Urban Arts Online - Summer 2019

for being my biggest cheerleaders and support system. My siblings Joshua, Whitney and Jonathan for their continuous love and support. To Curtis King, Ryan Pointer, Steven Chaikelson, Eddie Bradley Jr, Joan McCarty and Crystal Dickinson for imparting the love of the arts from all perspectives into my life.

To Sharon Eigebor for being that sounding board and voice of reason with me. Your years of experience in media is truly the fuel that pushed me to get to this point. To Nicole Heyward, when Darnell introduced us I never knew you were going to be my business mentor but you have become all that and more.

Thank you for showing me how to do business with integrity in an industry where integrity is at a premium. Your class and grace is a spark that people emulate but can never quite duplicate.

Editor’s Note It’s finally here! Welcome to Issue #1 of many to come for Urban Arts Magazine. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, I’ve always been the type who not only believed in but practiced the mantra “If you build it, they will come.”

I did that at 12 years old writing, scoring and starring in a Barney styled television episode that taught young children their numbers, shapes and colors.

Again at 25 when I created 7th Stage Productions, a theatre company focusing on African American voices. And now at 37 launching the first (that I know of) print and digital publication specifically highlighting the legacy and value of arts in the urban landscape.

Urban Arts Magazine, a program under the not for profit entity Urban Arts Collective Group, is a free quarterly magazine that is dedicated to exploring the cultural voices that make up the American Arts landscape. Covering everything from music to dance to visual arts to culinary arts, UAM offers the value of a trusted insider perspective with a fresh, bold, nonconforming lens. Breathing life into the intersection of what truly is URBAN and what truly is ART, this publication appeals to both the arts professional and the arts lover.

Thank you first to God for trusting me with this vision. My parents Jiles, Sr. and Donna King for supporting every crazy dream I’ve had thus far and

To Stephanie Warfield for keeping me on task and on time. You are more than an assistant, you are a friend and an angel. I can feel your prayers. To my business partner Khalif Townes of the Townes Agency and Ticketlocity.com (shameless plug). It’s scary how much we think alike. Your 18 years of success is mind boggling.

Your consistency in branding, technology and genius is needed in this market. Keep Pushing.

To DeLeon Carr and Branon Gilbert. We have literally been down the road and back again. I couldn’t ask for two better best friends.

We have always taken the leap together no matter what the project was. When the story is written, the world will know all three of our names.

To Nadine Marissa. You are a real friend. We fight like brother and sister and often times I wonder if we are truly related. I’m glad that I can call you my friend friend! I love the fact that we don’t sugar coat anything with each other. I am proud of the amazing success you are having and I’m ready to celebrate the next victories that are coming.

To Ashley, Donovan, Josh, Jabari, Terrance, Cherie, Demarcus and the entire DFWBlackArts/Urban Arts family, you all rock!

Here is to our future being “SUPER DOPE!”

Jiles Email: Jiles@urbanartsonline.com Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | @UrbanArtsMag IN THIS ISSUE Publisher:

Jiles R. King, II

Layout Editor:

Paul AVAN

Contributors:

Dawn Burkes, Jacob Grovey, Terrance Johnson,

Jabari Jones, Dominique Rider, Symphony Segura

Printing:

Print Place

Visit Us Online:

UrbanArtsOnline.com

A Life Well Painted -Annie Lee

by Jabari Jones

M

ichael Jordan once shared “My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.” The late Annie Lee is the true embodiment of those exact words. The respected painters did not have her first art show until the age of 50. At that showing, she allowed prints to be made from her original works. Those prints were sold out in a matter of four hours. That was only the beginning for Annie Lee’s illustrious career.

When several of Annie Lee’s works were seen on the set of The Cosby Show and A Different World, her popularity grew exponentially. She was known for her painting devoid of facial expressions yet full of animated personalities. Annie Lee prefers to bring her paintings to life through the movement and body language of the characters. Annie Lee did not want faces to interfere with the story she was painting through the body language of her characters.

By painting without faces, Annie Lee allows her customers to project themselves or people that they know into the painting Her most popular painting is Blue Monday, a work inspired by her years working as the chief clerk at Northwestern Railroad. Blue Monday depicts a black woman struggling to force her way out of bed in the morning. My Cup Runneth Over is also a very popular piece in her collection. This piece depicts a

black woman at her wits end sitting on a floor pillow with a bible in her hand. The strength yet helplessness of this woman’s posture and stature is the signature of Annie Lee’s aesthetic. To celebrate America’s first black family to occupy the White house, Annie Lee created a portrait of the first family titled Oval Office. The iconic painting shows President Obama, Michelle and their daughters sharing a family moment in the Oval Office.

Annie Lee passed away November 24, 2014 in her Henderson, NV home. Her legacy and her Annie Lee & Friends Gallery stand as a testament to the impact she had not only on black culture but on the art world as a whole. She worked to create art that every race, gender and socio-economic status could see a reflection of themselves in.

Annie Lee once said “You’re going to be working all of your life, so just do what makes you happy! And, if you are able to make others happy while doing what makes you happy, what more could you ask?” Her work can be purchased online at AnnieLeeGifts.com.

Born in rural Alabama in the 1930s and raised in Chicago, Annie Lee developed a work ethic that would catapult her career later in life. She was known to be a savvy business woman, using her designs to develop figurines, high fashion dolls, decorative housewares, and kitchen tiles. Her tenacity and fortitude propelled her to be an internationally respected artist whose original works sell north of $20,000. While her original pieces may go for top dollar, Annie Lee wanted to ensure that everyone could experience her work. Even on a budget, you could own a piece of Annie Lee’s collection through the figurines and housewares.

