HARLEM WEEK BLOW OUT WEEKEND

New York City’s largest outdoor festival HARLEM WEEK returns with yet another spectacular line up of exciting concerts, events, and activities in honor of its 34th Anniversary.   Themed “The Health of Our Communities is Our Top Priority” – this year’s event turns the spotlight on eating and living properly by promoting a healthy and happy family which makes a healthy happy Harlem.
 
On Saturday, August 16th, the village of Harlem celebrates the essence of family during its annual “Uptown Saturday Nite” music festival.  Themed “Dancing in the Streets,” the entire community is invited to participate in various dance segments including Swing Jazz; Latin/Salsa and the Cupid Shuffle. There will also be performances and demonstrations including exciting traditional Greek college step-teams presentations, and the world’s largest Electric Slide.  In addition the neighborhood renowned worldwide for its cutting edge style, presents its “Fashion Flava Showcase” featuring the latest looks from some of this country’s top urban designers. 
 
The evening will end with “The Quiet Storm: Salute to Teddy Pendergrass,” hosted by WBLS-FM legendary radio personality, Vaughn Harper.  Also taking place on August 16th are The National Historic Black College Fair & Expo where students and families discover college options and how to pay for them; The New York City Children’s Festival Part 1, which emphasizes education and achievement and features a petting zoo, story-tellers, rock climbing and interactive arts; and plenty of live family entertainment.
 
On Sunday, August 17th, things continue to explode with live musical performances, demonstrations and activities from three (3) different stages during the HARLEM DAY finale sponsored by Emmis Broadcasting. Themed “Creating Unity, In Our Communities”, Kiss-FM and Hot 97 take over the St. Nicholas stage, located on 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, with various Hip Hop & R&B performances in tribute to the 25th Anniversaries of DJ Red Alert & Video Music Box founder, Ralph McDaniels with a special guest performance by KRS-One.  
 
Themed “Harlem Rocks”, the 5th Avenue Stage, located on 135th Street at Fifth Avenue, RXP-FM salutes rock legend Jimi Hendrix, with live musical performances presented by the Black Rock Coalition.  The YMCA family stage, located between Malcolm X and AC Powell, Jr. Blvds., will include 98.7 Kiss FM’s Open Line live broadcast; the Children’s Festival back-to-school fashion showcase; New Breed martial arts demonstration; and other local activities.  98.7 Kiss FM will also host a special gospel and jazz segment on the Fifth Avenue stage.  This day will also include The NYC Health Fair & Expo, and plenty of vending and exhibitions along 135th Street.
 
With the support of sponsors and both public and elected officials, HARLEM WEEK, Inc. has been a proponent for advancing education. It provides grants to educational, cultural arts and performing arts organizations, and scholarships to thousands of students who have worked diligently inside the classroom and in the community.  The relationship between those parties and HARLEM WEEK has not only garnered higher educational enrollment, but also provides internships and careers for students.  At virtually every HARLEM WEEK, Harlem Jazz & Music Festival, and National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame event, scholarships and grants are presented.  HARLEM WEEK also hosts events focused on economic development and on the welfare of Senior Citizens.  Perhaps this is why mayors, Governors, Senators, Members of Congress, foreign leaders, and other inspirational figures, have traveled uptown to address HARLEM WEEK audiences over the years.
 
HARLEM WEEK invites you to come discover the treasures of a proud community.  Discover Harlem. For further information about the excitement and culture that is HARLEM WEEK, log on to www.harlemweek.com

Are Hip Hop Political Organizations Really Effective?

NHHPC Coverage-Hip Hop & Electoral Politics Panel Discussion
Are Hip Hop Organizations Really Effective?

by Davey D

Listen to Breakdown FM Interview by clicking HERE:

http://odeo.com/episodes/23148759-NHHPC-Electoral-Politics-Panel-Pt1

http://odeo.com/episodes/23148766-NHHPC-Electoral-Politics-Panel-pt2

During the recently held National Hip Hop Political Convention in Las Vegas we had an explosive panel that addressed the issue of Electoral Politics and how they intersect with Hip Hop music and culture. We wound talking specifically about the impact or lack of impact Hip Hop organizations have on the voting process.

