This Saturday!! It’s going to be a great time, so if you’re in the Atlanta area, please come on out!
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Tag: weekend
My Kinda Weekend
This is what weekends are made of. I’ve been on a cultural excursion all weekend! I’ll be back later to talk about them all, but here’s a taste.
It’s National Black Arts Festival week, and I took part of some awesome offerings. Friday, I attended the screening of Soundtrack of a Revolution, which is a documentary that highlights how music played such an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. Here’s a trailer.
After that, I rushed over to the Symphony Hall to see the To Curtis with Love tribute concert for Curtis Mayfield. My favorite Curtis Mayfield song, “Makings of You” was performed by Dionne Farris. My favorite undergroundish artists, Joi and Van Hunt, were there, along with Frank McComb, the Impressions, and Eddie Levert. It was a great time.
Yesterday, I went to see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which I really enjoyed. Then I went back to the Rialto to view 41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers. Man, it was really a wonderful, captivating documentary. I have always admired certain aspects of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and I’ve looked up to some of its leaders, but I never even knew about Bunchy Carter, who was a really impressive man. The documentary took us from the beginnings of the Southern Cali chapter of the Black Panthers to the disbanding of it. Here’s the trailer.
After the documentary, I was able to listen to a panel discussion featuring Chuck D, Kathleen Cleaver, Wayne Pharr, the producers of the documentary, and a couple of US organization representatives. My favorite quotes of the night were from Chuck D:
“If you don’t identify your enemy, how the hell are you gonna fight?”
“Racism comes out every year like a new model car. We have to recognize it and know how to respond.”
So much more to read, research, and consider. I’m so happy I was able to participate in this event. My favorite quote in the documentary was
“If you want to be a revolutionary, you have to study revolution.”
Today (and on Thursday as well), I am volunteering for I Dream, a musical production about the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As the weekend comes to a close, I appreciate all the mind-expanding, thought-provoking activities I have access to. Didn’t I just say the other day how awesome my life is? Happy Sunday, people.
Jitney
This afternoon, a friend of mine and I went to the Alliance Theatre and enjoyed a great production written by the great August Wilson called Jitney.
Set in 1977 in a jitney stop (car service) in Pittsburgh, this production explored a range of topics still relevant to the black community, including the disconnect between generations, alcoholism, the role of men in households and families, love and forgiveness, the importance of communication between romantic partners, the effects of war on young soldiers, the lack of support for small businesses in some cities, and the list goes on. This would have made for a great Reads and Reels discussion!
In addition to the great music played between scenes (classics like Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up”), I really enjoyed the light banter and surefire black lingo infused into the script. The characters were real to me because I could definitely hear my daddy talking like these guys were. Although the plot was very heavy overall, the production made good use of comic relief.
It made me smile to see so many black folk at the theatre, supporting the arts. If you haven’t seen it, make sure to put this on your list of things to do this month. Jitney runs through June 27.
Painting by Numbers is still fun!
A group of friends and I helped to paint this past Saturday night.
Perfect for date night or a group activity with friends, Paint by Numb3rs definitely made for a relaxing yet involved evening. My friends and I painted, talked, laughed, shopped for jewelry from a vendor set up in the gallery, and walked around and enjoyed the artwork on display. What I found particularly fantastic is that the paintings resulting from Paint by Numb3rs are donated to charity and are auctioned off as fundraisers. So, not only did we paint in boxes with numbers in them to let us know what color to use, but we also contributed to someone in need. Next time you’re looking for something different to do on a Saturday night, check out Paint by Numb3rs!
Just the Two of Us 