Wynton Marsalis: A Musical Legend

by Jiles R. King, II

W

ith my head down, putting the final production touches on the Dallas stop of the Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration at The Black Academy of Arts of Arts and Letters, a distinct voice filled the theatre. I look up and notice a group of intrigued staff member hanging on to every southern drawled word of this commanding figure. That insightful voice, tinged with a New Orlean accent, belonged to Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing & Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis.

which have garnered him nine GRAMMY® awards.

Jazz musician, trumpeter, composer, bandleader, advocate for the arts and educator, Wynton Marsalis has lead the charge to propel jazz to the frontline of American culture.

Marsalis made his recording debut as a leader in 1982. He has since produced a catalogue of more than 40 jazz and classical recordings for Columbia Jazz and Sony Classical,

Under Wynton’s direction, Jazz at Lincoln Center opened its new home, Frederick P. Rose Hall in 2004.

Rose Hall is the first broadcast, educational and performance venue devoted specifically to jazz music.

The sonically and visually stunning venue is comprised of three performance venues, The Rose Theater, The Appel Room and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola.

Jazz at Lincoln Center started as a fledgling jazz program at New York City’s prestigious Lincoln Center co-founded by Wynton in 1987. The 32 year old international cultural institution offers performances, lectures, film forums, dances, television and Peabody Award-winning radio broadcasts, recordings and music publishing.

Outside of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton continues to contribute to the artistic landscape. He is an author, having penned six books, a composer of numerous compositions, a cultural ambassador to the United States of America by the U.S. State Department, an ardent educator who serves as a spokesman for music education. He also holds 29 honorary degrees from the nation’s leading academic institutions, including Columbia, Brown, Princeton, and Yale universities.

His most recent composition project is maybe his most intriguing. He was charged to score the film Bolden, a drama based on the life of Buddy Bolden, an early jazz pioneer. It’s just another movie right? He’s scored countless others right? Yes, while that may be true, Bolden was different. Buddy Bolden died in 1931 with no recordings of his music surviving. Wynton had to

embody the very being of this jazz legend with only notes about how is band was setup and what the sound consisted of.

When asked how he approached the work, Wynton explained to Variety “Just being from New Orleans, being a trumpet player was a start. You can’t make yourself channel what he was channeling when he was playing. You just have to be as honest in your style about that feeling as you can be.” To achieve this monumental task, Wynton assembled a seven-piece band that was constructed like Bolden’s. The cornet played the lead melody and improvised. The trombone played a countermelody. Two clarinets and a rhythm section consisting of guitar or banjo,

bass and drums filled out the remaining orchestration.

The level of detail that Wynton takes to give an authentic and honest sound to a person’s persona that we have no bases of is a glimpse of true genius. Wynton Marsalis is lauded as the preeminent jazz authority of our time, and rightfully so. When asked the meaning of jazz, Wynton replies “A swinging dialogue between concerned parties whose philosophy is ‘Let’s try to work it out.” It is evident that Wynton continues to excel at “working it out.”

Deeply Rooted in Dance

by Terrance Johnson

F

or almost 25 year, Chicago’s professional black dance company “Deeply Rooted Dance Theater” has been championing the art of modern, ballet and African

dance. The mission of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is to re-imagine and diversify the aesthetics of contemporary dance by bringing together modern, classical, American and African-American traditions in dance and storytelling. Co-founders Kevin Iega Jeff and Gary Abbott have established a world-class dance company inspired by the African diaspora in a community dedicated to nurturing artists, supporting human relationships and sharing common values through engaging in dance.

Kevin Iega Jeff began studying dance formally at age thirteen.

He trained at

the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts, Darvash Ballet School, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center before matriculating into The Juilliard School. As a dancer he has been praised for his technical brilliance and rigor, his dramatic power, and the singular ability to perform and bridge different dance forms in a seamless manner, whether it be ballet, modern, contemporary, or African American dance.

Gary Abbott began his career as a dancer in Atlanta, GA with Barbara Sullivan’s Atlanta Dance Theatre. There he developed his interest in choreography and created works for musicals presented by Jomandi Productions and The Clark College Players.

Receiving a scholarship to attend California Institute of the Arts in 1979, Abbott studied with dance legends Crystine Lawson, Nicholas Gunn and Mia Slavenska.

Abbott later moved to Los Angeles where he danced with Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theatre.

Deeply Rooted has been at the forefront of arts activism with them being the first American dance company to appear in the 15th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban, South Africa. Their works have also included themes of living with HIV/AIDS and the soul’s quest for freedom, reflections on American’s Civil Rights era.

Being committed to the intersection of dance and activism, Deeply Rooted is set to continue to serve as a force in the arts community.

Life of a Young Black Theatre Director-The Start

by Dominique Rider

If

you can imagine a ship in a turbulent sea, it started off feeling like that. It’s been a constant series of highs and lows that I have never been able to properly grasp.

Directing as an industry is wrapped so deeply in mystery that unless you went to a school that has the resources to illuminate the field (and sometimes even if you did), you’re going to be scrambling through the dark trying to feel your way towards the light. The truth about directing is that often times people aren’t quite sure of what we do and as a result, there aren’t a lot of institutional opportunities that are driven specifically towards us. The resources dwindle even more when you add race into this equation. Where do the black directors go to create work? When you look at the numbers on and off Broadway, you begin to get the sense that we don’t exist, that black directors exist somewhere outside of the scope of these white institutions.

