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Melodies in Motion – A Mother’s Day Celebration Story and photo by: Stan Thomas June 6, 2006 How did you spend Mother’s Day this year? If you attended last year’s Expo, you may have met singer Sonya Maddox and guitarist Phil Upchurch. If you got on their mailing list, you would have been invited to see them perform at the Second Annual “Melodies in Motion”, a musical cabaret dedicated to mothers. “Melodies in Motion” was held at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2006. Presented by the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival in association with the Madrid Theatre, the event was billed as A Mother’s Day Musical Celebration. And what a celebration it was! The concert, in honor and appreciation of mothers everywhere, featured nine talented performers, some of whom have garnered worldwide fame. Each performer dedicated songs in their set to the mothers and other special women in their lives. But the men were not left out. They were acknowledged, too. LAWTF founder and president Adilah Barnes and her staff sure made this a memorable day. Producer/writer/director Fay Hauser-Price hosted the “musical cabaret”. Leading off was vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Orville Stoeber. He was followed by an acapella set by blues singer Margie Evans. Guitarist Phil Upchurch, who enjoys international fame and has played with just about everyone in the jazz and R&B world, took a solo spot. He was then joined by singer Sonya Maddox. They have a new CD out entitled Truly. Upchurch and Maddox included a couple of original songs in their set, one of which Upchurch wrote the night before especially for the event. Halfway through their performance, Maddox let the audience in on a secret – she and Mr. Upchurch are engaged to be married! Recording artist Tata Vega brought several songs and several different voices to the stage with her. Tata, whose voice you have heard on the radio as a solo artist, as a studio singer for such diverse artists as Michael Jackson, Babyface, Madonna, and Chaka Khan, and a vocalist singer on the soundtracks of movies like the Lion King and Forrest Gump. Vega dedicated one of her songs to her late husband. There weren’t very many dry eyes in the place when she finished. Following a brief intermission, vocalist and flautist Dawn Norfleet took the stage. Her portion of the show included an acapella version of “Amazing Grace”. On flute, she offered her take on the afro-Cuban classic “Afro Blue”. What tribute to mothers would be complete without a version of The Temptations’ standard “My Girl”? And what better person to sing it than the former lead singer of The Temptations, Louis Price? Price brought the house down with that number. He showed why he’s still one of the top performers around. Actress/singer/songwriter Dawnn Lewis made a powerful entrance. She sang a version of “I’m a Woman” that left no doubt she meant every word of that song. She also left no doubt that though she’s most well known as an actress, girlfriend can sang. Lewis thanked her mother and her grandmother during her set. The final performer of the day was none other than Ms Freda Payne. Ms Payne dedicated her song “Bring the Boys Home” to our troops serving over there. During an unscheduled break in the action, Ms Payne delighted the audience with an impromptu bit of scatting ala Ella Fitzgerald. And why not? She played Ella in the musical of the same name. For Mom and everyone else who came to the cabaret, this was a very nice outing. Of course, since it was Mother’s Day, Mom was made to feel extra special. And that is as it should be year ‘round “Melodies in Motion” is something different, something refreshing, something to look forward to next year. Click the link to see photos from Melodies in Motion Stan can be reached for comment at kanale90@aol.com Back to www.ExpoUpdate.com
Bill Clinton, Colin Powell Headline the 2006 Speaker Series
Paul Rusesabagina, whom most of you will remember from the movie Hotel Rwanda, spoke at the Disney Concert Hall. You can read about his speech here in this month’s Expo Update. Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States, was introduced by Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. His opening comment “You never miss something until it’s gone,” was made clear in very short order. Villaraigosa got the audience feeling nostalgic recounting the budget surplus, booming economy, and other good times the country enjoyed during the Clinton years. He suggested that Clinton may even return to the White House; the audience had to fill in the blanks. Clinton displayed an enormous sense of humor. The first part of his speech rivaled anything Jay Leno or David Letterman would have done during their monologues. He was able to laugh at himself and all the criticism he took during his eight years in office. His support of wife Hilary was made quite clear. He praised her intelligence. Clinton told the audience, spiced with a bit of humor, about how well he knows his way around a state fair. At a state fair in New York he described knowing the different types of animals, pressing the flesh among the visitors, in general being very handy to have around; especially if your wife is running for office. As the end of his second term approached, Clinton told the patrons that began to think about what he wanted to do when he left office. He quoted a former president who said that the saddest thing in the world is an ex-president. He was determined not to let that happen to him. What did he do? He got busy. Clinton firmly believes in NGOs, non-governmental organizations. He believes that NGOs most often can be more effective than a government organization. He explained that while the United States could start an aid organization in a foreign country, it would also have to appoint and pay a salary for someone to run the organization, pay for security, offices, and staff for the organization, and navigate the paperwork necessary to run such an operation. An NGO could do it much faster, much cheaper, and have a better relationship with the people in the area. The president has started several organizations, including the one established with George H. W. Bush to help the victims of the tsunami in south Asia. Clinton’s message for the audience was two-fold. First was to get involved in something. He exhorted citizens not to wait for the government to do everything for them. NGOs are a very effective way to get things done. He posed one profound question: if everything were going right – your political party is in power, the economy is humming along, we are not at war, and you have a great job or are self-supporting – what would you do? His second message was one of unity. He said we are all connected; we all have to live together. Therefore we have three choices; we can learn to get along, choose not to get along, or have something of a love-hate relationship. Whatever we choose, we still have to live together; we’re still connected. Colin Powell most recently served as this nation’s Secretary of State. His book, “My American Journey”, was a national best-seller. His views shaped foreign policy during his tenure in Washington. Much of the world respects him and his views. The speaker’s series provided a forum for patrons to hear him speak not as General Powell, not as Mr. Secretary, but as Mr. Powell. Powell stirred in a fair amount of humor throughout his speech. The audience was treated to insights on how much Powell enjoyed having his own 757 at his disposal when he traveled as Secretary; he said that the week after he retired, “They gave it to Condi.” Not long after he retired, he had to travel to Washington, DC, for a short trip. He proceeded to do three things you should never do in our current post September 11th society; he showed up late to the airport, had no baggage, and paid cash. As could be expected, he got taken aside and ‘wanded’. Another ‘highlight’ was the tale of the convertible Corvette, that Powell bought as his retirement ‘toy’, which led to an opportunity to drive the pace car, a Corvette, of course, in the Indy 500. Personal stories such as these were balanced with stories