Perfect for Kwanzaa Gifting: Barack Before Obama by David Katz

Being a "fly on the wall" is a phrase of somewhat precise meaning.  

The phrase is researched to have originated in the 1920s.  The first citation of it is found from The Oakland Tribune, February 1921:  "I'd just love to be a fly on the wall when the Right Man comes along."

It is now most often used in relation to the "fly on the wall documentaries,' which chronicle real life situations supposedly made without impacting the behavior of the participants.  I take exception, finding flies to be most annoying, buzzing around all day and landing where they are unwanted.

However, in this event, David Katz was a most welcomed fly on the wall to the meteoric rise and triumphant presidency of Barack Obama.  It may be known that a fly has the most advanced and sensitive eyesight that catches light and movement instinctively.  

As shown within these pages, Barack Obama proved to be that intense light and Katz's photographs instinctively captured various facets of Obama's life from bonding with family and friends through campaigning and eventually the Presidency.

Technically, "Barack Before Obama" is an extremely polished publication with brilliant photographs, capturing President Obama in his most magnetic and favorable light.  This is a must have for the politically inclined and Obama fans alike.

The Afterword: An E-Interview with Jeff Gold, "Sittin' In"

Q:    Are there any names of memorable fans who possibly traveled to jazz clubs across the nation?

JG:    Unfortunately we don’t know anything specific about the people in the souvenir photos, but we do have pictures in the book of fans posing with Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, and others.  Sonny Rollins told me it was a regular thing to ask performers to pose with them for a souvenir photo.  It struck me this is the primordial version of today’s celebrity selfie, and I can’t think of any situation before that where people would be asking celebrities to pose for a photo.

Q:    Has there been any follow-up as to what happened to the jazz establishments are they still                 standing?  If so, are they used for different purposes?

JG:    Virtually all of the clubs I write about are long gone; the big exceptions being the Village Vanguard and the Apollo, both of which opened in New York during the mid-1930s.  Some of the concert halls still exist, but for the most part these clubs are long gone.  In some cases they’ve been torn down, in others the buildings still exist.  But these photos do bring alive a long gone scene.

Q:    Why kinds of ancillary businesses were given rise in the 40s and 50s from the jazz clubs?

JG:    As I talk about in the book, one really important thing that spread the word from the clubs was live radio broadcasts.  Radio was just starting to become widespread in the 1920s, and live broadcasts on national networks from the Cotton Club helped NY based musicians including Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong gain national profiles, which allowed them to get more lucrative record contracts (and sell records nationally) and tour the country.  These broadcasts also sold tickets and records locally. 

Q:   Did all the jazz players do the total tour from east to west or did certain jazz players opt to stay         on the West Coast or East Coast?

JG:    The musicians I spoke to told me they were happy to play anywhere people would book them.  Sometimes musicians would tour with their groups, sometimes they would tour as a ‘feature’, which meant people like Billie Holiday might travel with her pianist, but each club would book backup musicians.  That’s the way Quincy Jones started playing with bigger artists, while only a teen in Seattle—his band could read music, so they were hired to back up major artists including Billie.  

Q:    Who are your favorite jazz artists today? 

JG:    My current favorite is Jason Moran, who I interviewed for the book; his music is contemporary, but he’s greatly informed by the music of the past, and it works its way into his music in very creative ways.

 

"Sittin' In" by Jeff Gold - For the Jazz Lover on Your Gift List

“Sittin’ In” by Jeff Gold, from Harper Design is a book that demands to be deeply examined, several times.  

It is not a biographical piece nor a simple historical account.  This book needs to be absorbed in a read and re-read fashion to appreciate the vibe and feel of Jazz in its prime.  

Each time I picked up this book and moved from East to West, I found threads that became interconnected. The Musicians, Fans and Clubs reflected here gave evidence that there was a nucleus from which all Jazz grew and swept the Country.  The 1940s and 1950s were truly an intense time for Jazz Clubs and their patronage. “Sittin' In” gives you the, fly-on-the-wall experience of the glory days of Jazz. I also don’t see this as other Coffee Table books to sit a gather dust.  This one, once opened beckons for another look each time you put it down.  For myself, I saw fan pics that I would swear were Aunts, Uncles or friends of my Dad, especially from the scenes on the West Coast.  If you think you know Jazz, here’s your evidence.  

Let yourself be that fly and feel a little toe tap throughout all 249 pages. 

(Reviewed by JRS)

Election 2020

November 3 is less than two weeks ago.

I don't need to tell you how many people gave their lives so that you could have the right to vote.  

I don't need to tell you that this is probably one of the most important, if not the most important elections of our lifetime.

While you may not agree with everything Joe Biden has done or said, the other guy is really not an option for us.

Kamala Harris would be the first Black woman Vice-President in this country's history.

If you've already voted, that's great.  Grab a friend or a neighbor, an elderly relative and make sure they get to exercise their rights too.

Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for your community, do it for our country.

Vote this year like your life depends on it, because it does.

Rest in Power, Chadwick Boseman - Wakanda Forever!