This presents both a problem and an opportunity.

Being on the margins gave me a clear look at the way the world of directing seemed to function. The earliest lesson that I learned about what it means to be a director is that an extensive part of the job is being able to maintain connections. Being an early career director means having to know people and showing them (very quickly) that they can trust you in a room. It means being able to sell yourself on why you love a play or an aesthetic and then being able to provide whatever a director needs in the room. I find myself most often interested in directors who I have little to nothing in common with. What can I learn from people who work differently than I do? What is gained from being a part of shows that I probably wouldn’t see in my day to day life. This has been useful in gaining a wide perspective on theatre and storytelling.

The thing about assistant directing that most people won’t admit is that it’s often times a very different skill than directing. It requires a very different muscle, but can be just as rewarding because of the time you’re getting to spend watching someone else do the job you want without worrying about the pressure. You’re getting a front row seat to new tools and tricks that can be added to your toolbox.

It’s a gratifying experience. However, it sometimes requires that you stay at least ten steps ahead of the director. What will they need? Where are they leading that moment?

How are they crafting these ideas? What ideas are they expressing and what can I add to make it more clear? How can you get inside of their head and use those tools to think about a room that you’ll eventually be leading.

One of the most rewarding things about being a young director is forming relationships with playwrights, actors, and designers. There is something exciting about having conversations about staging, about intentions, about how we can work to bring the audience into the physical world of a play. Being able to meet people at the same level with you and build up with them is exciting and some of the best advice I can give anyone interested in taking on the role of directing.

Directing is a long form game where you’re never quite sure which move will lead you to the next level. It’s a constant state of planting seeds in hopes that you’ll see a harvest. It could come in six days, six months or six years. The timeline doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’ve been doing the work to get it when it comes.

The Man that is Mahershala Ali

by Dawn Burkes

He’s doomed, you know.

Mahershala Ali, he of the memorable name and melodious tones, is doomed to be in our cinematic lives for a long time.

He’s reminiscent of screen idols past: all laconic charm like Newman, coiled intensity like Brando, presence like Poitier. Or is it the other way around? And apparently he is also cool like Wesley Snipes. Ali will take over the character of Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

(This blockbuster news out of San Diego Comic-Con almost gave a certain writer the vapors. Whew, chile ...)

(Does it matter? Bygones.) Anyway ...

He won his second Oscar amid controversy and criticism surrounding Green Book. But he rose above the murmuring that the story should have been about his character Don Shirley and made it about him come awards-time. We just gave in to his charms and realized we had been along for the ride the entire time.

This leading-man-in-waiting has elevating everything he touched.

quietly

been

Here are three supporting performances worth another look: SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

While he was winning his historic first Oscar - he was the first Muslim to win best actor - we were scrambling to catch up. After all, Moonlight was an arthouse film with touchy subject matter for some people. The win was a bit tainted because of the unfortunate reveal of the wrong best-picture winner as La La Land instead of the well-deserved Moonlight.

He’s cool, even in animated form. Animators take their cues from real-life counterparts. That symbiotic relationship can leave an indelible impression on film.

Ali obviously left an indelible impression on them. He plays the uncle, Aaron, to a new Spider-Man. Aaron, estranged from the rest of the family, seems to have one friend in the world, and that’s his nephew Miles. Ali is a supporting player here, but there’s an argument to be made that his story is the emotional heart of the film and not least because of the actor’s portrayal.

But let us not speak of that.

LUKE CAGE

Again, bygones ...

The first season of Luke Cage was rightfully lauded as groundbreaking and, well, some good fun. One of

Ali snuck up on us.

the reasons for that was Ali’s Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes. Every character on this show seemed to have a tragic backstory. But there his was in his eyes, how they searched for acceptance, how they turned kindness into menace without blinking. That was especially so in scenes with Alfre Woodard’s character, Mariah Stokes. Family issues? Yeah, man. We don’t want those problems.

ROXANNE ROXANNE Yeah, sure, this biopic is about the titular rapper but Ali is on the poster, too. We know his older Cross’ relationship with the teenage rapper is wrong, but we’re pulled in. It’s the eyes again. It’s the hesitation in his lines as he’s talking that talk.

It’s his motions as he tries to push her away with words while physically pulling her to him. Ali as Cross hustles himself.

We know he’s a piece of, well, we know that he floats. Ali’s portrayal lets us know he knows that, too. Damn.

On the bubble: Free State of Jones and The 4400.

A Cup of Soul

by Symphony Segura “The Foodnista�

The Future is female and did I mention she is black.

Let me introduce you to the ladies of the newest neighborhood coffee shop Sip & Sonder, Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicolas. These ladies are not only co-owners but best friends, former attorneys and co founders of the Los Angeles Black Investor Club. Sip & Sonder, black owned and women ran, planted its roots in Inglewood, CA in 2017. With the name Sip & Sonder, Sonder meaning the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own, these two ladies have strived to bring back a vivid life to the African American community through coffee.

Sip & Sonder offers a creative work space for every type of creative there is. Whether you are a poet, singer, writer or looking for a inviting space to get some work done.

With a open floor plan no detail has been overlooked.

Sip & Sonder is definitely the place to be. With ongoing weekly and monthly events Sip & Sonder has everything

from open mic, game night and my favorite Sip & Chill.

Sip & Sonder not only offer community events, they have studio and gallery space for artist to rent. They are recreating black lifestyle and what community means all under one coffee shop. The coffee shop has an open floor plan, natural browns and black colors.