about Powell’s life as a general and secretary. An example of how highly regarded Powell is by world leaders became apparent as he related an incident involving a dispute between Spain and Morocco. The dispute was over a ‘rock’ about 100 yards long off the coast of Spain. Powell ended up writing a letter, which served as a treaty of sorts. Just in time because he was looking forward to a visit from his granddaughter that afternoon. As anticipated, his views on current US policy abroad were part of his speech. At one point, as he talked about his views on the Iraq war, a spate of coughing broke out throughout the crowd. The fact that the coughing broke out during his comments about Iraq proved that the incident was no accident; it was an intentional, not-to-subtle form of protest by some in the audience. Many of the experiences Colin spoke about did include what he thought was the best part about America. That is the American people themselves. He told the audience that the best way to promote America was to make sure that the people visiting this country had a good experience during their stay. He related a story about a group of Brazilian students visiting on a study program. While dining in Chicago one night, the group realized they did not have enough to pay for the meal. The restaurant manager told them that their meal was on the house; his way of saying that he was glad that they chose to visit America. During the question and answer period following the speech, Powell was asked about running for president. He replied that he was honored to be considered but that the passion the job requires was not there. Hearing Clinton and Powell speak was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for many. When men such as these are given a forum in which to speak unencumbered by the restrictions of public office, men who have held the power to affect the world by their actions, it is an opportunity that should not be missed. It is an uplifting experience that could possibly change your life. Stan can be reached for comment at kanale90@aol.com
Sí, Se Puede Means Fewer Opportunities for Blacks Story and eyewitness photos by: Stan Thomas If you don't think Blacks are being severely affected by illegal immigration, read the Washington Times article titled “Arrival of Aliens Ousts US Workers”. American-born men who lost their jobs as a result of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita cannot even get jobs to rebuild their own cities. When they arrived at one construction site, they were sent back to wherever they were staying. It would be nice if it could be said they were sent home but most of them lost their homes in the hurricanes. Why were they sent back? "The Mexicans have arrived," they were told. Under Title III of the No Child Left Behind act, students who are not fluent in English must be brought up to the same level as their English-speaking peers. States must set aside funds to school districts whose immigrant student population has increased significantly. According to the requirement "increased significantly" means 2% over February 2004 levels. Title III funds go to "instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youth". This is not additional funding. These funds must come out of states' existing budgets. That means inner-city school programs will be cut back or cut out completely. The current controversy all started with the bill that Representative James Sensenbrenner sponsored in December of 2005 called House Resolution 4437. HR 4437 calls for changing "the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border security, and for other purposes". The flashpoint of this resolution is the ridiculous provision to make it a felony to be in this country illegally. (Ironically, illegal immigrants are doing work on FEMA (read government) contracts.) You see the furor this resolution has caused every day in the news. What makes it worse is the failure to differentiate between legal and illegal immigration. The upstart of HR4437, a bill that is not even law? It just doesn't make sense. There are already immigration laws on the books that are not being enforced. Those laws are spelled out in detail in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Not only is the controversy dividing our nation, it's causing division amongst ourselves. The Wave newspaper has an article titled “L.A. Organizers Denounce Black Minuteman” about the clash between Ted Hayes, an activist for the homeless, and black activist Najee Ali. The two were recently guests on KFI's John Ziegler show April 27th. Hear them heatedly voice their opinion in these two MP3 clips as they go after The Minutemen, the host and each other. (Part 1 is 28 minutes long; Part 2 runs 22 minutes.) Why are they at odds? Hayes wants to assist the Minutemen with their efforts to patrol the border with Mexico and is against illegal immigration because he says it hurts Blacks. Ali says the Minutemen are racists, that Hayes is being used as a pawn, and that we should stand together with our Latino brothers and sisters during their struggle. Ali and Hayes have weighed in. Where is Jesse Jackson? Where is Al Sharpton? Where are the other leaders in our community who will champion this issue? This is a problem that demands attention. The writing is on the wall and we had better start reading it.
Stan can be reached for comment at kanale90@aol.com
Photo from Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation (HRRF) website Story by: Stan Thomas April 5, 2006 Two years ago, the Expo Update featured a story recognizing the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Without a doubt the most well known name to come out of that tragedy was Paul Rusesabagina. His current speaking tour coincides with the release this month of a book of his memoirs titled An Ordinary Man. One stop on his tour was as part of the Music Center’s 2006 Speaker’s Series in downtown Los Angeles. It is one thing to see a horrifying event such as a massacre depicted in a movie. But to hear an in-person, first-hand account from someone who was there, someone who lived through it, that is quite another matter. Paul Rusesabagina (Roo-say-sa-ba-GEE-nah), a man who ended up saving the lives of 1,268 people as they sought refuge in the Hotel Mille Collines, is that someone. To hear him talk about the massacre in his own words..... What a powerful, chilling, humbling, and inspiring speech. Just who is this remarkable man? Through modern technology and communication, most people were introduced to Rusesabagina through actor Don Cheadle's portrayal of him in the movie Hotel Rwanda. In the movie, Rusesabagina uses his experience as acting manager of the Hotel Mille Collines to bribe, flatter, berate, organize, network, plead, plan, beg, influence, and negotiate his way through 100 days of the slaughter of almost 1 million of his countrymen, all the while protecting his family and 1,200 others from that same slaughter that was taking place right outside the hotel's grounds. This evening patrons would not be watching a movie; they would meet the real Paul Rusesabagina. Inside the Disney Concert Hall, the lights dimmed. The announcer thanked the audience for participating in the Speaker’s Series. He described the night's guest, obviously taking great care to properly and respectfully pronounce Rusesabagina's name. He then called to the stage Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose 9th District includes the downtown area. Perry gave a brief biography of the night's guest, also taking great care to pronounce his name correctly. She told the audience that it was a privilege to able to introduce tonight's speaker. Dressed in a gray business suit, tie and white dress shirt, Rusesabagina walked onto the stage to a hearty standing ovation, settling in at center stage. Paul spoke evenly in moderately accented English, delivering his speech wholly without notes. As he spoke, he turned to face different sections of the audience, seemingly to a different section as each 'chapter' in his speech began. Silence permeated the auditorium. Aside from the occasional heavily muffled cough, no other sound could be heard. Acoustics in the hall were so good