The video ‘racism in the elevator’ from Reckless Tortuga is a humorous video about an irritating situation. The video is about the situation where a white woman is clutching her purse when a black man is around.
The other video is about black racism. It’s about the situation where a black man who wears a suite is seen as a white man, an uncle tom or an ‘elitist’ by an other black person. The best part of the video is the end.
Summer news. The Japanese band Sour made a very creative video with webcam shots of their fans. The video is great, but don't forget the music.
This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam. (youtube)
I've watched the Michael Jackson memorial, very impressive. A Dutch commentator said, it looked as if the black community took him back. And somehow it felt that way too. Especially the speech of Rev. Al Sharpton was powerful. He was right about that Michael Jackson paved the way for a lot of black people, including Obama.
A teenager joins his mother and siblings from Nigeria but struggles to adapt to an alien way of life in London
Femi's short film "Fresh off the boat" has been nominated for Film London's Battle of the Boroughs(BoBs). It is currently being developed into a TV series
This short film doesn't only gives you a short glimpse in one of the many black communities in London, but also in the daily live of black teenagers at school and on the streets. You can see the whole film. Fresh of the boat For a broader view on this film read the post of Shadow And Act
Here's the video of the rehearsal two days before his death. Thanks to CNN for the footage. CNN reports that there is over 100 hours of rehearsal footage.
NewsOne.com covered the Apollo Theater Tribute to Michael Jackson the King of Pop. Those in attendance included Rev. Al Sharpton, film-maker Spike Lee, and of course his loyal and devoted fans of all ages.
The memorial service will be held on tuesday July 7th. Live broadcast in Europe will start at around 7pm.
Les Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens (The Afro-Caribbean Arts Awards) is the annual French award ceremony for black cultural achievements. Since 2006 The Good Music Association has organized the award ceremony, formerly les Césaire de la Musique, to pay tribute to the founding father of the Negritude movement, and to promote cultural diversity of French Afro-Caribbean arts in the fields of cinema, music, literature ...
Although the name Afro-Caribéens refers to Afro-Caribbeans, artists from the overseas department Reunion and from the former French colonies in Africa are also nominated.
The award ceremony will be held on September 21th 2009 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. It will be preceded by a public vote. For more information go to ‘Les Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens’ Nominated in the categories
Album de l’année (Album of the year) Madagasker - Ziskakan Victor Démé - Victor Démé Ouvrir mes ailes - Medhy Custos Inspiration information vol 3 - Mulatu Astatké
Summer news. The organisers of Glastonbury Festival pulled the sound on N.E.R.D. The band were an half hour late starting their performance (June 26). But band leader Pharrell Williams told the audiance the band would play the full set. That didn't happend. Read the full story here
N.E.R.D is an American rock, funk and hip hop band of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. The Glastonbury Festival in the UK is the biggest outdoor festival in the world.
N.E.R.D made a video about the economic crises called Sooner or Later. The sound is so European. Sooner or later
In urban city life vegetarian food with a touch of spirituality is seen as food for tree huggers only. But vegetarian Ital food of Rastafarian roughnecks of Jamaica is – of course – a different story.
Since I watched the video of London chef Hassan Defour going back to his Caribbean food roots and meeting Rasta farmer Iral Axum, I am interested in being a little bit green.
So what is Ital food? Is is just health food or more?
Ital is a term used by Rastas, derivated from "vital", who means a natural and sane way of life. One aspect of Ital is the Ital food: because the body is a temple, you should not eat unpure food. Also you must take care of your body, cause it is Jah creation.
Ital is generally a vegan diet, even if some Rastas eat fish. Some prohibit salt, some not.
In all cases, Ital prohibits pork, preservatives, chemical ingredients. Ingredients have to be the most natural possible.
In Jamaica, Ital cooking is most often inspired from Indian and African cooking. But lot of recipes can be "Italized" if prepared only with vegetables and natural ingredients. (Rasta meal.)
The video
See more videos at UK Itzcarribean.com In the video Iral made a shake called ‘Live forage’, it's made of: Raw oats Peanuts Sesame seed Pumpkin seed Raisins Molasses Bananas
The dread library "Ital is Vital"- A long interesting story about Ital food with recipes from The Rasta Cookbook. If you want check out the recipes first, go the last page and scroll up!
Michael Jackson, the show-stopping singer whose best-selling albums -- including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" -- and electrifying stage presence made him one of the most popular artists of all time has died. Michael Jackson, August 29 1958 – June 25 2009, became 50.
Rest in peace and thanks for the music and the memories. This is my pick too.