The cafe bar menu doesn’t disappoint either, especially for those who love coffee as much as I do. My go to order has been the rose latte with vanilla flavoring and a matcha bar donut. The rose latte has a lightly floral taste with a beautiful fragrant. It is very smooth with a light vanilla aroma. Sip & Sonder is definitely serving up some of the best drip, iced or espresso coffee this side of the 405. Serving top quality beans from Red Bay Roastery, a black on roaster in Oakland, CA. Amanda and Jane, New York natives, have definitely been making a mark on not only the African American community but the Inglewood neighborhood also. Being an Inglewood native myself and a avid coffee drinker having a place to go and be creative with people that look like me is very important. Sip & Sonder is more than a coffee shop, it is a place to come and connect. I hope more people take the lead of Sip & Sonder and continue to bring back community support for African American people, entrepreneurs, creatives and artist.

Top 20 Artists to Watch

With so much music these days, we have the problem of weeding out music we don’t like to find some we actually do.

Our 20 Artists to Watch is celebrating musicians in different genres that may not have crossed your radar.

by Jacob Grovey

Tank and the Bangas is a group who blends hip hop and soul with music from a live band. They recently released their major label debut, Green Balloon. The lead singer, Tarriona Ball has an abundance of positivity that makes you smile from the moment any of the group’s songs begin to play.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a group of eight sons of the trumpeter, Phil Cohran. The brothers grew up around music, but as they got older, many of them stopped playing. Luckily for music enthusiasts, the urge to play was too strong to stay away. In addition to their music, you can hear them along side Erykah Badu, Femi Kuti, and Prince.

Cautious Clay is a refreshing voice in the world of R&B. His EP, Table of Context, allows listeners to witness his vulnerabilities. Brooklyn is his home, but you can hear the influences of his former stomping grounds of Cleveland and Washington in his music. Clay is currently unsigned, but 2019 is looking to be a groundbreaking year for the young entertainer.

When your grandfather is iconic trumpet player, Doc Cheatham, playing the horn is in your DNA. Theo Crocker has set out to take what his grandfather started and take it to a whole new level! He refuses to have his music placed

in any of the categories that have been created for jazz music. He simply does what he feels in his spirit, and that is a blessing.

Domani is the son of the “King of the South,” TI, and Tiny Harris. As such, his music comes with high expectations.

Many second-generation entertainers have crumbled under the pressure of their famous parents but Domani is poised to buck that trend. His latest release, Time Will Tell, showcases his talent, growth, and the maturity of a rapper well beyond his years.

Dev and Corey are known as Bathe. Their tracks allow you to just vibe out, even when they talk about relationships ending when one party suddenly stops communicating with the other. The music has somewhat of a dark and humorous tones with hints of being “up in your feelings.”

They definitely allow themselves to relive some of the moments that may not have gone the way they wanted them to, and that makes them incredibly relatable.

Megan Thee Stallion is sometimes compared to Nicki Minaj, but she is unlike any other. Not only has she become famous for her ferocious lyrics and delivery, but also because she’s currently a Texas Southern University student. Some consider her lyrics to be vulgar, but there is no denying her intellect or talent.

Arnetta Johnson is a trumpeter who’s gaining attention, and for good reason. Johnson plays like she grew up with

Miles Davis playing in one ear and trap music playing in the other. The combination sounds strange but Johnson and her group, Sunny, make it work.

The Suffers have been working since 2011 to get their brand of soul music out to the world. The artists take their music very seriously, and that can be heard with each note they sing. Whether in front of thousands or a crowd of 50, The Suffers always give their all.

Tierra Whack is a Philadelphia rapper with a uniquely animated style. She has a habit of making songs that last about a minute or so, which is perfect for the short attention span of music listeners. Her ability to embrace her individuality is very reminiscent of the legend, Missy Elliott.

Guitarist Steve Lacy shows the freedom younger artists have with their music. This Compton native initially gained notoriety with the Grammy-nominated group, The Internet, but he decided to go out on his own. In May of this year, he released his solo debut, Apollo XXI. There’s a long line of legendary rappers from the Bay Area, and ALLBLACK is striving to be the next one. If punchlines could fight, many opposing rappers would have problems with the words ALLBLACK spits. Although many Bay Area artists are loyal to the soil and sometimes find it difficult to make it outside of home, ALLBLACK is definitely going after national appeal.

Caribbean culture and hip-hop are infused brilliantly in saxophonist, Nubya Garcia’s music. The combination of sounds she creates are completely new, yet they’re presented in a way jazz enthusiasts will relate to, while hip-hop heads will instantly vibe with.

Influenced by Cassidy and J. Cole, rapper MDot’s style has been described as “grimy, conscious rap.” His words can be harsh and blunt, but his words are riddled with truth. His beats are the spoonful of sugar that help the medicine go down.

TDE continues to strike gold with their artists. Next up in a line of heavy hitters is Reason. This young California emcee has obviously been taking notes from his label mates but he refuses to be kept in the shadows. Whether on mixtapes, freestyles or his album, Reason is showing the world why he won’t be denied.

Mélat has been tearing up the r&b scene for a little while, and her fanbase will continue to grow. Her music is an open diary that allows us to hear her innermost thoughts. She is eclectic, but her songs contain an undeniable amount of

soul.

If you’re searching for fame, jazz music is a hard genre to do it in. It becomes even more difficult when you’re not a trumpet or saxophone player. Enter percussionist, Joel Ross.

He has already played with legendary artists like Herbie Hancock, which gives him the ultimate level of respect from his peers, his predecessors, and those who are following behind him. He primarily focuses on the vibraphone and pardon the pun, but there is no doubt that he will continue to bless the music world with positive vibes.