that even though Paul talked at normal conversation volume, very little amplification of his voice was necessary. Every word he spoke seemed to go right to the heart of each person in attendance. Once in a while, the audience did punctuate a particularly gripping part of the story with a semi-audible gasp or "umph". Rusesabagina began his speech by explaining the cultural differences between the Hutus and Tutsis; there are none. Many, many families are comprised of Hutu fathers and Tutsi mothers, and vise-versa. Paul himself is Hutu, his wife is Tutsi. That begs the question, "Why are the Hutus and Tutsis fighting?" Paul, anticipating the question, explained the reason. It had to do with class - and bad leadership. Only about 3% of the Rwandan people are able to attend college. When the slaughter began, all Tutsis, those with Tutsi spouses or family members, even those suspected of being Tutsi were expelled from the schools. In Rwanda, once you are kicked out of school, that's it. There is no re-enrolling next year or enrolling anywhere else. Careers were ended before they even had a chance to begin. Paul related a story about the first time he was exposed to the Tutsi-Hutu conflict and how deep it ran. In 1973, he had to watch as his best friend, a Tutsi, was forced to leave the school and his future behind. By the time he began to talk about the day the plane carrying the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi was shot down, it was 8:30pm; exactly - to the minute - two days shy of the 12th anniversary of the start of the genocide. At the time the plane was shot down, he and his brother-in-law were dining at a restaurant. He got a call from his wife saying that something serious had happened. Although she did not know it at the time, what she heard was the presidents' airplane exploding after it was hit by the rocket. Moments later, Paul said goodbye to his brother-in-law and they left the restaurant. It was the last time he ever saw him. It didn’t take long for the massacre to kick into high gear. (The book describes how something as simple as a radio played a large part in the start and rapid spread of the bloody conflagration.) Paul continued to describe what was happening at this point: Imagine having your 15-year-old-son go outside to play with the neighbor's kids but finding them and their entire family dead in their yard. He runs back inside the house, goes to his room and cannot talk for 4 days. Imagine coming across one area where dozens of bodies are strewn about, knowing that some of your neighbors had earlier taken this route to escape, and then realizing that all these dead people are your neighbors. Imagine seeing so many bodies littering the countryside that the flies that swarmed over them were of biblical proportions. Not all of the butchery was committed openly. Many of the Tutsis were told that they had to attend militia meetings; and were slaughtered when they arrived. Some villages became 80% women because the boys and men had either volunteered to fight the rebels or were taken and killed by them. Some villages were became 100% corpses. The refugee camps were no picnic. Often there was no shelter, no sewage, no food, no water, no privacy. Only huge groups of people closely gathered together in one area. The refugees were outside at the mercy of the elements. If it rained, they got soaked. During the day, there was no shade to protect them from the blistering sun. People had to sleep on makeshift pallets such as bundled clothing. They had to go out and search for food daily. The mobs would torture their prey, not kill them immediately. For instance, they would cut off a victim’s hand, come back 3 hours later and cut off a foot, 3 more hours then another hand, etc. Some people actually paid the rebels to kill them immediately so they wouldn't face torture. Mercifully, 100 days after they started, the killings began to abate. It took the international community took another four months after that to declare the bloodbath an act of genocide. During the speeches marking the 10th anniversary, Paul says the international figures - the ones that cared enough to show up - repeatedly uttered "never again." Yet to the west in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, where many of the Rwandan refugees fled, 4 million have been killed. Up north in Darfur, the Sudan, mass killings are taking place even as you read this. The international community, to this day, refuses to recognize these atrocities as genocide. In Burundi, the country sharing a southern border with Rwanda, an estimated 300,000 people have been killed since 1993. The world has, in Rusesabagina's words, "closed eyes and ears", and "turned backs" on these events. There was no bitterness in Paul's words as he related his story. Only an honest account of what happened. His account did reveal disappointment; disappointment in the leaders of his country, disappointment in the peacekeepers for leaving his country in time of dire need, and disappointment in the rest of the world for not stepping in to halt the massacre. As Paul concluded his speech he received the second of three standing ovations. A moderator from the Los Angeles Times came in to ask a few questions of him. Then the moderator turned to the audience to have pre-selected members ask a few questions. When asked if there was anything in his background that enabled him to do what he did during that time, he replied that there was nothing special. He was only a hotel manager doing his job. An Episcopalian minister asked what the church did to help. Rusesabagina said that the Christian churches did not do much. The Muslims actually did more to help than any other religious group. In an unexpected move, the minister apologized. Another young man asked about the UN's role. Rusesabagina put it simply and bluntly; they failed. His book pulls no punches about the (in)action of the United States and the rest of the international community. Two days later, during his speech at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, former president Bill Clinton was asked about the slaughter in Rwanda and why the United States did nothing. President Clinton said that it was one of his deepest regrets that the US did not get involved. On the other hand, it all happened so relatively fast that there was little time to prepare a sufficient military response. After hearing Paul share his story it was clear that a more appropriate title for his memoirs could not have been chosen. Rusesabagina will be the first to tell you in his own words that he was just a hotel manager. Truly he is an ordinary man who - at the dreaded risk of using a cliché - used his gifts to do what he had to do under extraordinary circumstances. Ironically the slaughter of his countrymen did not drive him away from his home; it was an attempt on his life two years afterward. Paul now lives in Belgium and lectures widely on a personal mission to end such atrocities in countries around the world. Curiously there were very, very few Black faces to be found in the audience. Stan may be reached for comment at: kanale90@aol.com
