators of  racial violence that took place up to 1970:

THE JAMES EARL CHANEY FOUNDATION

"Making a Difference in the Quality of Life"

36 East 12th Street

6th Floor

New York, NY 10003

(212) 475-3232

email:                                                          INFO@JECF.ORG

August 1, 2006
To Members of the United States Senate                                                    BY FAX AND MAIL
Dear Senator,

  I am writing to seek your support for the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, Senate Bill No. S. 2679 which calls for the Department of Justice and the F.B.I. to investigate surviving perpetrators of racial violence that took place up to 1970.  The Bill is sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans.   It makes available to prosecutors  F.B.I. files  which the Department of Justice has been reluctant to release to local states.  Such files include the so-called “informant files.” The importance of the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act cannot be understated.  In the fall of 2004, Mississippi  Attorney General Jim Hood publicly announced that he was requesting the assistance of the F.B.I. to investigate the murders of James Chaney, Andy Goodman and Michael Schwerner.  Instead of filing a request with the Justice Department, Mr. Hood investigated the case on his own and, in January 2005 introduced evidence on only one defendant before a Neshoba County Grand Jury.   That defendant, Edgar Ray Killen was convicted in June 2005. [Read More]

Let's Get Free!!! Words of Wisdom from Chinyere Oteh.

I have known Ms. Chinyere Oteh for 8 years and for all those years she has been a blessing and always a beacon of hope and support...Peep game and recognize true knowledge when it is dropped...Also check out the Byron Lee article featuring her perspective on Black LeadershipPlease let her know what you think or how you feel about the message by leaving a comment on this post or e-mail here at chinyereoteh@gmail.com

        Vibrate Higher,ummm...
  So, this idea has been brewing for some years now it began with boredom in history class as a girl.  There are remnants of it in my discomfort with my name as a child.  It continued as I shared feelings of alienation with other students on a predominantly white and wealthy college campus. It got stronger as I was finally introduced to texts about the middle passage and prominent writers of color, introduced to the  idea of  the value of writing myself into my academic work, introduced to West African and Classical Indian dance  and a Black Repertory chorus class. (These classes and topics and realizationsserved as havens on that campus).  The idea floated across the ocean as trips to Kenya and Nigeria changed my outlook on personal and collective identity; where we all come from and how we become who we are.  Serving with AmeriCorps in the SLPS system made the idea stronger(get these kids something better, please!) Having Korean and Iranian and Columbian and Caucasian and African and African-American and mixed-race best friends as I grew up added to this idea too.  The factors that have gotten (this is not is a word is it?  and I continue to use it) me to think how I do today and feel charged to use my energy to continue to educate myself and others are countless.  I just wanted you to see how this started and how it developed slowly one experience after another.  Layers. MORE

What's Wrong With My People???

Check out this timeless message by Ms. Callie Taylor Herd and then check out her college preparation/scholarship/jobs/internship opportunities website at http://www.ctherd.blogspot.com

  Guys, I have been posting on this forum for under a month, as each day go by, I get sadden, because I want to know "What's Wrong with my People?".  Is it because we dare not to obtain knowledge?  Will we continue to doom our self in jealousy,  or self-destructions?  As I look through and review many of the postings, I see that a lot of what we do is circulate unfounded rumors and gossips about things just to get a buzz. I am told when I see someone succeeding that I wish them well and then know that I too have the opportunity to achieve as well.  We must stop trying to analyze only on the haves and what they should or should not receive in opportunities. I hope that we would go back into the 60's movement of gaining knowledge, education, self-worth and all of those great Ideologies.  Just think where we would be if we did. The key to our success is "knowledge".  As I always tell everyone I talk to, "knowledge is power if used properly". 

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Word of Art: Tha Artivist and Brotha's Keepa

Word of Art!

By Tim  Butler | Published  07/27/2006 | Arts  & Leisure

(This article appears courtesy of the Memphis Tri-State Defender the official Black newspaper of Memphis, Tennessee)

A  multi-layered cultural event will take place Saturday, July 29 at MO’s Memphis  Originals, 3521 Walker (off of Highland near the University of Memphis). Running  from 1-4 p.m., artist (or rather “artivist”) Ron Herd will present “Words, Beat,  & Pics,” a unique offering of art, spoken word, music, and more. Featured on  the bill will be Herd, Sisters Nineties Literary Group of St. Louis, civil  rights movement pioneer and veteran Bernice Sims, and Memphis’ Brotha’s  Keepa.       Ronald Herd is a Memphis artist, who is deeply affected by a  mission to enlighten people through his artwork, which is influenced heavily by  history. With Herd’s hand at the brush, he sees what he does as mixing art with  activism. The result comes through in his paintings, which looks at pop culture  but through a definite political magnifying glass. Using his mom, Callie Herd, as another inspiration, Herd has been featured in one-man shows in a  variety of locations, including: FedEx World Corporate Headquarters, St. Louis Urban League, Theatre Works, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Christian Brothers University. He has been featured in group shows at Grambling State University,  Art St. Louis XVII Exhibition, Washington University School of Art (his alma  mater), and Prairie View A&M University, among other venues.

