Art and Music After 80 Part 2

Homage to the Past, Hope & Inspiration for the Future

Black Women are inspiring their peers and other generations to break the stereotypes that are often associated with aging. The idea for this work comes from a Chicago Black women’s band The KCR Ensemble, led by 75 year old guitarist Rita Hassell and managed by her husband Oliver Hassell.

Here they are:
https://www.youtube.com/results? search_query=youtu.be%2FX3KYqgv2vWY

The art is not portraits of the KCR Ensemble members, but follows the pattern of and pays homage to these women who are playing the classics, the music from the diaspora, contemporary and futuristic jazz.

The images pay homage to art that has gone before, art media, and cutting edge art of today.

Now the work is available in our concert halls and internet venues.

Art and Music Swinging After 80

Homage to the Past, Hope & Inspiration for the Future

Black Women are inspiring their peers and other generations to break the stereotypes that are often associated with aging. The idea for this work comes from a Chicago Black women’s band The KCR Ensemble, led by 75 year old guitarist Rita Hassell and managed by her husband Oliver Hassell. Here they are:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=youtu.be%2FX3KYqgv2vWY

The art is not portraits of the KCR Ensemble members, but follows the pattern of and pays homage to these women who are playing the classics, the music from the diaspora, contemporary and futuristic jazz.

The images pay homage to art that has gone before, art media, and cutting edge art of today.

Getting to the 80%

Curtis Mayfield 1960’s song

There are 10% we will never be able to reach. There are 80% who are waiting, for leadership and direction. Maybe waiting to see how the wind blows. There are 10% who have already boarded the train and moved out. While waiting let’s listen to Curtis Mayfield

How I See It: Folks are Hurting This Song

Somebody’s Hurting My Folks *1,2,3,4,5,6

I am asking all of our Black ministers to ask their choirs to learn and sing this song. White folks in Spokane are lacking your soul when they sing this song. Please come to our next social justice event prepared to teach white folks how to sing and swing this song.

Click here for more about the Poor People’s Campaign and the song.

If you looked through the archives you will notice an absence of the African American Community at the marches, at the rallies, at the demonstrations, at the social justice community organizing meetings but at the Spokane Black Agenda Summit July 30, 2011  over 100 African Americans built a plan to action. What do you think happened after that? Click the above link to see what they planned.

  1. My folks – those that are showing up for social justice.
  2. Somebody’s  hurting my Black sisters and brothers.
  3. Somebody’s hurting poor people.
  4. Somebody’s hurting my church.
  5. Somebody’s hurting my community.
  6. Somebody’s hurting my global community.

 

African Americans in the Arts in the Spokane / Coeur d’Alene Area

Visual and Performing Arts, Literary Arts, Media Arts

I would like to thank all of those that are helping us to develop a database of African Americans involved in the Spokane and Inland Empire in the visual, performing, literary and media arts. 

Steve Pitters and I have been discussing how to bring about a change in mind-set infusing overall community opportunity for African Americans in the Arts in Spokane. The individuals listed here are being asked to consider the following ways they can enhance the cultural scene for each of us by doing the following:

  • Develop a community who will commit to attend each others functions and events. This will help to ensure our visibility at these events.
  • Use this list to notify us of our activities.
  • Use this list to make others in the community aware of our activities.
  • People in other cultures and communities in the United States and elsewhere insure the development and growth of talented individuals and businesses.
  • We need to change the “me for myself” attitude. Spokane is small enough for us to be able to sustain and support the talents of those who wish to share it with others.

Send us your thoughts and calendars of events and let’s collaborate with each other in support of like-minded interests and events.

Below are the names and contact information we have located so far. Please continue to send us names and contact information on other artists you might know. We would like to know the medium they operate in, email address, street address, phone number, web address,  and whether they are on Facebook

Adell Whitehead <mspine@comcast.net>
Althea Dumas, singer, althea.dumas@yahoo.com
 A. J. afariamckinney@hotmail.com  poet

Bethany Montgomery power2thepoetry@gmail.com poet

Bob Bartlett <rbartlett@ewu.edu>
Carl Richardson Carl_richardson1966@yahoo.com
Carlos Fox, keyboard
Carlos Verde – Facebook
Charles Williams, drummer
Christopher Bowers, drummer
D’Angelo Harvey, singer  dangelo@hotelrubyspokane.com
Daron <zrockman@hotmail.com>
Darrien Mack <DarrienM@community-minded.org>
Daryl Spencer, guitarist
David Casteal <davidca@spokaneschools.org>
David Parker <dlppv@aol.com>
Delbert Richardson <ahtm@thespokentruths.com>
Denise E. Roberson <littlesistahs@live.com>
Donzel Milan <donzel_milan@yahoo.com>
Dycelia Weiss <dycelia@weissfinancialconsulting.com>
Echo Elysium  -guitar/vocals
Elisha J Mitchell <elisha@gospelvocalist.com>
Esther Greene, pianist
Fran Hammond <fran.hammond10@gmail.com>
Frankie Valinda Ghee <fvghee@gmail.com>
Gaye Hallman – Facebook
Genesis Vernon  -rap artist
Ginger Ewing <ginger_ewing@yahoo.com>
Inga Laurent <ilaurent@lawschool.gonzaga.edu>
Inga Laurent <laurenin@hotmail.com>
Jackie McCowen-Rose <jqmcrose@gmail.com>
Jacob jacobsportraits@aol.com
James Bowens, bass guitar
Jamie Stacy, singer/musician
Jeff Mooring <here2there26@gmail.com>
Jermaine jermaine_86@msn.com
Joseph King <toneKane31@hotmail.com>
Kenya Diallo  -piano/vocals
Keven DeWayne Franklin <kevendfranklin@gmail.com>
Lamar Webster lamarwbstr86@gmail.com  singer/musician
LaQuan (LQ) Local Legendz 1917 E Sprague  -music
Lindell Reason – Facebook
Mariah Nicole Hernandez <mhernandez18@outlook.com>
Maya Roseman <mayaaileen@aol.com>
Nicholas Sironka <sironkamaasai@yahoo.com>
Priscilla Barnett -mixed media

Power 2 The Poetry at Facebook

Quindrey Davis  -drummer
Rachel Dolezal <radolezal77@gmail.com>
Raggs Gustaffe – Facebook
Robert Lloyd <rdlloyd@comcast.net>
Robert Williamson <robert5592@aol.com>
Ron Greene  -guitar/vocals
Ron Smalls <concernedcitizen2017@yahoo.com>
Salik Seville  <silverbraclet@hotmail.com> Facebook, painter
Seneca   Skillscreate Smith           Facebook
Shalon Parker <shalon_p@yahoo.com>
Shantell Jackson <shantell.r.j@gmail.com>
Stephen Pitters <stephenpitters@comcast.net>
Yolanda Everette <yo143mrk13@gmail.com>

Join the Raging Grannies

Join the Raging Grannies at the People’s Climate Rally this coming
Saturday April 29 at noon at:

Spokane Tribal Gathering Place
(Next to City Hall)
353 N Post St, Spokane

Want to know more about the Raging Grannies?  Want to sing with them? Check us out on Facebook.

 

Musical Rascals of Spokane – The P-Jammers

P-Jammers – An accompaniment for marches and protests

By Diane Lloyd


So what is P-Jammers all about? They are part of a community street band movement whose bands play not for the people but “among the people and invite them to join the fun. They are active, activist, and deeply engaged in their communities, at times alongside unions and grassroots groups in outright political protest, or in some form of community-building activity…” says the website for Honkfest (honkfest.org), an annual festival of activist bands held first in Boston then Seattle and Austin and now in many other cities.  Drawing from sources as diverse as Klezmer, Afrobeat, and Hip Hop they are “outrageous and inclusive, brass and brash, percussive and persuasive — reclaiming public space with a sound that is in your face and out of this world.”

PJAMRS, the Peace and Justice Activist Musical Rascals of Spokane, or P-Jammers Community Marching Band, was founded by Greg Youmans in response to the need for a musical accompaniment for marches and protests and other events where people are making themselves heard. Greg had been in Seattle’s Anti-Fascist Marching Band and participated with them in the Battle in Seattle – the enormous 1999 anti-WTO protests. After moving to Spokane and becoming active in protests here he discovered the Peace and Justice Action League. Recruiting other musicians through the PJALS newsletter he and Bill Lockwood put together a band that made their debut at a September 2005 peace march. In addition they perform at events such as Earth Day and First Night.

Ready to join the fun and action? A diverse group of amateurs and professionals, young and old, P-Jammers welcomes anyone who wants to share in their musical exuberance. Practices are organized in preparation for specific events.

Contact Greg Youmans at (509) 638-7554.



Spokane in Action: How Can I Get Involved?

Click here for Opportunities to organize, protest, make your voice heard

How I Saw: Spokane’s 8,000 Women March by Robert Lloyd

Protester’s sign read stand up! speak up! and these protesters did it this cold Spokane winter day. Some who were lucky made it to inside halls standing and sitting in the warmth and could hear the messages from the Ballroom. Others filled sidewalks for blocks east and west and entertained each other with songs, music, chatter. The Davenport Hotel Coffee and Bar was a hit place to keep warm.

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After the March People Rose Up!

Marchers continued on to the Community Building where they shared chili, soup, music, poetry, speakers, a movie, action tables, creative activities for kids and adults, and began networking to take action.

Something You Can Do                                                    Personal Actions You Can Take

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