For most, Ex serves as the introduction to Kiana Ledé.

Although she is only 22, Kiana has been acting and singing professionally since she was a teen. She won a kid’s competition in 2011 and her journey has continued moving forward. This year will be only a glimpse into her future.

With jazz, you never know when it’s “your time.” Trumpeter and composer, Jamie Brance, has been making music professionally for over a decade, but 2019 is set to be a breakout year for her. She released a solo project in 2017, which was followed by a group collaboration in 2018.

This year will continue to see that momentum grow.

Austin native, Curt Legacy, is a rapper everyone needs to watch. Legacy stays in his own lane by not being confined to a box. He’s able to make party music with lyrics that can still make you think. His popularity has been growing, and 2019 serves to be a big year for him.

urbanbushwomen.org

MUSEUMS

Arts Organi zations

A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum 10406 S Maryland Ave Chicago, Illinois 60628 aprpullmanportermuseum.org African American Civil War Memorial 1925 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001 afroamcivilwar.org African American Firefighter Museum 1401 S Central Ave Los Angeles, California 90021 aaffmuseum.org African American Multicultural Museum 617 N Scottsdale Rd # A Scottsdale, Arizona 85257 African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave Dallas, TX 75210 aamdallas.org African American Museum and Library at Oakland 659 14th St Oakland, CA 94612 African American Museum in Philadelphia 701 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 aampmuseum.org

DANCE

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 405 W 55th St New York , NY 10019 alvinailey.org Atlanta Dance Connection 2575 Harris St Atlanta, GA 30344 atlantadanceconnection.com Bebe Miller Company 140 2nd Ave #404 New York , NY 10003 bebemillercompany.org Cleo Parker Robinson Dance 119 Park Ave W Denver, CO 80205 cleoparkerdance.org Dance Theatre of Harlem 466 W 152nd St, New York, NY 10031 dancetheatreofharlem.org David Roussève REALITY 72-11 Austin Street, #371 Forest Hills, NY 11375 davidrousseve.com Debbie Allen Dance Academy 3791 Santa Rosalia Dr Los Angeles, CA 90008 debbieallendanceacademy.com Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre 17 North State Street, 19th Floor Chicago, IL 60602 deeplyrooteddancetheater.org Fist and Heel Performance Group 476 Dean St, Suite 3 Brooklyn, NY 11217 fistandheelperformancegroup.org Garth Fagan Dance 50 Chestnut St Rochester, NY 14604 garthfagandance.org Lula Washington Dance Theater 3773 Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90016 lulawashington.org Phildanco!

9 North Preston Street-Philadanco Way Philadelphia, PA 19104 philadanco.org Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE 1368 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11216 evidencedance.com The Joan Weill Center for Dance 405 W 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 Thelma Hill Performing Arts 1525 Pacific St, Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY 11213 thelmahill.ajiboye.net Urban Bush Women 138 South Oxford Street, 4B Brooklyn, NY 11217

African American Museum of Iowa 55 12th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 blackiowa.org African American Museum of Nassau County 110 N Franklin St Hempstead, NY 11550 theaamuseum.org African American Museum of Southern Illinois 1237 E Main St Carbondale, Illinois 62902 African American Museum of the Arts 325 S Clara Ave DeLand, FL 32720 africanmuseumdeland.org African-American Research Library and Cultural Center 2650 Sistrunk Blvd Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum 1841 John F Kennedy Blvd Jersey City, New Jersey 7305 Alabama State Black Archives Research Center and Museum 4900 Meridian St N Huntsville, Alabama 35810 Alexandria Black History Museum 902 Wythe St. Alexandria, Virginia 22314 alexandriava.govBlackHistory America’s Black Holocaust Museum 401 W North Ave Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 abhmuseum.org Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE Washington, D.C. 20020 anacostia.si.edu

520 16th St N Birmingham, Alabama 35203 bcri.org Black American West Museum & Heritage Center 3091 California St Denver, Colorado 80205 bawmhc.org Black History 101 Mobile Museum Detroit, Michigan blackhistorymobilemuseum.com Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia 122 W Leigh St Richmond, Virginia 23220 blackhistorymuseum.org Bontemps African American Museum 1327 3rd St Alexandria, LA 71301 arnabontempsmuseum.com Brazos Valley African American Museum 500 E Pruitt St Bryan, TX 77803 bvaam.org Buffalo Soldiers National Museum 3816 Caroline St Houston, Texas 77004 buffalosoldiermuseum.com California African American Museum 600 State Dr Los Angeles, CA 90037 caamuseum.org Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 315 E Warren Ave Detroit, MI 48201 thewright.org Clemson Area African American Museum 214 Butler St Clemson, South Carolina 29631 ca-aam.org Delta Cultural Center 141 Cherry St Helena, Arkansas 72342 deltaculturalcenter.com Dorchester Academy and Museum 8787 E Oglethorpe Hwy Midway, Georgia 31320 dorchesteracademyia.org Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum 2240 9th Ave S St. Petersburg, Florida 33712 woodsonmuseum.org DuSable Museum of African American History 740 E 56th Pl Chicago, IL 60637 dusablemuseum.org Finding Our Roots African American Museum 918 Roussell St Houma, Louisiana 70360 Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 1411 W St SE Washington, D.C. 20020 nps.govfrdoindex.htm George Washington Carver Museum 415 E. Grant St Phoenix, Arizona 85036 gwcmccaz.wordpress.com

Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum 1313 Pierce St Lynchburg, Virginia 24501 annespencermuseum.com

George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center 1165 Angelina S Austin, Texas 78702 austintexas.govcarvermuseum

APEX (African American Panoramic Experience) Museum 135 Auburn Ave NE Atlanta, Georgia 30303 apexmuseum.org

Great Plains Black History Museum 2221 N 24th St Omaha, Nebraska 68110 gpblackhistorymuseum.org

Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy Fire Museum 203 North Carey Street Baltimore, Maryland 21223

Hammonds House Museum 503 Peeples St SW Atlanta, GA 30310 hammondshouse.org

Banneker-Douglass Museum 84 Franklin St Annapolis, Maryland 21401 bdmuseum.maryland.gov

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center 4068 Golden Hill Rd Church Creek, Maryland 21622 nps.govhatu

Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum 300 Oella Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21228 friendsofbenjaminbanneker.com Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum 208 W South 2nd St Seneca, South Carolina 29678 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Harvey B. Gantt Center 551 S Tryon St Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 ganttcenter.org Idaho Black History Museum 508 Julia Davis Dr Boise, Idaho 83702 ibhm.org

International African American Museum 113 Calhoun St, Charleston Charleston, SC 29401 iaamuseum.org International Civil Rights Center and Museum 134 S Elm St Greensboro, North Carolina 27401 sitinmovement.org John G. Riley CenterMuseum of African American History and Culture 419 E. Jefferson Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 rileymuseum.org Kansas African American Museum 601 N Water St Wichita, KS 67203 tkaamuseum.org L.E. Coleman African-American Museum 3011 Mountain Rd Halifax County, Virginia 24558 oldhalifax.comcountyColemanMuseum LaVilla Museum 829 N Davis St Jacksonville, Florida 32202 ritzjacksonville.com Legacy Museum of African American History 403 Monroe St Lynchburg, VA 24504 legacymuseum.org Lewis H. Latimer House 34-41 137th St Flushing, New York 11354 lewislatimerhouse.org Louis Armstrong House 34-56 107th St Corana, New York 11368 louisarmstronghouse.org Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site Visitors Center 450 Auburn Ave NE Atlanta, Georgia 30312 nps.govmalu Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site 1318 Vermont Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20005 nps.govmamc Mary McLeod Bethune Home 640 Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 nps.govplacesmary-mcleod-bethune-home Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum 314 N. Duss Street New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168 blackheritage.org Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum 4130 Overland Ave Culver City, California 90230 claytonmuseum.org Mississippi Civil Rights Museum 222 North St #2205 Jackson, Mississippi 39201 mcrm.mdah.ms.gov Mosaic Templars Cultural Center 501 W 9th St Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 mosaictemplarscenter.com Muhammad Ali Center 144 N 6th St Louisville, Kentucky 40202 alicenter.org Museum of African American History & Abiel Smith School 46 Joy St Boston, Massachusetts 2114 nps.govboaflearnhistorycultureabiel-smithschool.htm Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts 80 Hanson Pl Brooklyn, New York 11217 mocada.org Museum of the African Diaspora 685 Mission St San Francisco, California 94105 moadsf.org Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture 301 Main St Natchez, Mississippi 39120 National African American Archives and Museum 564 Davis Ave Mobile, Alabama 36610 National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center 1350 Brush Row Rd

Wilberforce, Ohio 45384 ohiohistory.orgvisitmuseum-and-sitelocatornational-afro-american-museum National Center for Civil and Human Rights 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW Atlanta, Georgia 30313 civilandhumanrights.org National Center of Afro-American Artists 300 Walnut Avenue Roxbury, Massachusetts 2119 ncaaa.org National Civil Rights Museum 450 Mulberry St Memphis, Tennessee 38103 civilrightsmuseum.org National Museum of African American Music 211 7th Avenue North, Suite 420 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 nmaam.org National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 50 E Freedom Way Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 freedomcenter.org National Voting Rights Museum 6 US-80 BUS Selma, Alabama 36701 nvrmi.com Negro Leagues Baseball Museum 1616 E 18th St Kansas City, Missouri 64108 nlbm.com New Orleans African American Museum 1418 Governor Nicholls St New Orleans, LA 70116 noaam.org Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum 1051 Chenault Park Rd Monroe, Louisiana 71203 Northwest African American Museum 2300 S. Massachusetts Street Seattle, WA 98144 naamnw.org Odell S. Williams Now And Then AfricanAmerican Museum 538 South Blvd Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Old Dillard Museum 1009 NW 4th St Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 browardschools.comPage35769 Oran Z’s Black Facts and Wax Museum 3742 W Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Los Angeles, California 90008 orans.com Paul R. Jones Collection of African American Art 2308 Sixth Street Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 art.ua.edu/gallery/prj Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center 4519 Rhode Island Ave North Brentwood, Maryland 20722 pgaamcc.org Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture 830 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202 lewismuseum.org River Road African American Museum 406 Charles St Donaldsonville, , LA 70346 africanamericanmuseum.org Rosa Parks Museum 600 University Ave Montgomery, Alabama 36082 troy.edustudent-life-resourcesartsculturerosa-parks-museumindex.html Sandy Ground Historical Museum 1538 Woodrow Rd Staten Island, New York 10309 Slave Mart Museum 6 Chalmers St Charleston, South Carolina 29401 oldslavemartmuseum.com Smith-Robertson Museum and Cultural Center 528 Bloom St Jackson, Mississippi 39202 jacksonms.govindex.aspx?NID=342 Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture 1400 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20560 nmaahc.si.edu

Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida 32307 cis.famu.eduBlackArchivesindex.html Springfield and Central Illinois AfricanAmerican History Museum 1440 Monument Ave Springfield, Illinois 62702 spiaahm.org Studio Museum in Harlem 429 W 127th St New York City (Manhattan), New York 10027 studiomuseum.org Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum 1600 Phoenix Square Hammond, Louisiana 70403 taahm.org The African American Museum 55 12th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 blackiowa.org The African American Museum in Cleveland 1765 Crawford Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44120 aamcleveland.wixsite.comaamc The George Washington Carver Museum 1212 West Montgomery Road Tuskegee, Alabama 36088 nps.govtuinindex.htm The Griot Museum of Black History 2505 St Louis Ave St. Louis, Missouri 63106 thegriotmuseum.com The Legacy Museum 115 Coosa Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104 museumandmemorial.eji.org

Billie Holiday theatre 1368 Fulton St Brooklyn , NY 11216 thebillieholiday.org Black Ensemble Theater 4450 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60640 blackensembletheater.org Black Power Theatre blackpowertheater.com Black Repertory Group 3201 Adeline Street Berkeley, CA 94703 blackrepertorygroup.com Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City 4949 Cherry Street Kansas City , MO 64110 Kcrep.org Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop theblackrevolutionarytheatreworkshop.org Black Spectrum Theatre 177-06 Bailsey Blvd Jamaica , NY 11434 blackspectrum.com Bushfire Theatre 224 S 52nd Street Philadelphia, PA 1939 bushfiretheatre.org Cincinnati Black Theatre 2237 Losantiville ave Cincinnati, OH 45237 cincinnatiblacktheatre.org Common Ground Theatre 4343 Ocean View Blvd San Diego, CA 92113 cgtsd.org Congo Square Theater Chicago, IL 60563 congosquaretheatre.org

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum 1601 E North Ave Baltimore, Maryland 21213 greatblacksinwax.org

Crossroads Theatre Company 7 Livingston Ave New Brunswick, NJ o8901 crossroadstheatrecompany.org

Tubman Museum 310 Cherry St Macon, GA 31201 tubmanmuseum.com

Ebony Repertory Theatre 4718 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016 ebonyrep.org

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site 1616 Chappie James Ave Tuskegee, Alabama 36083 nps.govtuaiindex.htm

ETA Creative Arts 7558 S South Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60619 etacreativearts.org

Tuskegee Airmen National Museum Museum 6325 West Jefferson Detroit, Michigan 48209 tuskegeemuseum.org

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater Company 2100 Ridge Ave Evanston, IL 60201 cityofevantson.org

Weeksville Heritage Center 158 Buffalo Ave New York City (Brooklyn), New York 11213 weeksvillesociety.org

Harlem 9 harlem9.org

Wells’ Built Museum 511 W. South Street Orlando, Florida 32805 wellsbuiltmuseum.comcontact.html Whitney Plantation 5099 LA-18 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana 70049 whitneyplantation.com William V. Banks Broadcast Museum 3146 East Jefferson Detroit, Michigan 48226 wgprtvhistory.org

THEATRE

African American Repertory Theatre 4849 W. Illinois Ave Dallas, TX 75211 aareptheater.com African American Repertory Theatre of VA P.O. box 12413 Richmond, VA 23241 aartofva.org African-American Shakespeare Company 762 Fulton Street, Suite 306 San Francisco, CA 94102 african-americanshakes.org

Harlem Repertory Theatre 240 E 123rd Street New York, NY 10035 harlemrepertorytheatre.com Hatiloo Theatre 37 South Cooper Memphis, TN 38104 hattiloo.org IKAM Productions PO Box 3354 Decatur, GA 30031 ikamproductions.com Images Theatre Company 5960 South Land Park Drive #138 Sacramento, CA 95822 imagestheatre.org Jag Productions 5 south Main street White River Junction, VT 5001 jagproductionsVt.com Jubilee Theatre 506 Main Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 jubileetheatre.org

Liberation Theatre Company 1855 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. New York, NY 10026 liberationtheatrecompany.org Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble lower-depth.com Mixed Magic Theatre 560 Mineral Spring Ave Pawruckett, RI 2860 mmtri.org MMPACT P.O. Box 10039 Chicago, IL 60610 mpaact.org National Black Theatre 2031 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10035 nationalblacktheatre.org Negro Ensemble Company 135 west 41st Street 5th Floor New York, NY 10036 necinc.org New Freedom Theatre 1346 N Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19121 freedomtheatre.org New African Grove Theatre Company 4355 Cobb Parkway, Ste J #157 Atlanta, GA 30339 newafricangrove.com New Federal Theatre 543 w. 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 newfederaltheatre.com New Heritage group Theatre 229 west 135th New York, NY 10030 newworldstation.com New Mcree Theatre 2040 W carpenter RD Flint, MI 48505 thenewmccreetheatre.com New Professional Theatre 229 West 42nd Street #501 New York, NY 10036 newprofessionaltheatre.org New Venture Theatre P.O. BOX 45792 Baton Rouge, LA 70895 newventuretheatre.org North Carolina Black Repertory P.O. Box 95 Winston Salem, NC 27102 ncblackrep.org NuAfrican Theatre nuafrikantheatre.org Passinart Theatre Company P.o Box 6407 Portland, OR 97228 passinart.org Paul Roberson Theatre 350 Mastern Ave Buffalo, NY 14209 aaccbuffalo.org Penumbra Theatre 270 N kent st St.Paul, MN 55102 penumbratheatre.org Pins Point Theatre pinpoints.org Plowshares Theatre Company 440 Burroughs st #185 Detroit, MI 48202 plowsharestheatre.org Rites and Reason Theatre Brown University Providence, RI 2912 brown.edu Soul Rep Theatre Company soulrep.org