Sitting on this panel were the following people;

Rev Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus
Professor Lamont Hill of Fox news and Temple University
Tony Cani- Young Democrats
Honorable George Martinez of H2Ed and former elected Official & emcee
Rosa Clemente-Vice presidential candidate of the Green Party

This panel started off tame enough but then erupted and got somewhat contentious as the panelists started addressing some very hard and oftentimes difficult questions. around the role Hip Hop organizations play in mobilizing people around electoral politics.

A spirited discussion emerged about how we go about getting people politically engaged. Do we follow the model of having a high profile celebrity standing before the people hawking a cause or do we push for people to empower themselves by organizing block by block.
There was enlightening back and forth between George Martinez and Rev Yearwood.

Yearwood heads up the Hip Hop Caucus and recently enlisted the aid of rapper T.I.
and singer Keyisha Coles to do a big register and Get Out the Vote Campaign.
Yearwood was also behind the Vote or Die campaign with P-Diddy.
Yearwood talked about those campaigns and admitted that he had been approached about why he had not included lesser known artists like NY Oil or Immortal Technique who do the community work day in and day out . he said ideally he would like to see everyone involved.

George Martinez challenged the practicality of Rev Yearwood’s methods. He called it a sham and said it was misleading. He said people need to be empowering themselves and that such methods are good for getting funding but not necessarily good or even needed to get someone into office.

Martinez noted that he was elected before there were any of these organizations came into existence. he said it’s all about going block to block and locking things down that way. He insisted that if you aren’t known on your block then you essentially aren’t putting in work. he warned the audience to be wary of self appointed leaders who claim to rep for us while not putting in the work.

Yearwood felt it was unfortunate he and his organization was mischaracterized and that he was tired of hearing revolutionary rhetoric with no follow up from the people espousing it. He went on to emphasize that people are still dying in the streets and we have to reach them. He said he was about trying to reach his people to politicized them by any means necessary even it included using T.I. He said it was important that a felon like T.I. speak to the issue of voting because there are so many of us in our community who can relate.

Questions were raised about the impact funding has in allowing people to move forward or whether it compromised people to the wishes and agenda of the Democratic Party.
This question was specifically addressed by Rosa Clemenete around the members of the newly formed Gen Vote and money from the Tide Foundation and its ties to the Democratic Party.

This led to deeper discussions around why so many within Hip Hop activism still dependent upon funding from foundations and why haven’t business plans been hatched that would lead to true independence.

Another touchy issue that popped up was the lack of support from Hip Hop organizations for the Rosa Clemente’s Vice Presidential candidacy. She pointed out that after years of complaining about not having our agenda being addressed and how the two political parties have all but abandoned our communities except when it comes to siphoning off votes, she was said there has been lack of support from the leadership of some of these Hip Hop organizations. She noted that this is not about Rosa Clemente but about the vessel she represents. She felt money and resources needs to be directed toward highlighting the 10 point platform of the Greens which includes Social Justice. That’s an issue the two parties dare not touch.

Rosa also brought home the point about the unwillingness for many including those in progressive circles to accept female leadership. She pointed out how disappointing it was for her to be apart of the NHHPC for over 5 years and show up at a panel as important as this that only had one female. That scenario has got to change quick.

Professor Lamont Hill talked about how easy it is to dismiss Obama if you are a progressive and permanently position him as a tool of larger political interests. He said its real easy to dismiss voting for the Greens as a throwaway vote for MCcain. he stated that for the first time we have millions of people excited about an election and looking at issues. He said we can’t afford to throw that away and that we should find ways to engage those folks who have come to politics through the Obama campaign.

He talked about the challenges many of us are facing in terms of raising money and being completely independent.

Tony Canti talked about the disastisfaction his group had with the democratic Party and how they broke off specifically so they can address key issues. However, he talked about how the electoral political process is a numbers game and that the game has got to be played in such a way that you make those numbers if the desired goal is to get someone into office where they can make key decisions.

Audience members like NY rap star NY Oil noted that part of the challenge we have is getting people to do diligence. he said far too many people go home after hearing all this information and never ever do their part.