Black. White. Watched All Over Story by: Stan Thomas April 2, 2006 What’s all the buzz about the new FX show Black. White.? Simply put, two families, one Black, one White, share a home in Tarzana, California and trade experiences. Through state-of-the-art make-up, the White family becomes Black and vice-versa. But what they each experience during the six-part series has no simple explanation. FX has a hit on their hands (Wednesday nights, re-airs Sundays, check your listings.) It drew 4 million viewers to their television sets to watch the debut. That places it in a tie for the second most-watched premiere of an unscripted show on cable, according to Zap2it. Co-producers on the show are Emmy winner R.J. Cutler, and rapper/actor Ice Cube. In the show's opener, we meet the Sparks', a Black family from Atlanta, Georgia. Individually the Sparks’ are Brian, 41, Renee, 38, and their 17-year-old son, Nick. From Santa Monica, California, we meet the Wurgels; Bruno Marcotulli, 47, Carmen Wurgel, 48, (reports are not clear whether the two are married), and 18-year-old Rose Bloomfield, the show's White family. The transformation the families underwent in the make-up trailer was astonishing. Make-up artist Keith VanderLaan deserves an award for his work on this project, especially since the make-up has to be consistent through almost daily application and removal. When watching a show of this type, you have to look below the surface to better understand the situations that will be presented. First, take into account where the families are from. One family is from Atlanta, the South. The other family is from Santa Monica, the West. Keep in mind that these are the experiences of six individuals representing just two families out of the millions across the entire country. Over 1,000 hours of footage was shot; what we see is what made it to the screen. That screen is called television. The majority of the scenes were chosen with that fact in mind. With that said, Black. White. is an eye-opening project. It decidedly shows more of the Black experience than the other way around. Some of the conversations and experiences will leave many viewers with their mouths agape, not believing what they have just seen or heard. You will see and hear people that will make you wish you could put your hand through the television and slap them silly. Rose has impressed me the most. From the very first she realized what she thought of Blacks was all wrong and immediately changed her attitude; she wanted to look at the heart, below the skin. Her poetry class gave her much more than she bargained for. And she seems to be enjoying her experience while at the same time being pained that there seems to be a gulf that she just cannot cross. The first day in the poetry class she realized she was in waaaaay over her head. But she made an effort to make the most of it because she wanted to be there, not just for the sake of the project. At first I thought Brian had a chip on his shoulder and was just aching for Bruno to experience everything Black men deal with in just 5 short weeks. It became obvious that although they could get along somewhat, they truly did not see eye to eye. Being from Los Angeles, California, I at first agreed with Bruno that racism isn’t as prevalent as Brian seems to think. That is not to say that Bruno did not deny some subtle acts of racism in the first episode. Bruno is very opinionated, but he has brought up some difficult questions: why is it that some Blacks can pepper their conversations with repeated use of the N-word, but he cannot use it even when repeating what they themselves just said? One of several examples of how opinionated he is, is the video he made. Though it was technically well done and showed a lot of talent, what he did with it was insensitive and at times bordered on insulting. In the first episode, we got to meet both families and see how they are approaching the project. The fifth part of the series airs Wednesday April 5th. In the span of time between then and now, we’ve seen the development of the ‘characters’; all except for Bruno. The fourth episode left me angry at him. Anger at him had been brewing for some time. How could he still hold the same views after everything he has been through on this project? Is he still holding a grudge from an incident way back in his college days? Coincidentally, one week before Black. White. debuted, I was on a commuter bus. The bus was crowded, only a couple of seats were available. I sat down next to a White woman. She promptly got up and moved to another seat next to another White woman. The reason was instantly and painfully obvious to this California native but for some unknown reason I still tried to make excuses in my mind for her actions. Did I offend her with unpleasant odor? No, I had showered less than an hour ago, my teeth were brushed, and I had on clean, business-casual clothing. It wasn't until a coat-pulling by the brother in the row behind me that my suspicions were confirmed. He told me she just didn’t like Black people; she'd done it to other Black riders before on this bus. Now I’m an easy-going kinda guy, and it ain’t often I run into someone who doesn’t like me solely because of my dark skin. So this took me aback for a minute or two. I could’ve have been the bank manager who signed off on her home loan. I could’ve been the head physician whom her doctor consulted before prescribing her life-saving medication. I could’ve been the owner of the building where she worked. I could have been the composer of her favorite song or the guy who created her favorite dish at her favorite restaurant. No matter. All she saw was a Black person; someone to move away from. Wonder what Bruno would say to that? Carmen’s impression of Blacks at first seemed to be a stereotypical one. She seemed to think of Blacks as objects. During one of the episodes she commented that being ‘Black’ allowed her to “explore her wild side.” Her “I don’t know if you’re gay or not”, and “magnificent Black creature” comments in front of Rose’s poetry class showed her colors, if you will. However, during the third episode, we see that she is starting to ‘get it’. She and Bruno went to a cowboy bar in Chatsworth as a Black couple. The bar had a large Confederate flag on the wall. When Carmen asked if she could start a tab, the waitress told she could but she’d have to leave her credit card first. All Carmen wanted was cup of coffee. Then she and Bruno went to Leimert Park, she as herself, Bruno as a Black man. They got a lot of stares in both places. Carmen was visibly affected by both experiences, more so by the stroll through Leimert Park. Brian and Renee got involved in some very honest and disturbing conversations. At a La Cresenta bar where ‘White’ Brian, got a job as a bartender, one of the patrons told him that this was one of the “last bastions of Caucasian America”, and they liked it that way. Renee went into the same bar, as herself, and got into a conversation with a different patron. He straight out told her that here in California, Black kids want to be dumb. He said that being intelligent was akin to assimilation, being like the ‘White Man’, so Black youths try to be as dumb as possible. You cannot give enough credit to Renee, in my book, for the restraint she showed during that conversation. Nick ended up teaching his parents a very humbling lesson. Brian and Renee have spent most of the project trying to identify and squash some of the racism they see around them and all the while their own son is the one who needed schooling. He was headed toward becoming the stereotype. Even Rose pointed that out to him. During one of the episodes, he and Rose went shopping and he bought a $150 watch. To say he got a stern lecture from both of his parents is putting it lightly. The next day Brian marched his behind right back to the store and made him return it. What’s worse was his permissiveness of the use of the N-word by his White friends in his etiquette class. Nick was kicked out of school, is two grades behind, has no job, and thinks nothing of his future or the consequences of his actions. This project may have woken him up. This project has made one point maddeningly obvious to me; the portrayal of Blacks in the media has left an indelible impression on the White people of this country. You saw this in Carmen’s actions in the first three episodes. The “yo b****” comment during the language coaching sessions is one example. Another is when Nick brought his all-White etiquette class over to the house after he revealed he was really Black. They went to his room, picked up his do-rag (!) and other things, and went around acting like the rappers you see in videos, acting out their impression of ‘Black’. I felt sick watching that part. Not one tried to act like a Black businessperson, teacher, actor, community leader, or anything like that. We are not a monolithic race. But no matter how many millions of us are not like the athletes and rappers you see depicted in the media, all of us are still painted with that same broad brush. Will we ever be able to bridge the gap between the races? Or, could it be as Rose says, the divide is just too great? Who knows? But if Black. White. gets people taking on a serious level, who knows what is possible?