Karamu House Theatre 2355 E. 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 karamuhouse.org

St Louis Black Repertory Theater 6662 Olive Blvd University City, MO 63130 theblackrep.org

Agape Theatre Project agapetheatreproject.com

Kennie Playhouse Theatre kennieplayhousetheatre.com

Arena Players 801 McCulloh street Baltimore , MD 21201 arenaplayersinc.com

Kenny Leon’s True Color Theatre Company 887 West Marietta Street, Suite J-102 Atlanta, GA 30318 truecolorstheatre.org

Stage Aurora Theatrical Company P. O. Box 28283 Jacksonville, FL 32218 stageaurora.org

Art Forms and Theatre Concepts 1923 Reynoldsave North Charleston, SC 29405

Kuumba Ensemble 1021 Hartmont rd Suite755 Baltimore, MD 21228 Kuumbaensemble.org

The Black Theatre Troupe 1333 East Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85034 blacktheatretroupe.org The Classical Theatre of Harlem 8 W 126th Street

New York, NY 10027 cthnyc.org The Ensemble Theatre 3535 Main Street Houston, TX 77002 ensemblehouston.com The Hansberry Project 5951 44th ave South Seattle, WA 98118 hansberryproject.org The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre 762 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94102 lhtsf.org The M Ensemble 6103 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33127 themensemble.com The Mahogany Project Seattle, WA mahoganyproject.org The Movement Theatre 279 West 117th Street #2Q New York, NY 10026 themovementtheatrecomany.com The Robey Theatre Company 514 S. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90013 robeytheatrecompany.org The Source Theater Company 721 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO thesourcedenver.org Towne Street Theatre 4101 Budlong Ave., Suite 4 Los Angeles, CA 90037 townestreetla.org Tuskegee Repertory Theatre 201 South Main Street Tuskegee, AL 36083 tuskegeerep.com Ujima Company, Inc 429 Plymouth Ave Suite 2 Buffalo, NY 14213 ujimacoinc.org Unity Theatre Ensemble P.0. Box 1035 St.Louis, MO 63031 utensemble.org Upstage Theatre Company Inc Baton Rouge, LA 70815 upstagetheatre.biz Watts Village PO Box 72715 Los Angeles, CA 90002 wattsvillage.org

Carver Community Cultural Center 226 N Hackberry San Antonio, TX 78202 thecarver.org Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance 1368 Fulton St. Brooklyn , NY 11216 cumbedance.org Harlem School of the Arts 645 St Nicholas Ave New York, NY 10030 hsanyc.org Harvey B. Gantt Center for AfricanAmerican Arts+Culture 551 S Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28202 ganttcenter.org I, Too Arts Collective - Langston Hughes House 20 East 127th Street New York , NY 10035 itooarts.com Mosaic Templars Cultural Center 501 W 9th St Little Rock, AR 72201 mosaictemplarscenter.com National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center 1350 Brush Row Rd Wilberforce, OH 45384 ohiohistory.org The Black Academy of Arts and Letters 650 S Griffin St Dallas, TX 75202 tbaal.org The Center For Afrofuturist Center 120 N. Dubuque St Iowa City, IA publicspaceone.com/cas The Watering Hole 1644 Main St., Studio 9 Columbia , SC 29201 twhpoetry.org Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site 1616 Chappie James Ave Tuskegee, AL 36083 nps.gov

FESTIVAL

Atlanta Black Jazz Festival 400 Park Dr NE Atlanta , GA 30306 atlantafestivals.com DC Black Theater Festival dcblacktheatrefestival.com

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 1012 N. Orange Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 westcoastblacktheatre.org

Essence Music Festival 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr- Mercedes Benz Superdome New Orleans, La 70112 essence.comfestival

Youth Ensemble of Atlanta 9 Gammon Ave Atlanta, GA 30315 youthensemble.org

International Association of Blacks in Dance P.O. Box 1544 Washington, DC 20013 iabdassociation.org

MULTI-DISCIPLINE

African American Museum and Library at Oakland 659 14th St Oakland, CA 94612 oaklandlibrary.org Amazing Grace Conservatory 2401 W Washington Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90018 amazinggraceconservatory.org Apollo Theater 253 W 125th St New York, NY 10027 apollotheater.org August Wilson Center for African American Culture 980 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh,, PA 15222 culturaldistrict.org Bishop Arts Theatre Center 215 S Tyler St Dallas, TX 75208 bishopartstheatre.org Black Arts & Cultural Center - Kalamazoo 359 S Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 202 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 blackartskalamazoo.org Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute 120 E 125th St New York, NY 10035 cccadi.orghome-page

National Black Arts Festival Peachtree Center, North Tower, 235 Peachtree Street, Ste. 1725 Atlanta, GA 30303 nbaf.org National Black Theater Festival PO Box 95 Winston Salem, NC 27102 ncblackrep.orgcontact-ncbrc-2 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 1751 Gentilly Blvd New Orleans, LA 70119 www.nojazzfest.com Riverfront Jazz Festival 650 S. Griffin St Dallas , TX 75202 tbaalriverfrontjazzfestival.org The Fire This Time Festival 85 E. 4th St. New York, NY, 10003 firethistimefestival.com Unity Fest Dallas 3536 Grand Ave. Dallas , TX 75210 unityfestdallas.com