Demand Justice For Oscar Grant
It's been 12 days since the shocking murder of Oscar Grant. The young black male was was shot execution-style by a transit police officer in Oakland, California. He was shot in the back while face-down on a subway platform, unarmed and posing no threat. The officer who fired the deadly shot has yet to be arrested, charged, or questioned. In the past 17 years BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police have killed 3 unarmed black males.
In 1992, 19-year-old Jerrold Hall was shot in the back by a BART officer as he tried to leave a station parkign lot. The officer was responding to reports of an armed robbery and said he suspected that Hall and a friend were involved. The officer tried to detain the two, Hall ran and then the officer shot him in the back and killed him. Hall was unarmed, but the officer said he thought Hall was on his way to get a gun and return for a showdown.
In 2001, a mentally ill man named Bruce Seward was the next victim of the rogue force. Seward, 42, was naked and had been sleeping on a bench outside the BART station when an officer approached him. Seward did grab the officer's nightstick at one point, but there were several options for subduing him. Instead, the officer shot and killed him.
Join ColorOfChange, an orgainization dedicated to making government for responsive to the concerns of black America, in demanding justice for Oscar Grant.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Conscious Mind
Soul Fixin'
The Black Woodstock
Back in the summer of '69 artists from the worlds of gospel, jazz, blues, and soul made a pilgrimage to Harlem, the mecca of black culture, to perform at the six day Harlem Cultural Festival. 100,000 black folk crowded the northern end of Central Park in the blistering heat.Emceed by Jesse Jackson, the festival, what some now call "The Black Woodstock" or "Harlem 69", included performances by Mahalia Jackson, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, Nina Simone, and others.
Fortunately, the concert was filmed by television producer/director Hal Tulchin. Tulchin intended to package the footage for a television network back in '69 but was told "time and time again...there's no interest in putting on a black special." Tulchin has teamed up with filmmakers Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon to edit 50 hours of footage into a feature-length film featuring performance footage and interviews with surviving participants. Unfortunately, the group has been struggling for the past 18 months to gain funding for the film. 
"As I look out at us rejoice today, I was hoping it would be in preparation for the major fight we as a people have on our hands here in this nation. Some of you are laughing because you don't know any better, and others laughing because you are too mean to cry. But you need to know some mean stuff is going down. A lot of you cant read...but you have the mental capacity to read the signs of the times."
"The Soul of Nina Simone," a CD/DVD compilation contains footage from the event. The compilation includes four songs Simone performed during the festival.Video Soul
a sea was storming inside of me
baby I think I'm capsizing
the waves are rising and rising..."
Monday, January 12, 2009
Soul Tracks
Johnnie Taylor was the quintessential soul singer; born in the South and raised in the church. The Arkansas native was once lead singer of the famed gospel group The Soul Stirrers before embarking on a solo career. His secular career took off at Memphis based Stax Records and he quickly became one of the label's flagship artists. Taylor's 1973 Stax release, Taylored In Silk, is in constant rotation around these parts. One song, 'We're Getting Careless With Our Love,' stands out above the rest.
Random Sh*t
Wanna Live In The White House?
If you've got $9.98 million dollars you can own The White House. A replica of The White House, that is. The 16,500 square foot home sits in the North Druid Hills section of Atlanta. The house comes with a replica Oval Office and Lincoln bedroom, swimming pool, 75 car garage, and a church sanctuary. You too can live like Obama.
{Images Courtesy of The New York Times}
Random Sh*t
Combining unprecedented access into the worlds of active gangs, CRIPS AND BLOODS: MADE IN AMERICA offers a compelling, character-driven documentary narrative which chronicles the decades-long cycle of destruction and despair that defines modern gang culture....Finally the gang members themselves articulate their enduring dream of a better life. They provide CRIPS AND BLOODS: MADE IN AMERICA with its ultimate statement: a message of hope and a cautionary tale of redemption aimed at saving the lives of a new generation of kids, not just in South LA but anywhere in the world that gang violence exists.
For more information, click here.
Politics As Usual
It's A Celebration!!!
What: We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Where: The Lincoln Memorial
When: January 18
Who: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.
*Admission is free & open to the public.