On July 1, 2009, the Dutch institute for slavery history, NiNsee, will organise for the eighth consecutive year the National Memorial of the Dutch Slavery Past. On July 1, 1863 slavery was abolished in the former Dutch colonies of Suriname and Netherlands Antilles. Thus ended a period of more than 200 years of slavery in the colonies. This part of Keti Koti (broken chains) includes the formal commemoration at the monument in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. This memorial has now developed into a ceremony with speeches by ministers on behalf of the government, the mayor of Amsterdam, representatives of the Ghanaian, Surinamese, Antillean and Aruban governments. The ceremony will begin at 10:45 to 12:30, from 14:30 to 18:30 there will be live performances
Sony records reports that Sade is working on the release to the long-awaited follow-up to 2000s “Lover’s Rock.”
According to Sony Sade is in the studio now, with plans to release an album by the end 2009. A source from the label told Billboard, “She is in the studio and the album will come when it is ready. You don’t wait for years for one and then rush it.”
Sade became famous with the album Diamond Life in 1984. With songs as Smooth Operator, Cherish The Day en Your Love Is King.
In 2002 Sade received the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire, she dedicated the title to all Afro-British woman.
The Sweetest Taboo (Diamond Life, 1984), performed live in 2001.
By your side (Lovers Rock, 2000), performed live in 2001.
American Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding will be touring Europe from July 7th to August 8th 2009. She will be in France (Vannes Jazz Festival), Portugal, The Netherlands (North Sea Jazz), Spain, Italy (Venice Jazz Festival)and Germany (KulturArena).
If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 23-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music. (The Seattle Times.)
Spalding grew up in the King neighborhood of Portland (USA), Oregon, a neighborhood she herself describes as "ghetto" and "pretty scary." Her mother, who raised her and her brother as a single parent, was an independent, industrious woman. (read more @ wikipedia.org) Esperanza Spalding Myspace
A post about a flick called the 'The Neo African Americans' on the blog Shadow and Act, reminded me of an article about an African-American Harvard graduate who found out that a high percentage of 'blacks' on Harvard where from Africa and the Caribbean.
Since she was also the director of the American Association for Affirmative Action, she wanted to know how black immigrant students would fit in that goal of correcting American racial injustices.
In the story entitled 'Among Black Students, Many Immigrants' African-American students were quoted: " Last month, a Harvard Black Students Association message board asked, "When we use the term 'black community,' who is included in this description?" A lively debate ensued, with some posters complaining that African students were getting an admissions boost without having faced the historical suffering of U.S. blacks."
I think this will always be a problem. When the French NAACP, Le Cran, pushed for an investigation into the racial discrimination in France, immediately the French organisation of the French overseas departments (D’outre-mer) made the distinction that blacks from the French Caribbean Islands were different from blacks from Africa, because of their French status.
Maybe it’s time to look at what binds black people from the different countries. Is it race, skin colour, racism, being studied, music, sports, black experience, black men versus black women, slavery, colonialism, segregation, freedom, immigration, identity, selling out, bleaching, crime, ghetto, poverty, struggle, giving back, diaspora, rising, black history, Africa, Caribbean, US, Europe, dislocation, crises, war, Afro, protest, revolution, being the first … ? To be honest, I don’t know.
The documentary ' The Neo African Americans' shows the different shades of black. In a way, a cliché.
Update
African American & Caribbean American, a conversation between African American vlogger Jouelzy and Hatian American Nathaly.
Summer news. The Japanese band Sour made a very creative video with webcam shots of their fans. The video is great, but don't forget the music.
Michael Jackson, the show-stopping singer whose best-selling albums -- including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" -- and electrifying stage presence made him one of the most popular artists of all time has died. Michael Jackson, August 29 1958 – June 25 2009, became 50.
On July 1, 2009, the Dutch institute for slavery history, NiNsee, will organise for the eighth consecutive year the National Memorial of the Dutch Slavery Past. On July 1, 1863 slavery was abolished in the former Dutch colonies of Suriname and Netherlands Antilles. Thus ended a period of more than 200 years of slavery in the colonies. This part of Keti Koti (broken chains) includes the formal commemoration at the monument in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam.
Sony records reports that Sade is working on the release to the long-awaited follow-up to 2000s “Lover’s Rock.”
American Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding will be touring Europe from July 7th to August 8th 2009. She will be in France (Vannes Jazz Festival), Portugal, The Netherlands (North Sea Jazz), Spain, Italy (Venice Jazz Festival)and Germany (KulturArena).