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An Artivist on Location In Tanzania:“Say it loud I’m black and I’m proud!”

Imani  Cheers is an Art Homie and fellow Artivist of mine who I befriended during "my residency" at Wash U in St. Louis…She has achieved a lot artistically and personally in such a short period of time and I am very proud to call her my sister comrade…She's a photographer/ film maker and humanitarian currently on a relief mission in Tanzania...Check out her message and photos…Get inspired and lifted!!! Check out her last post about her journey as well to catch up...You can e-mail Ms. Cheers at imani_cheers@hotmail.com -R2C2H2 Tha Minista of Information

Ladies and Gents:

   

Take a journey with me...

The concept of Pan-Africanism is rather simple in the words of the legendary Bob Marley, “How good and pleasant it would be, before God and man, to see the unification of all Africans”. In reality, its another story. Apparently I do not look like the typical “Black American”. I don’t know if this is as a result of my curly locs, or my _mocha skin or my broad nose but on any average day, I am constantly asked “Wewe ni mtanzanian?” “Are you Tanzanian?” What makes it even more amusing was the weekend events in Zanzibar.(Yes, I went back for the THIRD time in 4 weeks…hey, its beautiful!) [Read More]

NIA advances work of young black artists

To learn more about NIA please visit NIA's official website: http://www.nia-memphis.org

By Fredric Koeppel Contact July 28, 2006

The NIA Artist  Collective kept a pretty low profile for several years until it mounted "The  Salon" exhibition a year ago at Memphis College of Art's On the Street gallery  on South Main. 

The event returns with a reception tonight from 6 to 9, but instead of a  one-night show, the exhibition went up July 14 and will be displayed through  Aug. 13.

NIA  is the Swahili word for "purpose," which, in this case, is to advance the cause  of young black artists and their work in the art community.  Vitus Shell is vice president of NIA, and since he curated "The Salon for  Memphis' Arts Creators," we asked him some questions about the organization and  the event. 

Q: What was the impetus behind NIA? 

A: It started in the summer of 2001 with the feeling that black artists in  Memphis are underrepresented and feeling that the community doesn't really  support artists generally. So a group of friends got together, most of us young,  in our twenties, and decided to meet together and talk about the problems. 

Q: Where do you think these problems originate? 

A: It's a combination of things. The community not really appreciating art as  a whole. Families not knowing how to support or help their children who want to  be artists. I mean, most people don't know how to survive as artists. That's one  thing we're doing, talking to, using the older artists in Memphis that are  successful, people like George Hunt and Brenda Joysmith. They've been like  mentors to the group. 

Q: Is part of the problem a lack of knowledge about the art world and how to  relate to it? 

A: Well, I think it's about packaging. A lot of black artists don't know how  to package their work or promote themselves. Being part of NIA, you meet artists  that are successful, they show you the ropes, how to meet people and talk to  people. 

Q: But some members of NIA are pretty successful. Lester Julian Merriweather  was selected for MAX: 03 and "Brooks Introduces." Twin (Jerry and Terry Lynn)  are represented by David Lusk Gallery. And you had a show at Perry Nicole Fine  Art earlier this year. 

A: Oh, I wouldn't take anything away from those successes, or the talent, but  I think they show how helpful the group has been. It's helped everybody. I've  seen artists that were part-time develop so fast that they become part of the  system. And that helps the next artist be motivated to go on to better things. 

Q: What was the motivation for "The Salon"? 

A: We wanted to get all the creative people in Memphis together, not just  about fine arts but poets, writers, singers. We want them to come out and  network and get people exposure that normally don't get exposed. We make sure  the work is presented nicely and shown well. This isn't like the typical wine  and cheese opening. It's more open and exciting. We'll have a deejay playing  acid jazz and trip hop. People can come by and paint, touch the paintings, hear  music, see the art. 

Q: Do you see NIA as an investment in the future of black artists in Memphis?   

A: Yes, exactly, it's more than for the group that's here now. It's for the  future, for the artists that are coming up. They need a space. We want to have a  print shop and a photo shop. We want to have an artist in residence from another  city or country. 

Q: Where will the money come from for these visions? 

A: Right now we're working on nonprofit status. Then we'll see where we go  from there. 

--Fredric Koeppel, 901-529-2376

Check out Art Talk (August 12) and other upcoming events and projects featuring artist Charles Huntley Nelson!!!

Hello all, I hope that you can make it to the artist talk. It will be more of a lighthearted overview of my work and interest in the topic of Afrofuturism than anything else. I also just wanted to give everyone a few updates:
- I will be featured in a profile in the Sunday Arts & Books section of the AJC (Atlanta Journal & Constitution) tentatively scheduled for August 13. 

- I will be featured in the "Check Out" section of the Studio Museum of Harlem's Studio magazine. This feature compares the work of an established artist (Howardena Pindell in this case) with an emerging artist.

- Shows coming up in the fall are Ingalls & Associates Gallery September 9 (Miami, FL), Cheekwood Museum October 6 (Nashville, TN), and Rush Arts Gallery November 18 (New York, NY).
Talk to you soon, Charles