Editor's note: Brian Sparks and Bruno Marcotulli made the rounds after the show finished shooting. Check out this NPR interview (40 minutes). Missed the first show? MSN has teamed up with FX to stream the video. Click here to watch. Black. White. Airs Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Stan can be reached for comment at: kanale90@aol.com
For more pics of the Caymans, press here Photos and Story by: Stan Thomas March 2, 2006
The Cayman Islands is another one of those exotic destinations you don’t want to leave. Not only do the clear blue waters and white sand beaches attract people from all over the globe, it is home to some spectacular diving areas and one of the largest sea turtle farms in the world. Attractions such as Stingray City and Hell top the list of places to visit. In case you’re wondering, yes, you really can mail postcards from Hell. They even have their own post office inside the gift shop. When Cristopher Columbus was blown off course during his fourth voyage to the New World in 1503, he encountered these islands. He named them Las Tortugas, for the abundance of sea turtles that lived there. (The name Cayman, as the islands are known today, was derived from the Carib word for the crocodile family). You see symbols of turtles everywhere here, especially in the gift shops. In fact, the national flag of the Cayman Islands prominently features a turtle above the country’s coat-of-arms. During the days of the Privateeers, better known to us as pirates, turtles were a source of food. They are now protected here on the island but turtle meat is still sold in limited quantities. The Cayman Turtle Farm, another of the islands’ famous attractions, has a very successful breeding program. The area of George Town is the capitol. The main port is located here, too. In many respects, it’s like being on a pier in an American beach city. The port has a Hard Rock Café, Burger King, jewelry stores, souvenir stores, and several gift shops. Not to mention the ever-present Tortuga Rum Cake. The main Tortuga Rum Cake factory allows customers to taste the six varieties of cakes they make. Right next to the cake samples are, of course, samples of several kinds of rum. No wonder the customers walking out of the store were smiling so big. As with most Caribbean nations, tourism drives the economy. In fact, 70% of the county’s GDP comes from tourism. But this island offers something most of its neighbors can not. Though it is a tiny island, it is home to the fourth largest concentration of banks in the world. The Cayman Islands has more than 600 banks and more than 40,000 companies registered on its soil. How can such a small island become such a huge player in the financial world? Because of the special tax-free status granted to investors. The financial world considers this little island a haven for offshore investment; among other things. But that is the subject of a different article. About 40,000 persons call the Cayman Islands home. Celebrities like Bill Gates love the Cayman Islands so much that they’ve purchased homes and condos here. The movie “The Firm” was filmed here. The airport, large enough to accommodate jet aircraft, is quite busy adding a number of tourists to the daily population. Cruise lines love the Cayman Islands madly. And that is where the road to this paradise gets a bit rough. One Wednesday during the Caribbean cruise season, five cruise ships were seen in port. The harbor is not deep enough to support these massive floating hotels, so they must utilize a ship’s tender to get passengers back and forth from the ship to shore. The tender boats can only hold approximately 100 persons at one time so they understandably are running constantly during the time when the ships are in port. One of those five cruise ships happened to be the Liberty, the newest addition to Carnival’s fleet. At over 110,000 tons, it is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. It is capable of carrying up to 2,974 guests and over 1,100 crewmembers. The other ships, though not quite as monstrous as the Liberty, still carry quite a number of passengers of their own. A quick rough estimate yields a figure of 10,000 people coming to the island that day via those cruise ships, through one single point of entry, all at about the same time. Remember the total population of the Caymans is only 40,000. Cruise ships passengers swell the population by 25%! Most of the guests getting off the ships have arranged for shore excursions to places mentioned earlier in this article. Guess where these tours depart from? The same port where the tender boats operate. It is not uncommon to have a couple thousand people waiting in lines for up to an hour, only to walk to a different area where they wait in another line, shorter this time, then board a bus that will take them to their destination. At the same time, several hundred others are waiting in line - at the same port – for a tender to take them back to their respective ship. Patience is the key. Once you’ve braved the staging area, you’ll soon find yourself experiencing the pleasures this island is known for. Some opt for a day on the 7-mile beach. For around $45 US, you can relax on the pristine white sand, swim in the warm, crystal-clear aquamarine waters of the Caribbean, and partake of unlimited food and drink. Those who chose to visit Stingray City will actually swim in the ocean with the docile yet deadly creatures. While you are out swimming or snorkeling, your guide may be collecting dinner from the sea floor: Conch, a tasty delicacy here and on many other Caribbean islands, is abundant. Or for those who are less active, there are island tours by bus or even by Jeep. Grand Cayman, the largest island, is still relatively small. Therefore most of the tours only last a few hours. Then it’s time to brave the staging area again as you wait for the tender to return to the ship. If you are planning to visit the island via cruise ship, here is a tip to get the most out of your short time here: sign up for the earliest possible tour. If you plan it right, you can even squeeze two excursions into your day. You’ll be one of the first groups to come through the port so the wait will not be as bad as will be later on in the day. It is recommended that you sign up for shore excursions through the cruise ship. That is because the ship will not leave until your tour has returned. If you sign up for a tour with an outside company, if you are delayed, you could end up watching your ship sail away. Of course if you arrived by plane, you avoid all of the crowds in port. You are also probably planning to stay more than one day and will get to enjoy the island at a more leisurely pace. The fabulous hotels will welcome you with open arms. A piece of advice is here is to find out which day(s) the cruise ships are in port. Try to plan your trip so that you arrive during off days. It will obviously be less crowded. Take the time to sample the food here. It is said that though Jamaica may be famous for its Jerk cooking, they’ve got nothin’ on Caymanian Jerk. Oh, and don’t forget the Rum Cake! However you get here, you will certainly enjoy yourself in the Cayman Islands. This small island has a lot going for it. Consider making a visit here during your next vacation. Rough journey or smooth, you’ll be glad you came. Highlighted text links to more information on the subject Stan can be reached for comment at: kanale90@aol.com
Jamaican Economy Blown By Winds of Change
Photo and story by: Stan Thomas August 16, 2005 Jamaican Economy Blown by Winds of Change
Photo and story by: Stan Thomas
August 16, 2005
This is an article about the Jamaican economy. Though the photo may suggest otherwise, it does have something to do with the story. The economic climate in Jamaica has sure changed over the past four years. During my first trip to Jamaica, I was able to learn a little bit about what drives the country. Each year since, I've read about and have seen first hand how things are progressing. My most recent visit in June of this year proved to be an eye-opening one. On August 6th, Jamaica celebrated the 43rd anniversary of its independence from England. As of July 2005, officials estimate the population of this Caribbean nation at 2,731,832 people. Tourism ranks as the number one source of income for the island. For all intents and purposes, tourism is the fuel Jamaica runs on. The island imports items such as food, construction materials, fuel, machinery, and transportation equipment. Its main exports include bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, beverages, and wearing apparel. Unofficially - and, of course, illegally - cannabis also ranks high as an export. The economy is currently struggling with high interest rates, a large trade deficit, serious unemployment, and foreign competition, among other problems. It's been said that if the United States ever lifted its restriction on travel to Cuba, Jamaica would be hit first and hardest by the loss of revenue. In addition, the island's coffers have been decimated by government bailouts to sickly segments of the economy. The debt ratio is 150% of the GDP. That means it is spending 50% more than it brings in. The Jamaican government has addressed the problem and was about to implement a belt-tightening program when Hurricane Ivan tore through the island last year. With all this trouble in paradise, how is the island coping? Foreign investment has played an overwhelmingly large part in Jamaica's recent progress. It is evident in virtually every sector of Jamaica's economy. But it is not just outside interests that are propelling the country. The government is doing its part to move the country forward. Jamaica Promotions Corporation, or JAMPRO, Jamaica's export and investment promotions agency, has a website with information about investing in Jamaica or even starting a business there. These are truly interesting times for Jamaica. Read on to see a few areas where this change is occurring; and who's behind it. Cable and Wireless Jamaica is the sole provider of telephone services in Jamaica. In 2000 they decided to stop wiring homes. Minister of Industry, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, "expressed grave concern" over the decision. According to stats from 2002, there were 444,400 landlines but 1.4 million cell phones; slightly over half of the island's population. That number has no doubt increased substantially since then. Cable and Wireless Jamaica is 82% company-owned, 18% owned by the public. Cable & Wireless’ US team is located all across the United States, with offices from New York to San Francisco and from Washington DC to Houston. Its head office is in Ashburn, Virginia.
