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UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

The Perfect Picture Band performs during the 3rd Annual Augusta Music Fest, held downtown at the Augusta Common.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

JUNE 2 - 8, 2016 VOL. 5 NO. 35

Leilani Stallings (front) and other children practice a ballet scene at Maxwell Theater during a dress rehearsal for CUTNO DANCE CENTER’S 21ST SEASON DANCE RECITAL. THE RECITAL, WHICH CELEBRATES AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, takes place on June 5th at the theater. (May 26, 2016 - Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Roots 40 years later – Same saga, fresh critics

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Roots

By Willa Paskin Slate TV Critic

The miniseries Roots originally aired for eight consecutive nights in 1977 because executives at ABC were convinced the chronicle of an enslaved black American family would flop, and they wanted to burn through it as quickly as possible. Instead, Roots, based on Alex Haley’s book Roots: The

Malachi Kirby in the History Channel’s Roots.

The History Channel’s new version of the trailblazing ’70s miniseries is as necessary today as it was nearly 40 years ago.

Saga of an American Family, became an event and a phenomenon. An average of 80 million people watched the first seven episodes. A hundred million watched the finale. Kunta Kinte became a household name.

On Monday night (May 31), the History Channel began airing a new version of Roots. It speaks to the esteem in which the original is held that remaking it sounds like

a bad idea: in its audience and its impact, Roots isn’t toppable. But an hour or so into the new version, as we see Mandinka warrior Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby), so recently a free man, shackled in the hold of a slave ship, it becomes clear that the current version doesn’t have to best the original to be worthwhile.

Yes, the new Roots, like any visual drama about slavery, exists in

a sociocultural landscape that the original Roots helped create—which is to say, a world in which slavery has been turned into thoughtful, dramatic television at least once. But once is just a start. We are so far from having had enough painful, stirring treatments of slavery, the fundamental fact of American history, that Roots is nearly as necessary today as it was almost 40 years ago.

Roots producer Will Packer addresses criticism from Snoop Dogg and others TaMaryn Waters Tallahassee, Democrat Will Packer expected critics to pile on following the debut of the “Roots” remake, and he’s got a response for them, including rapper Snoop Dogg.

The rapper posted a profanity-laced Instagram video that lambasted the miniseries for debuting on Memorial Day and depicting the lives of black

American slaves. Of all his work, Packer said the miniseries has been the most heavily criticized. His other work includes “Ride Along” and “Ride Along 2,” “Think Like a Man,” “Think Like a Man 2” and “the Perfect Guy.” “They’re uncomfortable revisiting the reality of that time,” Packer said. “I understand it. But at the same time, I vehemently disagree.”

When asked about Snoop’s position,

which went viral Monday, Packer said the rapper was entitled to his opinion.

“I think that while I certainly don’t judge Snoop at all because I’m very flawed myself, I just think the irony of having him saying and using the n-word, saying, ‘A real n-word like me wouldn’t watch this,” Packer said. “I couldn’t help but think there’s a ghost of some horrendous slave owner that is smiling and smirking as he watches

this black man say that and call himself that …I think that slave owner probably said, ‘Preach. I agree.’”

Packer believes in the power of being uncomfortable.

“I don’t think we should get too comfortable as a country, as a society or as a race of people,” Packer said. “I think this is a story that’s important enough it should be told in repeated ways.”

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Vocalist Julia Foster of Perfect Picture Band sings during the 3RD ANNUAL AUGUSTA MUSIC FEST, held downtown at the Augusta Common.

Performers graced the stage throughout the day during the event, which also featured vendors and kid’s activiies.

(May 28, 2016 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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Augusta author Takisha Perry grooves to the music during the 3RD ANNUAL AUGUSTA MUSIC FEST, held downtown at the Augusta Common. Performers graced the stage throughout the day during the event, which also featured vendors and kid’s activiies.

(May 28, 2016 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Noah Wilson, CEO and founder of Noah PopTV, talks to the crowd during the 3RD ANNUAL AUGUSTA MUSIC FEST, held downtown at the Augusta Common.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 2 - 8, 2016

6 Nyel Lawrence works on her moves for a dance routine during a dress rehearsal for Cutno Dance Center’s 21st season dance recital at Maxwell Theater on June 5.

Lawrence, 16, has been a dance student for 11 years and an assistant dance instructor for three years.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Camille Davis practices a scene at Maxwell Theater during a dress rehearsal for Cutno Dance Center’s 21st season dance recital.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Aspiring dancer T dress rehearsal fo Americans in arts (May 26, 2016 - Au

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 2 - 8, 2016

Timid Bell (front) and other children practice a ballet scene at Maxwell Theater during a or Cutno Dance Center’s 21st season dance recital. The recital, which celebrates Africans and entertainment, takes place on June 5th at the theater. ugusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin THE DANGERS OF ENGAGING IN MONKEY BUSINESS

Backlash behind gorilla’s death rehashes familiar media narratives I said I wouldn’t write about this monkey business.

I have wondered for days why a story about the death of a gorilla has made national news – a story that, for the moment, has superseded politics IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR. Here’s the long and short of the scenario, according to CNN: “The Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed a western lowland gorilla on Saturday after a 4-year-old boy slipped into the animal’s enclosure, a zoo official said at a news conference.

“Harambe, a 17-year-old, 400-pound gorilla, carried the boy around its habitat for about 10 minutes in what the zoo’s dangerous animal response team considered a life-threatening situation, Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard said at a press briefing.

“After the gorilla was shot with a rifle, the child was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”

On social media, virtually everyone has weighed in on this gorilla, ironically named “Harambe,” as well as the

Family of child faces criticism. actions of the parents that led a child to inexplicably end up in a close-quarters scenario with a gorilla.

For a good while, I didn’t know the family involved was African-American.

Yet judging from the responses and the media commentary, I should have.

Apparently, the child’s father has a criminal record. Why this was relevant to the story – I have no idea, but that’s the media for you. The child’s mother, ironically enough, works in childcare.

One survey on CNN asked if parents should put leashes on their children.

Another article questioned whether the parents should be criminally charged. As of Sunday, there was a petition with 48,000 signatures that demanded “Justice for Harambe.”

All of it is the “theater of the absurd” – or, quite simply, monkey business.

Let me make this perfectly clear – I’m not here for child-rearing advice, nor am I here to provide animal rights commentary. I am here to question why the media seems hell-bent on making an example out of Black folk, to the point of caricaturism.

You know how you can go to the fair – or the circus, to that point – and have an artist draw a comical and warped likeness of yourself? This is what the media does to Black folk, without apology or abatement.

I said I wouldn’t write about this monkey business. Here’s why I changed my mind.

We are living in a perilous time for African-Americans. It’s not enough that we have to deal with real economic disparities that physically affect us. Now, we have to deal with disparities in imagery and perception.

It’s disgusting and it can be heart-

breaking. It also limits our community’s effectiveness as we seek to challenge and address more profound issues, such as economics and politics.

I mentioned earlier that the gorilla’s name, “Harambe,” was ironic.

“Harambee” in Swahili is a rallying cry that means “work together” or to “pull together.” With so many challenges facing our community now, one of the few things that will ensure our survival and progress is togetherness. We have to be more conscious about our actions, our activism, our portraits and our portrayal.

Brothers and sisters, it’s time for us to unify in protest against monkey business, in all shapes and sizes.

Ken J. Makin is the host of “Makin’ A Difference,” an internet radio program available at soundcloud.com/ makinadifference. Updates on the show are available at facebook.com/ makinadifferenceshow. You can also reach Ken by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com, or via Twitter @differencemakin.

LETTERS

Collective insanity spurred by self-identify epidemic Dear UPW Editor The current, be who you think you are, trend in America validates the words of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche wrote, “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in

UPW Urban Pro Weekly

2746 Willis Foreman Road Hephzibah, GA 30815

groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” Therefore, the word insanity ought to be deleted from the American lexicon. Therefore, from this time forward there is no individual insanity because the collective is insane.

Moreover, in order to be more inclusive, the category of trans-organism, with all rights and privileges, should be added. In this way, those individuals who wish to self-identify as an animal, plant, fungus, or bacterium will not feel excluded.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

Everyone is welcome to climb aboard Barack Obama’s rainbow disoriented express.

Kevin Palmer, Martinez, GA, (706) 231-1831

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist

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COMMUNITY

HAPPENINGS

Father and Daughter Gala set for June 19 Dr. Angela Pringle will serve as keynote speaker at the 9th Annual Father Daughter Gala to be held on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, 2016 at the Legends Club in Augusta.

Dr. Pringle began serving the Richmond County School System as Superintendent in September. She has received numerous awards for her work as an educator and leader. Most recently, she was recognized by the University of Georgia with the “Excellence in Educational Leadership” award.

The 9th Annual Father Daughter Dr. Angela Pringle Gala has celebrated the unique bond between fathers and daughters since ing, dancing, and lifelong memo2008 in the Augusta community. This ries for fathers and daughters, along evening of elegance features fine din- with families and friends to share a

very special Father’s Day. Guests will enjoy exciting entertainment provided by The Finesse Band with their blend of Motown, R&B, and Soul. Ryan Mahoney will serve as Emcee for the event. A silent auction of children’s toys, raffle items, professional photography, dancing, delicious dinner, along with other great surprises ensure an unforgettable experience for young ladies (and boys) of all ages while spending time with Dad on his special day.

Each year, the proceeds from the Gala are donated to several local non-profit organizations. Again this year, the Gala continues its efforts to build a strong and vibrant community as well as pro-

viding book scholarships for local college students.

Presented by The O’Neal Insurance Agency and sponsored

by Peach State Health Plan, 96.3 KissFM, 108.3 WBBQ, WRDW12/WAGT26, The Augusta Chronicle, International Formal Wear,Jim Hudson Lexus of Augusta, and Strothers Printing.

Seating begins at 4:00 pm and the program starts at 5:00 pm. Adult tickets are $75 and children 12 and under, $35. Tickets are available at The O’Neal Allstate Insurance Agency and International Formal Wear, and online at www.FDGala.com.

For information: www.FDGala. com or call 706-955-0122.

Evenings in the Appleby Gardens CONCERT SERIES

The Lord Is Not On Trial Here Today tells story of woman whose efforts to protect her 10-year-old son led to on of the most important First Amendment cases in U.S. Supreme Court history She was called “that awful woman” by her neighbors, and “that atheist mother” by newspapers across the country.

Her friends stopped returning phone calls rather than risk speaking with her.

She was branded a communist, and the Illinois State Legislature nearly outlawed her and her husband from ever working at the state university again. She received up to 200 letters a day, some of the writers claiming they would pray for her; many wishing for much worse.

All because, in 1945, Vashti McCollum would file a historic lawsuit that would forever change the relationship between religion and public school in America –

Sunday, June 19 3 pm.

HQ Library, 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, GA

and turn this young housewife from central Illinois into an unlikely champion of the separation of church and state.

In 1940, the Champaign, Illinois public school district instituted a voluntary religion class in its grade schools, something that was being done in school districts across the country. Vashti McCollum initially didn’t allow her oldest son, 10 year old Jim, permission to take the religion class. She believed religion was a personal matter, and not one for the schools, When she saw the materials being used in the class. “It was indoctrination into the old Christian faith,” she remembered.

“So I said never again.”

The 62nd Evenings In Appleby Gardens Concert Series is scheduled for 8:00 pm every Tuesday beginning May 31st through June 28th at the Appleby Library located at 2260 Walton Way. Exciting changes are scheduled for the 2016 concerts. The public is invited to bring their best portable lawn party décor and food set up to vie for the title of Appleby Garden Party Winner of the Week. The CSRA Shag Club also brings a fresh element to the series by hosting Motown In The Gardens Night, spinning favored oldies and teaching shag dance classes to attendees. From food trucks to photographers, summer Tuesdays on

Walton Way are shaping up to be a great, new way to spend a traditional night out with the family. Tradition is scheduled to round out the event with the annual appearance of the Fort Gordon Signal Corps Band for the final, June 28th show. Sponsored in part by Fulcher Hagler LLP, the 62nd Evenings In Appleby Gardens Concert Series promises to be a highlight of the Augusta-area summer of 2016.

All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information about the series or the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System, please call 706-736-6244, 706-821-2604 or go to www.arcpls.org.

2016 Evenings In Appleby Gardens Concert Series Schedule Tuesday, May 31st: Garden City Jazz Tuesday, June 7th: The Band Kelley Tuesday, June 14th: Motown In The Gardens Night

featuring the CSRA Shag Club Tuesday, June 21st: Augusta University Jazz Department

featuring Dr. Robert Foster Tuesday, June 28th: The Fort Gordon Signal Corps Band

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