I hardly know what to say about the untimely passing of Chad Boseman.  

While he is most famously remembered for playing T'Challa in "Black Panther," I fell in love with the actor when I saw him in "42."  

His range was amazing.  He played Jackie Robinson in a way that made me feel like I had met the real Jackie Robinson when I left the theater, he brought James Brown to life in "Get On Up" and gave us another award winning performance as Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall."

I don't need to reiterate the things we've all read and heard since we received the sad news of his passing.  It's very hard to say goodbye to someone we all felt like we knew personally.   Although, we really didn't.  He felt like family.

It's  even harder thinking of how much he was going through these past four years and yet he did it all in silence and grace.

Wakanda Forever.

Support Black Business (And Drink GREAT Coffee While You're At It) - Red Bay Coffee Roasters

If it's not good, I don't post about it.  But, when it's GOOD and it's Black-Owned, I shout it from the Rooftops.

If you haven't tried, "Red Bay Coffee Roasters," what are you waiting for?

Visit the shop if you're in Oakland, order online if you're not!

"Beautiful Coffee to the People" (their words, not mine, but I completely concur!)

That's it.  That's all.

Book Review: "It's Not All Downhill from Here" by Terry McMillan

With so much going on in the past few months, weeks, days and all of 2020, there's nothing like getting lost in a good book.

I recently finished reading Terry McMillan's newest, "It's Not All Downhill From Here."

I enjoyed it so much that I hated for it to end.  In fact, I read it in "bites" so that I could savor every word on the page.  It's about growing old, coming of age, love, loss, self-empowerment and everything in between.  And it encouraged me that it's not all downhill from here.

If you're looking for a good book escape, it's well-worth the time.

"Loretha Curry’s life is full. A little crowded sometimes, but full indeed. On the eve of her sixty-eighth birthday, she has a booming beauty-supply empire, a gaggle of lifelong friends, and a husband whose moves still surprise. True, she’s carrying a few more pounds than she should be, but Loretha is not one of those women who think her best days are behind her—and she’s determined to prove wrong her mother, her twin sister, and everyone else with that outdated view of aging wrong. It’s not all downhill from here.But when an unexpected loss turns her world upside down, Loretha will have to summon all her strength, resourcefulness, and determination to keep on thriving, pursue joy, heal old wounds, and chart new paths. With a little help from her friends, of course." (from Penguin Books)

OAKLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTABLISHES RESILIENCY RELIEF PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
SANDRA VARNER, VARNER PR
510-910-5652
varnerpr@sbcglobal.net

May 22, 2020, Oakland, CA – Leadership of the Oakland African American Chamber of  Commerce (OAACC), has established a resiliency relief program to assist its members affected by the COVID-19 health pandemic, announced Chairwoman Shonda Scott and President Cathy Adams. The OAACC Resiliency Relief Program will be funded by contributions from supporters committed to the solvency and survival of local African American businesses that are members of the organization (www.oaacc.org).

OAACC conducted an internal survey within its membership to assess the impact of COVID-19; results varied from severe need to no impact, according to Lynell Bevels, OAACC’s Community Engagement Partner. “Many of our businesses said they were happy that we reached out to them to see how things were going.  Further, they let us know that the outreach is a source of encouragement along with offsetting any financial shortfalls we could assist with.  It underscores what we know about the African American community, overall, that one size does not fit all despite skewed perceptions.  Some of our members have great need others do not.”

Based on expressed need and the level of support received, the Resiliency Relief Program will serve as a temporary stop gap.  Cynthia Jones, an advisor to OAACC’s Resiliency Relief Program Task Force describes the application process as such, “In an effort to support local small businesses disrupted by COVID-19, that are required to Shelter In Place (SIP)    in compliance with Federal orders, OAACC’s Resiliency Relief Program is designed to provide funding and support to members with an expressed need. This relief program is a direct response to the immediate crisis, currently in place.”

Synopsis of the OAACC Resiliency Relief Program--

Thus, and in response, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) developed a Call to Action Advisory Council from its’ African American business community of entrepreneurs and small business owners to develop a relief program that will heed the call and respond accordingly. 

The OAACC Leadership Team will perform robust fund development to amass a war chest of resources that will be GRANTED to our small, African American and/or minority businesses, which will assist -- financially and emotionally, during these unprecedented times -- with ongoing business expenses to include: payroll, office rent, goods, services and related expenditures. 

The grants are subject to eligibility requirements.

While we recognize that these grants will in no way make up for all of the financial losses experienced by many of our African American business and community membership, the intent is to provide relevant short term relief.  

Grants will be made on a first come first serve basis to businesses whose application meets the eligibility criteria. There is a limited allocation of money subject to funds raised.

Grant applications for the Resiliency Relief Program are now being accepted through June 20, 2020.  Go to www.oaacc.org and click the Resiliency Fund tab.

“The Chamber has been relentless in addressing the needs of our membership.  We are doing all we can to assist them during this critical time. Although some of our businesses were able to receive SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funding, some did not meet all of the requirements.  This program will help us support members that fall into that gap we aim to fill.  We are striving to make our entire community whole,” states Chairwoman Shonda Scott.