To be presented exclusively by HBO on Sunday, January 18 (7:00-9:00 p.m)
Soul Fixin'
A Taste of International Soul
I'm always on the lookout for new music and new artists. Today, I discovered the German based band Hattler while pouring through countless YouTube videos. Featuring lead vocalist Fola Dada the band plays the cool, breezy and infectious jam 'Sunny Jay' in the clip below. Check out the band's MySpace page for more of the group's eclectic music.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Soul Tracks
Marvin's late 70's release, Here, My Dear, was written and recorded in the aftermath of Marvin's divorce with Anna Gordy. As part of the divorce settlement, Anna Gordy was to receive half the royalties earned from Here, My Dear. Upset, Marvin went into the studio and put his frustrations and anger on wax. Here, My Dear is a deep, dark and highly personal album chronicling Marvin's love affair and bitter divorce. The opening track, 'Here, My Dear,' with it's memorable line "you don't have the right to use a son of mine/ to keep me in line," introduces listeners to Marvin's painful saga.
Soul Fixin'
Blaxploitation in 2009
A film co-starring Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson, & Kim Whitley automatically sounds like a dud. That doesn't appear to be the case with Black Dynamite. The blaxploitation spoof, starring Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite, has the qualities of a celebrated film. The film is set to premiere at the esteemed Sundance Film Festival and it will likely make it's way straight to DVD. According to the Black Dynamite website, "when “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House." Peep the trailer and let us know what you think.
Random Sh*t
Check this out. Taiwan-based company Ozaki has created an Obama iPod speaker dock. The $99 product won't be available for purchase until Ozaki finds a distributor. The Obama dock, which features Barack decked out in a CHANGE t-shirt, dances and sways to music. It won't be long before someone deems the product offensive. What do you think? Offensive? Fantastic?
Fashion Forward
Kanye, The Louie V. Intern
As you may know, Kanye West has ventured into the world of fashion and is interning at Louis Vuitton. The college dropout posted the picture below on his blog. The shoe is one of six designs that will hit luxury retailers in July 2009 as part of his Louis Vuitton Sneaker Collection. What are you thoughts? Hit or miss?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Soul Tracks
The Godfather of Soul will always be remembered for upbeat and funky tracks such as 'I Got You (I Feel Good),' 'The Big Payback,' and 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag.' There was another side to James Brown and it was evident in the ballads he sang. He was emotional, vulnerable and painfully honest. 1973's 'Mama's Dead' is a clear example of James' other side.
Artful Thinking
Obama, Obama, Obama!!!
President-elect Obama has inspired a plethora of folks, artists included. Check out the collage of Barack inspired artwork. 
Fashion Foward
Barack This Tee
2009 will bring about a change to Public Soul Announcement. Soul music will always be at the root of this blog, however, it will branch out to include fashion, culture, literature, social issues, politics, food and a bunch of random ish. This post marks my first fashion based post. I've always had a great eye for fashion. My closet doesn't quite reflect that, limited funds = limited fashion. I discovered the fly Obama tee above at Concrete Loop. Actor Michael K. Williams was Baracking it at the premiere of Notorious. The limited edition shirt is available here.
Soul Fixin'
Prince Set To Drop 3 Albums in '09
If you've been craving for new music from Prince, 2009 will definitely be a year to remember. Prince plans on releasing not one but three albums this year. Similar promises from artists who shall remain nameless have fell on deaf ears but Prince might be the one to make it happen. According to a recent interview with the LA Times a "major retailer" is in talks with the artist to release the music physically, while a new Prince website will sell it in digital form. Be on the lookout for the guitar driven Lotus Flower and the electro flavored MPLSOUND. The third album, Elixir, will feature his protege, Bria Valente.
Soul Fixin'
Kanye Covers VIBE Magazine
A much older looking Kanye West is gracing the upcoming issue of VIBE where he declares 'I AM RAP.' Believe it or not, this is Yeezy's first solo vibe cover. The Feb 09 issue also includes a piece on the conflict for producer J Dilla's legacy and an up close look at the making of Notorious, hip hop's first biopic.
A Conscious Mind
Murder, Outrage & Riots
Let me start off my first post of 2009 by apologizing for the lack of postings. Blame it on a ton of stress. My 24th birthday is days away and life isn't what I would like it to be. I won't bore you with my life issues. Moving right along, the murder of 22 year old Oscar Grant III has motivated me to start blogging. Below are array of photos surrounding the protest of Grant's murder at the hands of Bay Area law enforcement.
