“Songs of Black Folk” is one town’s efforts to highlight Black culture
“Songs of Black Folk” unites top Black musical talent on one Pacific Northwest stage, launching a powerful new tradition and era for the largest gathering of Black artists in the PNW, against the meaningful backdrop of Juneteenth.
This is a delightful and soul-stirring short that looks at the project of bringing the sounds, songs and soul of Black music to the PNW. It is noted in the short, led by Pastor Leslie Braxton and his nephew Artistic Director for the film Ramón Bryant Braxton, that the Seattle and Tacoma Washington areas are known musically for the late Jimi Hendrix and business headquarters.
But what about the music that the pastor says is the “soundtrack of our existence,” while Ramón urges us to “stay in the music, because it’s safe there.”
This short details the concert outlining their first Juneteenth celebration, when Ramón leaves New York to return back to Tacoma, and sadly his grandmother, an esteemed vocalist and church member is battling an illness—a fight that she ultimately loses.
Ramón is a Morehouse College grad and accomplished conductor. And this commitment to the tenets of Morehouse compelled him to come back home and share his talents.
Ramón says, “I want these artists and audiences to be able to walk with their heads held high.” With this film we celebrate and bring greater awareness to their extraordinary ambition, talent and musical power.”
“Songs of Black Folk” is not only an homage to the music of the Pacific Northwest area of the United States but also a dedication to his grandmother who also, according to the short, gave so much to her community.
The short film screens one more time at Tribeca on Sunday, June 15.
Info here: https://tinyurl.com/bdf9he8b.
Juneteenth Festival in West Pullman
The Juneteenth Festival in the West Pullman neighborhood offers live music, family activities, food from local Black-owned restaurants, small business and housing workshops, resource fair and more—to be held Saturday, June 21, from 1-6 p.m.
The nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation (Far South CDC)—an organization that provides strategic community-building services to residents and businesses across Chicago’s Far South Side neighborhoods and south suburban Cook County—is excited to announce its annual Juneteenth Festival.
The festival will be held in the parking lot of Maple Park Marketplace (821 W. 115th St.) at the southwest corner of Halsted and 115th streets, across from the Morgan Park Commons development.
This free all-ages event will feature a resource vendor fair, including social service, housing and government agencies. Featured restaurants include Harold’s Chicken, The Cajun Connoisseur, Whadda Jerk and Rainbow Cone.
For more information, visit farsouthcdc.org. Free registration is encouraged for the festival, and is required to participate in the free housing and business workshops on site.
Juneteenth housing and business workshops will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Juneteenth Festival grounds. Far South CDC will offer free housing workshops and assistance for renters and first-time homebuyers, including an estate planning clinic, free solar and weatherization solutions, a Habitat homes purchasing process workshop, and on-site home loan prequalification.
A free small business workshop, “Getting Ready for the Money,” will be held from 12-1 p.m. For new or existing small business owners, Far South CDC will provide a step-by-step guide to preparing businesses for financial success, including business structure, taxes, credit, bookkeeping, organizing documents and more.
To register for the free housing and small business workshops during Juneteenth Festival on June 21, visit the website.
The Juneteenth Festival is presented by Far South CDC, with the support of sponsors and partners, including Special Service Area #45, the City of Chicago, 21st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley, Illinois State Senator Emil Jones III and Illinois State Representative Justin Slaughter.
Far South CDC is currently working to redevelop the Maple Park Marketplace shopping plaza at 115th and Halsted, with plans to bring in a new dine-in restaurant, health center and grocery store.
Soul food take-out restaurant Kisha’s Kitchen opened in the plaza this spring. Maple Park Marketplace is located across the street from Far South CDC’s 12-acre Morgan Park Commons mixed-use housing development.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association ‘Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/englewoodelaine/.