Federal funds made available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and/or the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), “somehow didn’t make it onto the financial statements of our African American businesses most in need,” explains President Cathy Adams.

Adams concludes, “The African American business community will survive this health crisis but the degree of our recovery will be determined by the financial resources and healthcare services made available.  Before we were staring COVID-19 in the face, the Black community was swimming upstream against a current of inequities and insufficient services to balance the quality of life across racial demographics.  Nonetheless, we have pushed forward.  The goal now is to recover, equally, during and on the other side of this debilitating economic and health crisis.”

Quarantine Hobbies- Cookin' with Coolio

I'll be honest.  I've been so preoccupied with Covid, that I have been unable to write.  

What is there to say that hasn't been said?  Be safe.  Wash your hands.  Stay inside.  Social distance.  Pray.

This morning, I had such cabin fever that I went into the garage to sort through some old books.  Since I can't leave the house, I figured there might be a few favorites worth reading again.

I stumbled upon "Cookin' with Coolio," a cookbook that Coolio (yes, that Coolio) put out years ago. Like ten years ago.

As I flipped through the pages, I thought, 'well when life gives you lemons, make "Kung Fu Chicken."

POWERFUL WOMEN OF THE EAST BAY - 11th Annual Awards Luncheon, Friday, March 13, 2020 at Scott's Seafood in Oakland's Jack London Square

For tickets, sponsorship and further details:  bit.ly/powerfulwomen2020

Taylor Jay Collection Presents "End of the Decade" Photo Shoot and Gathering, Sunday March 1, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Taylor Jay Collection Presents End of the Decade Photo Shoot and Gathering  

    Oakland, CA– Taylor Jay Collection will present the End of the Decade Photo  Shoot, taking place at Lake Merritt at 1520 Lakeside Drive on Sunday, March 1,  2020, at 10:00am, featuring Taylor Jay, lite bites and drinks, giveaways and much  more! Come dressed in your favorite Taylor Jay and photo ready!    Taylor Jay is proud to bring End of the Decade Photo shoot to the beautiful Lake  Merritt. This event is presented in celebration of Women’s Month, and Taylor Jay  Collection’s 5th Anniversary. We will feature a multi-generational, ethnically  diverse and all-body inclusive group of women who represent the beauty of  Oakland and the Bay Area.     This is a FREE Event for all TJ supporters and members of our community. If you  are a local small business owner or sustainable brand and would like to  participate by contributing to this event (sponsorship or donation of giveaway  items)please contact ola@taylorjaycollection.com so we can include you as a  trusted business partner.    Taylor Jay Collection is a local woman owned sustainable fashion brand with its  design studio and a brick and mortar location right here in Oakland. Learn more  about our brand here: www.taylorjaycollection.com 

For further information, please contact CathyAdams, CDA Consulting Group

Rest In Peace, B. Smith - A Very Extraordinary Woman

We have lost another African American icon.

Barbara Elaine Smith (B. Smith) passed away on February 22, 2020 of early-onset Alzheimer's Disease.

B. Smith's name was synonymous with class, beauty, elegance, style.  For me, long before Martha Stewart, there was B. Smith.

At only 70 years of age, she seemed far too young to pass away of a disease that impacts many people, and in disproportionate numbers, African Americans.

This might be a good time for those of us (including myself) who haven't done the work we should toward helping to fight this monster of a disease to get busy.

I can imagine she's hosting elegant parties in heaven.

With love and gratitude to B. Smith for all she symbolized and brought to the world.

Writer's Block, New Year Resolutions and Why Black History Month Still Matters

It's been a very long time since I posted here.  Too long.

Full disclosure.  I've had a bit of writer's block fueled by pressure to change my habits in 2020.

I began to wonder if my ramblings and musings make a difference to anyone.  

And then I realized they make a difference.  The difference they make is to me because when I'm able to express how I'm feeling, even if I don't have any earth shattering announcements or events, it's part of my personal development and I'm still learning to get out of my own way.

That said, I wanted to talk about Black History Month.  

This February seemed to roll around quicker than others and I think that's a lot to do with Thanksgiving and Christmas being so close together this year and so much to do with so little time.

Black History Month still matters.  It matters because even though it may seem that we already know all of the stories that PBS is telling this month, we don't.  The fact is that in 2019 we lost a lot of important people in Black America.

Bernard Tyson, John Conyers, Elijah Cummings, Ernest James and Jessye Norman to name a few.

Who will make sure that their stories live on for the next generation and the generation after?  If we forget the past we will surely have no future.  Our imprint is important.  Our history is America's history.

We're over halfway through February.  Don't let the month go by without learning something new about someone in Black History that you didn't know.

For me, it was the story of Nellie Jackson in "Mississippi Madam" on Amazon.  

February Challenge:  Pick at least one documentary or book to watch or read before the end of this month.  It would be better if you picked at least three - but one is a good place to start.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH