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Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 81 - No. 24 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, November 29, 2019
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The Controversy at the Union For Contemporary Art (Building Blocks or Blocks to Building) By Preston Love Jr. This article will attempt to open up a responsible dialogue regarding the recent issues in and around the controversial art piece at the Union for Contemporary Art.
Vanessa German is a Pittsburgh-based African American visual and performance artist. Her multimedia installation titled “sometimes.we.cannot.be.with.our.bodies.” opened at the Union for Contemporary Art on September 14. It was the gallery’s 2019 Wanda Ewing Commission, which each year supports the production and presentation of new work by a woman artist of the African diaspora. While visiting Omaha, German also created a performance art piece “in honor of Will Brown and other people of color whose lives have been lost
to violence.” German’s work has been featured in Essence and O Magazine and exhibited in many prominent museums and galleries across the U.S. The Union exhibit is described by the artist in three parts: “1. Kaledescopic installation with sound in an immersive sculptural world. 2. An antechamber of silence, grief, and reflection 3. Two windows of text.” The text in the windows, written by German and other artists, was intended to inspire dialogue about the overall exhibit. Visible in the front windows of the gallery, it included a racial slur which created anger and controversy within the community. The offending quote was initially attributed to Toni Morrison, but was written by Ms. German based on a personal experience. For context, the prose in question described a real-life event where a White person approached German in a public setting wearing a T-shirt that read “N*** Lover.” The wearer attempted to engage her in conversation. After several members of the community noticed the text, a large number objected to the display and demanded the controversial phrase be removed. The Union has decided to keep the show up through its original end date of November 30. Union Founder and Executive Director Brigitte McQueen Shew, independent curator of the show Nicole J. Caruth, several of its paid employees, and resident artists are all African American. For the past two weeks, the Union offered a wonderful play “Tell Martha Not to Moan” written by Clinnesha D. Sibley, African American. It was directed by Kathy Tyree, featuring leads D. Kevin Williams and Camille Metoyer Moten, all African Americans. By
the time you are reading the article, the play will have closed after two weeks of sold out performances before racially integrated audiences. The Black community is angry, in poverty, remembering Will Brown, being subjected to Donald Trump, beat down economically, all-around misunderstood and less likely today to be challenged by a provocative piece of art. It seems to be a common and strongly-held perception in much of the North Omaha’s Black community that the Union is a “White thing” in the middle of our neighborhood. It has been mentioned in several community forums that the Union is an example of a deliberate take-over by Whites in the Black community. Some members of the Black arts community believe that Black artists are devalued, in almost every way, in most of the artistic venues in Omaha. There is also some negativity towards the Union because it is one of the few non-profits in North Omaha with money to develop programming and to keep the doors open. It doesn’t matter what the facts are, the Union cannot escape these perceptions. The Union is making some great strides. Their mistake was failing to include the community’s input in the pre-display dialogue. The artist’s objective was to be provocative and to stimulate dialogue. However, she stepped over the line by using that racial slur. That is where the Union became too provocative, leaving themselves not building bricks for growth, but getting bricks thrown. It was divisive, and maybe a step backwards for everybody involved. The perceptions need to be understood and brought into the operational dialogue of the whole arts community, including the Union. The brick that broke the window at the
Secretary of State Releases 2020 Election Calendar
LINCOLN – Secretary of State Robert B. Evnen has announced that the 2020 election calendar has been published on the Secretary of State website. “Being able to vote or run for an office is of critical importance to Nebraska citizens,” Secretary Evnen said. “My office works very hard to ensure every Nebraska citizen has an opportunity to participate in elections either as a candidate, a voter or both. The 2020 election calendar has been reviewed and approved by the Attorney General, according to law, and is ready for public viewing.” Dec. 2 is the first day for candidates to submit their filing documents for federal, state, or other multi-county district offices. Any forms filed prior to Dec. 2 will not be accepted and will be returned. Secretary Evnen advises anyone thinking about candidacy to check with Accountability and Disclosure Commission about forms
that need to be filed with that agency and the disclosure and financial accountability rules that should be followed. Important dates to note: Dec. 2 – First day for candidates to submit their filing documents as noted above. Feb. 18 – Last day for incumbents (any current office holder) to file for office on the primary election ballot. March 2 – Last day for non-incumbents (new filers) to file for office for the primary election. May 12 – Nebraska’s Primary Election Nov. 3 – Nebraska’s General Election The official 2020 elections calendar has been made public on the Secretary of State website. For more information visit sos.nebraska.gov and click on the “Elections” tab or call the Elections Division at 402-4712555.
Local Pitch Event Invests $8,000 in Black Women and Girl Owned Businesses In partnership with Bank of the West, I Be Black Girl (IBBG) is investing $8,000 in two Black woman- and girl-owned businesses. The winners, OhhMyCreations and Creative Counseling Studio, were recently announced during IBBG’s Business Pitch Event and will each receive investments of $4,000. “Black women are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs and they add economic value through business creation,” said IBBG Founder Ashlei
Youth Winners: Jennile Payton and Ania Bailey
Spivey. “The biggest barrier to success is capital. This was an opportunity for us to provide more capital and show our commitment to empowerment through entrepreneurship.” During the IBBG Business Pitch Event, each contestant had five minutes to pitch their business, followed by five minutes of questions from the judges. The youth winners, OhhMyCreations, is led by Jennile Payton and Ania Bailey. Photos by: Abiola Kosoko Their business encourages Adult Winner: Yasmin Tucker growth using various art modalities, customers to be creative by bringing custom designs to life. The providing clients with an alternative to investment will allow the co-founders traditional mental health and substance to purchase necessary equipment to abuse treatments. The investment will expand their business beyond custom allow Creative Counseling Studio to t-shirts and into stationary, drinkware open their doors in January 2020. This event is a part of the larger work and more. Creative Counseling Studio, owned IBBG is doing through their Grow by the only registered art therapist of platform, which focuses on economic color in Nebraska, Yasmin Tucker, empowerment and entrepreneurship. More information about IBBG can was this year’s adult winner. Tucker provides a unique space for healing and be found at www.ibbgomaha.com.
Union was assumedly thrown by someone from the community. But, most people who are protesting this artwork abhor the fact that someone threw the brick. There are so many issues we are facing and dealing with in this community. It is very difficult to get people to rise up and fight the battles. The racial divisions in this country have increased exponentially since 2016. There are at least three immediate things that need to happen: The White community, especially those who are striving to be supportive and progressive, must understand perceptions and their effects. The Black community must go beyond knee-jerk reactions and get involved with the solutions. For example, get out and vote, go to our town hall meetings, join those who go to Lincoln to fight for legislation that effects our community. Lay down your Facebook pen and raise up your activist pen. Try to reach out and find workable solutions with the rest of the community. This is not about just Black and White anymore – it’s about Asian, Sudanese, Somalian, Mexican, etc. We have to stand up because our community is on the move and too many of us are unnecessarily picking at and criticizing ourselves and our leadership. Finally, there is great potential in North Omaha, but so much oppression outside our community. We need to come together and maximize and unify our assets. We can use this Union controversy to bridge and improve communication. Our leadership needs to focus on what can make the community better.
State Senator Justin Wayne Announces Re-election Campaign State Senator Justin T. Wayne has announced he is seeking to continue representing Legislative District 13 in the Nebraska State Legislature. “It has been an honor to represent North Omaha and Northeast Douglas County,” Wayne said. “Four years ago, I promised my community that I would fight to build safe and secure neighborhoods, create job opportunities and economic development, and improve the quality of our education system. I have delivered on that Wayne promise. If District 13 sends me back, I will continue to grow our state, and move Nebraska from Good to Great.” As a freshman senator, Wayne was elected to serve as Chair of the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Under Wayne’s leadership, the committee has modernized statutes governing municipalities and local economic development tools, passed the first significant updates to Nebraska’s housing authority statutes since their passage in 1999, and enacted a comprehensive re-write of Nebraska’s tax-increment financing (TIF) statutes. During the most recent legislative session, Wayne successfully shepherded several major pieces of legislation through the legislative process, most notably the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act and the Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Justin Wayne was born and raised in District 13. His father, Fred Wayne, retired from Omaha Public Schools. His mother Judy, retired from Lozier Corporation. His parents still live in the district. Justin is married to Katie (Knapp) Wayne of Omaha and they have two children, Mya and Thomas Wayne. As a concerned community member, attorney, mentor, and business man, Justin is uniquely qualified to address the issues and bring the results our children deserve. Whether it’s coaching youth volleyball and basketball, having a legal background, raising money for St. Jude’s Hospital, or being a member of Kiwanis Club of Florence, Justin has taken our community’s demanding goals for excellence and translated them into real programs and real results. For more information about his campaign, contact Wayne at 402-933-6603, or justin@justintwayne.com.
Couples Christmas in the Village Christmas – our holiday tradition – Soiree – Dec. 5. Dec. 7 – Noon – 5 p.m. See In the Village for details.
Make a Joyful Noise – Dec. 7/8. See In the Village for details.