tulsa

Aug 26 2010

Cause unknown

Bassist Robert Wilson, who founded the legendary American funk act the Gap Band with his brothers Charlie, and Ronnie, died Sunday in his Palmdale home. The cause of death is still unknown pending a full autopsy. Wilson was 53.
 
The Wilson brothers were raised in Tulsa, Okla. and began playing together in 1967, originally under the name of the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band. In the early 1970s, they shortened their name to the Gap Band and began performing with Leon Russell, who produced their debut album “Magician’s Holiday.”

May 28 2009

A very dark moment in African American history

Hollywood, CA -- Picture this; 88 years ago, May 31, 1921 to be exact, unsuspecting Black Americans were going about their daily business in one of the most prosperous Black communities in America known as “The Black Wall Street.” In less than 16 hours 300 people would be murdered and more than 10,000 law-abiding citizens would be displaced.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”