In the cellular space, Digicel Jamaica has a 65% market share with well over 1 million subscribers. Digicel has become the "fastest growing mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean" since their inauguration in Jamaica in June 2001. (Jamaica now suffers from the growing pains of too many users and not enough towers. I experienced that first hand when I tried to call a few friends and was not able to reach them about 1/3 of the time.) In just four years, they have gone from operating solely in Jamaica, to nine other Caribbean countries including Aruba, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel plans to expand their operation further by buying Cingular Wireless Caribbean. This adds Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Bermuda, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis to their sphere. They have achieved almost 100% coverage over each of their service areas. In June 2005 they acquired a license to operate in Haiti, the first company to be awarded a GSM license in that country. Digicel will soon be operating in Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel is lead sponsor of several sports teams like the West Indies Cricket Team, the National Football Team (The Reggae Boyz), golf, motor racing, track and field, and various Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean. It has provided sponsorship of various charitable organizations such as Mustard Seed (a refuge for children with HIV), Special Olympics Jamaica, Jamaica Cancer Society, and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). They are involved in many public events like the Air Jamaica Jazz Festival, Brooklyn Tabernacle in Concert, Carnival, Reggae Sunsplash, and a host of others. Understandably, Digicel does a fair amount of advertising. Digicel's billboards greet you as you drive along the highways and their spots grab your attention while surf the television airwaves. It is indisputable that Digicel has made a positive impact upon thousands of Jamaicans.
However, like most other companies, it
is not Jamaican-owned. True, Digicel is headquartered in Kingston,
Jamaica and its staff is 92% Caribbean nationals. But Digicel is an
Irish-founded company. Irishman
Denis O'Brien, the
company's chairman, is believed to own about a 75 per cent stake in the
company. According to Digicel's website, only 2 of the six members of
the Board of Directors are Jamaican. The other four are Irish.
Foreign investment also has reached into the island's transportation sector. Major construction to expand the island's main airport (Sangster Airport) in Montego Bay has been going on for the past two or so years. This expansion is made possible because the airport has been let out under a long-term lease agreement to MBJ Airports Ltd. Canadian-based Vancouver Airport Services, the consortium that owns MBJ Airports, Ltd., manages 15 airports worldwide. Vancouver Airport Services does not appear to have any Jamaican entities in its consortium of companies.
Air Jamaica is, of course, the island's flagship airline. Fittingly, it is also Jamaican owned. Known for its comfortable fleet of 20 Airbus planes, champagne service, and hospitality, Air J, as it's called by locals, has become a symbol of Jamaica as a world-class destination. Not only is Air J responsible for flying more people to and from the island than any other airline, its cargo operations are a huge factor in the growth of Jamaica's industry and commerce, and the economy in general. Ironically, although Air J is the national airline, most Jamaicans cannot afford to fly with them and are forced to choose lower-priced airlines. Though the skies have been friendly for Air J, there is severe turbulence back home. A May 2003 article on Jamaicans.com questions Air Jamaica's activities of late. Accusations have flown that the owners of Air Jamaica, Gordon "Butch" Stewart and his acquisition group, have bought "new multi- million dollar airplanes as if they were going out of style" while Air J's finances continue to hemorrhage. Stewart has also been accused of using the airline's profits to run his other enterprises, especially his string of hotels. Back in 1994, the government divested its share in the airline down to 25%. In an effort to preserve the airline, the Jamaican government recently increased its stake in Air Jamaica from 25% to 45%. Jamaica's government did this even though it is still running a 150% debt ratio. Reports say that the action was a debt-for-equity swap; Air Jamaica is allegedly carrying debt in the neighborhood of US$600 million and owes the government about US$110 million in taxes and fees. It was inevitable then that Stewart fully returned Air J back to government ownership in December 2004. There are several disagreements flying around about what led to Air Jamaica's decline.
It goes without saying that hotels are vital to the economy of Jamaica. Construction is taking place in several locations on the island. The administration has adopted a policy to expand and develop tourism on the island. In an exclusive interview granted to the Caribbean Business Report, Dr. Omar Davies, Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Planning, discussed how to put the Jamaican economy "on the right track".
Offering another view, Justice Delroy Chuck, speaking at a budget debate, proposed that hotel construction should be "extended to other towns" because "each parish [has] a desirable coastline on which hotels or convention centres could be built." He advocates that the whole of Jamaica be built up to accommodate tourism as the benefits would be "astronomical”. Sandals and Beaches are two of the most popular couples-only all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Like many hotels on the island, non-residents of Caribbean countries require a work permit to work at Sandals/Beaches, which is granted by the relevant government. The two resorts are owned by Gorstew Limited, owner of Unique Vacations, Inc. The aforementioned Gordon 'Butch' Stewart is the owner of Gorstew Limited, and is the former chairman of Air Jamaica. Stewart is a native Jamaican. As Stewart's empire continues to expand, he nevertheless gave a moving speech about the hotel industry in Jamaica and the Caribbean in general. In the speech he states that taxes are handicapping hotels, and by default, most other industries on the island. He drove home the point that hotels support many industries. Therefore as goes tourism, so goes the economy. One case in point is the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, which was sold last year. It shut down while it underwent remodeling. A number of factors, most significant of which was Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, delayed opening of the newly christened Sunset Jamaica Grande until June of this year. During the time the hotel was closed, the surrounding businesses in Ocho Rios were dealt a severe blow. Many merchants ended up leaving. Some stores were still closed during my most recent visit. Jamaica is understandably concerned about protecting their image as a premier tourist destination. While on the streets, one notices a higher police presence. I asked one of the drivers why that was. He told me that they had had a very slight increase in crime. The government jumped on it immediately and squashed the problem. The highly visible presence is a deterrent to would-be criminals and sign to tourists that it is safe to walk the streets. The administration is now aiming to move from the more "traditional narrow focus on sand, sea and sun", to an island-wide inclusive program. Integration with other sectors such as agriculture, arts and crafts, transportation, sports, and manufacturing is planned. On the drawing board are plans to build world-class sporting facilities in hopes of encouraging young athletes and to provide a place for the world to come and compete against them. Jamaica's rich, diverse culture and heritage will be emphasized. The government "intends to put a lot more focus on heritage tourism through the development historical sites such as Spanish Town, Falmouth and Port Royal and the various great houses, as well as theme parks." This would include the Arawak/Taino history and that of the Maroons. Embarkation on an urban renewal program is another item on the administration's plate. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) 2001-2002 Annual Report shows a list of projects both in the works and underway. The Lift Up Jamaica Programme started in 1999. Since then, it has identified some 600 projects and upgrading has been done in 19 towns while providing skills training and short-term employment to 40,000 Jamaicans. Exports are on the rise, especially food products. In your local supermarket, you can now find many Jamaican foods and spices such as jerk sauce and rubs, callaloo, juices, meats, and more. Kingston, Jamaica-based Grace Foods, an Expo exhibitor, is hugely responsible for bringing these staples of Caribbean cuisine to mainland store shelves. If you're near Crenshaw Blvd, visit the Albertson's across from the mall and you'll find these products prominently displayed at the front of one the aisles. While in Jamaica, my son and I discovered a new (to us) drink called Kola Champagne. I was ecstatic to find it readily available in a Caribbean market. And on the bottle was proudly printed "Imported from Jamaica". Remember I mentioned that the photo above fits this story? It involves a Jamaican businessman. He is demonstrating how he is directly impacted by the tourism industry on his island. The brother doing the back dive off the 3-story high wall is richer than he was when I first met him five minutes before this photograph was taken. He and his partners would do a particular dive for a small 'donation'. A pretty good business, right? I paid for a service. The proprietor delivered the service promptly and professionally. It's what he does to make it in his country. What do people like me get out of it? Out of all the photos I took on this recent visit, this one is my favorite. Though Jamaica certainly is changing, its residents continue to make the best of things. The new government has implemented new policies. Hurricanes have dealt severe blows to the island just when it was enjoying a solid recovery after the tourist drop-off following the events of September 11, 2001. With investments from outside the island, new opportunities are available to residents that were not possible a mere four years earlier. I've been blessed to be able to read about it from 3,000 miles away, to hear from my friends there how it directly affects them, and, to a small degree, experience it first-hand. Yet, through it all, the people will be like palm trees; swaying with the winds of change but still standing strong. My only hope is that all this progress does not turn the jewel of the Caribbean into larger version of the Famous Amos Story.
Facts and figures from company websites and: The World Factbook - Jamaica. 9 Aug. 2005. CIA - World Factbook. 16 Oct. 2005 <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/jm.html> Stan can be reached at: kanale90@aol.com
Community Not Approving This StampStory by: Stan Thomas Memin Pinguin stamp: courtesy of Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn July 26, 2005 Mexico has been getting its share of publicity lately. Unfortunately much of it has been negative. In May of this year, Mexico's own president Vicente Fox angered Blacks with his comment about Mexicans willing to do work "not even Blacks want to do." Now Mexico is issuing a set of postage stamps honoring cartoonist Sixto Valencia. The stamps, since sold out, portray the popular comic book character Memin Pinguin. The problem is that Memin Pinguin bears more than a small resemblance to Little Black Sambo, a storybook character that is almost universally considered offensive to African-Americans. The name 'Sambo' soon became a derogatory term hurled at Blacks. Readers old enough to remember the Sambo's restaurant chain remember how popular the restaurant became; and how it declined because of its name. Reaction to the issuance of these stamps on this side of the border has been swift and passionate. Council members Jan Perry and Bernard Parks signed a motion to condemn the stamps. Jesse Jackson wrote an article for the Chicago Sun-Times voicing his displeasure. Even the White House has taken a stand against the stamp's publication saying that "images like these have no place in today's world." So what does the world outside the United States think of the stamps? Memin Pinguin's character has enjoyed huge popularity in Mexico and other Latin American countries for over half a century. The comic has been credited with teaching numerous youngsters to read. Pinguin's character, according to some reports, stands for the good inside people. He loves his mother - who just happens to look a lot like the turn-of-the-20th-century Aunt Jemima character - and is just like any other child with a big heart. Memin means well but he gets into all sorts of situations along the way. Carlos Garcia Camillo gives some background on Memin's origins and history. For a more candid look, read this article on www.cornpone.net, which has links to other blogs and some comments about Memin from Mexicans and other Latinos who grew up with the comic. Washington Post journalist Eugene Robinson probably has one of the most authoritative positions on the subject; he is an African-American reporter from 'the segregated South', who has lived in Latin American countries for several years. Those credentials speak for themselves. It means his article "Starting A No-Win Fight" uniquely addresses the controversy from literally both sides of the fence. Memin Pinguin takes us back to a despicable period in our nation's past. Why, then, do some Blacks actually collect artifacts such as the Memin Pinguin's stamp, as insulting, exploitative, and emotionally painful this type of memorabilia can be. In an article called "Keeping the Past Alive", actor Avery Johnson discusses why it's important to preserve and keep Black Americana. Dr Kwaku Person-Lynn, quoted in a radio interview, stated that he "was not going to be outbid" in his quest to obtain some of the Pinguin stamps. He later told us that he obtained them to show his students how racist characters were depicted. Long-time Expo exhibitor Sable Images (see the Expo Exhibitor list) sells Black memorabilia. Each has their own individual reasons for accumulating reminders of such a 'difficult' time in our not-too-distant history. Now it's your turn. What do you think about Mexico and their decision to issue the Memin Pinguin stamp? Let us hear from you! Post your comments here in our forum. Then voice your opinion directly to the Mexican Consulate (information appears below). All highlighted text links to more information on the subject Stan can be reached at: kanale90@aol.com
Voice your opinion to: Mario Velzquez-Suarez Mexican Consulate 2401 W. 6th St Los Angeles, CA 90057 E-mail: mvelazquez@sre.gob.mex Fax (213) 368-2790 Photo and story by: Stan Thomas
Giving shout-outs in song for products like Hennessey's and the Cadillac Escalade are nothing new to rap or Hip Hop. Just listen for a couple of hours and you’re bound to run across one or three. But this is the first time a corporation has put out a blanket call out to have their product promoted in song. As innovative and controversial as the campaign may be may be, this is not even close to the faux pas the Golden Arches just made. As recently as two years ago, McDonald’s customers weren’t lovin’ it. Business at the restaurants was declining. Their menu was stale. Shareholders were getting heartburn over the sales figures. And their competitors were eating their lunch. Something had to be done-and soon. Enter a new ad campaign. “I’m lovin’ it” has proved to be a prophetic slogan. Sales are now sizzling. From a low of almost $12 a share in March 2003, McDonald’s stock has nearly tripled in value. The arches looked golden again. So good was the campaign, this writer even wanted to go get a Big Mac, even though the taste of their burgers is not all that appealing. That the sales have improved that much while the food has not changed at all speak volumes about the effectiveness of the campaign. So how does McDonald’s top that feat? By branching out into cyberspace. It seems that Mickey D’s has taken out some new Internet ads. If you happen across a website where one of these ads appears, you will be greeted by a young man smiling wickedly and saying, “I’d hit that.” The new slogan has become fodder for a super-sized portion of bad jokes. As usual, artist Aaron McGruder has his finger on the pulse of today. His comic strip The Boondocks mentioned the ad. So incredible was this claim - the strip said it was an actual McDonald’s ad - that it demanded further investigation. Sure enough, it was true. Check out Andrew Temen's blog. According to an article on nobodysmilin.com, Mickey D's spokesperson Walt Rider explains the new strategy by saying the company is trying to connect with young customers in "relevant, culturally significant ways". Some connection. The best way to connect with the youth in a relevant, culturally significant way is to go outside the office and talk to kids on the street or outside school. Not by regurgitating today’s slang calling that connecting with the youth. Understanding the slang and the people using it goes a long way towards marketing to a consumer group versus exploiting them. There are several examples of this kind of ‘misdirected’ advertising. Back in 2001, Buick ran an ad campaign using as their slogan "It's all good." It didn't really help their sales much. In hindsight, it looks like the ad company that came up with the marketing concept was trying to cash in on the latest slang rather than boosting sales for their client. Though McDonald’s denies it, director Morgan Sperlock's eye-opening and surprisingly well-done documentary "Super Size Me" was in large part a factor in the franchise’s decision to stop offering super-sized fries and sodas, and place 'healthier' options on their menu. Let's see what the backlash from this lack of understanding and exploitation of our young people brings. Back to www.expoupdate.com |
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Jazz Blooms at Lancaster Poppy Festival Photos and story by: Stan Thomas May 2, 2005
It was a beautiful afternoon to spend out at a park; mid-seventies, slight breeze, very few clouds. A tented stage was set up on one of the baseball fields next to the carnival rides. The aroma of various foods being cooked outdoors drifted throughout the park, mingling with the sounds of the music coming from the stage. Friends and neighbors met, new friends were introduced. Jazz lovers couldn’t ask for much more. The first set began promptly at 1:30 in the afternoon. The benches were already full by that time. It wasn’t long before the standing areas filled. First up was Everette Harp. He came out of the gate smokin’ with “Modern Religion” and Mutual Admiration Society”, both tunes from his Better Days CD. It was hard to find a body that wasn’t swaying, a foot that wasn’t tapping, or a hand that wasn’t clapping.
Everette did put his horns down in order pick up the mike and sing “I’m Sorry”, a song from his Common Ground CD. It was one of those moments where the audience was let in on the secret behind why the song was written and how this kind of tune ended up on the CD. The audience was let in on another ‘secret’ of sorts: Harp played “Freefall”, which he wrote as a tribute to The Crusaders. There is some history there in that Harp and the original Crusaders are from Texas. He explained that The Crusaders had recently reunited. While on tour, Everette was privileged to perform this song with his long-time idols. Hearing the song does recall the heyday of the Crusaders, especially with Everette choosing to play tenor sax, just as Wilton Felder did. Yet another treat was in store for the crowd. Everette allowed his bass player to come up front and sing. The story goes that the band was playing around with it beforehand, and they decided to try it out. The song was simply called “Love”, and featured the audience singing the chorus. As is his custom near the end of his sets, Harp jumped off the stage and waded into the audience while he played his alto. The crowd, now on its feet, was a sea of smiles and clapping hands. A few very lucky people had the pleasure of having Everette stop in front of them to blow a couple of bars. One very lucky lady in the front row…well, you had to be there. All too soon, the first half of the concert was over. Much to the dismay of the crowd, there was no encore. But it wasn’t long before the stage was changed and Norman Brown walked out. By this time the wind began to pick up. A couple of times it blew the bass player’s music off the stand. But that didn’t stop the band or Norman. One thing that was evident in this year’s festival was the interaction with the audience. Norman Brown continued that relationship in his set. Brown had played this gig a few years earlier with Boney James. The audience was glad to have him back. This year featured more of Brown’s vocal talents. Of course, his Ibanez guitar did some singing of its own. He used a wah-wah pedal on a couple of numbers to get that 70’s-style guitar sound. And that unmistakable Norman Brown smile kept everyone in good spirits. Brown provided a couple of treats of his own for the crowd. He announced that his daughter had just gone off to West Point Academy. He told the audience he wrote “Up ‘N’ at ‘Em” for her and proceeded to play it. There is a point in the song where Norman plays a guitar line that sounds more than a little bit like a military bugle call. It was quite obvious that he is very proud of his little girl. In the moments between songs, Brown conversed with the audience. He had just played a few selections from his latest CD West Coast Chillin’ and asked if anyone had it. Almost instantly a woman in the third row whipped it out of her purse and held it aloft for all to see. Norman saw it and pointed it out, almost hinting, half jokingly, that everyone else should follow suit and buy it, too. The second treat Norman had in store for the crowd was his musical director and keyboard player Gail Jhonson (she spells it that way). She has a new CD out called Keep the Music Playing and played a selection from it. Ms. Jhonson has quite an impressive resume. Hearing her play, it was easy to see how she built up that resume. Like Harp did before him, Brown jumped off the stage and came out into the audience. However, his wireless pick-up did not have enough range so Brown could only go up to the first aisle and circle back. But there was no loss of enthusiasm from the crowd as they rose to their feet when they saw him leap from the stage. When Brown announced that he had time for one more song, a man in the audience yelled out “Lydian”. The man must have known what was on Brown’s set list because that was the next song they launched into. A standing ovation greeted the end of the song. Brown did come back out for an encore. Then he and Gail Jhonson signed autographs for waiting fans. Don’t worry if you missed the show. Brown and Harp will team up 20 more times this year in locations throughout the Southern California area, including the Playboy Jazz Festival. Check their website for dates and venues. After the performance this year, quite a few of the audience members were overheard commenting that the city of Lancaster should expand the Poppy Festival to include a full-blown Jazz festival, or start a separate Jazz festival. Judging by the size of the crowd on hand, it would certainly be well received. It’s possible the seed may have already been planted. Who knows? Next year, poppies may not be the only things in full bloom in the Antelope Valley. Highlighted text links to more information on the subject Stan can be reached for comment at: kanale90@aol.com |
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Hotel
Rwanda’s Hero Paul Ruseabagina
Most
people would agree that most any island in the Caribbean is some form of
paradise. Indeed the Caribbean boasts many of the most beautiful places
on this earth. Take your pick: St. Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique,
all locales that once you visit, you find it very hard to leave. 
Have you heard about McDonald’s’ new ad
campaign? EUR ran an article about the ‘
