CT COMMONWEALTH TIMES The ‘The music lives on’: Richmond local helped create a globally influential record label

PEGGY STANSBERY Staff Writer

Richmond-born James “Plunky” Branch thought he was going to sue Jimmy Gray the first time they met, said Branch, musician, producer and historian. Instead, Gray and Branch co-founded Black Fire Records together.

“Jimmy had a magazine called Black Fire where he listed the records he was distributing and did articles about them,” Branch said. “But the magazine’s logo was a small version of my album cover from my first record from Strata-East Records. I contacted Strata-East and was like ‘I need to sue him.’”

Strata-East Records told Branch they had given Gray permission to distribute his record and suggested that

Black music often promotes political and cultural ideas and archival footage of the riots in Washington and the Black Panthers, according to Branch.

Branch hopes the documentary inspires people to look and listen to music, particularly Black music, differently, he said.

“People oftentimes take music for granted,” Branch said. “It is something that happens in the background of an advertisement or the background while we study, but music can be so much more. It can be a vehicle for studying history, particularly Black history. Much of Black history was not written down, but a lot of it is encoded in the music.”

Afrikana Film Festival had previously screened the documentary at their seventh annual festival in Septem-

Richmond, made to the global music scene and culture.

“It is not just important for Black people to understand that, especially Black people here in Richmond, but I think it is important for everyone to understand that and have a level of clarity and a level of respect in terms of the Black contribution,” Moon said.

Afrikana Film Festival’s Sonic Curator Mike Kemetic will present his “playcast,” a combination of songs and write-ups, and host the Q&A at the “Black Fire” screening, according to Kemetic.

The playcast for the “Black Fire,” named “11:11,” includes 11 songs from Black Fire Records and 11 songs from artists influenced by them, according to Kemetic.

“I thought it was important to understand how Black Fire fits in with what is going on now and their influence,” Kemetic said. “I wanted to show how you can hear the influence of the label’s artists in the music people are

The Black Fire documentary highlights the label’s authenticity, which made them so successful, Kemetic said. Kemetic hopes his Q&A and the documentary shows people the relevance and “authentic cultural identity” of their music, he said. “Their music resonated across the globe,” Kemetic said. “They made the music that was important to them, they made the sounds that were important to them and they used the rhythms that were important to them — and that resonated with people.”

“Black Fire” has been screened at numerous film festivals and won local awards in the Washington area. The film received “good responses’’ and has shown it “has some legs,” Branch said. They are currently extending it into a longer piece and creating a second documentary that plans to be released in

“I think the impact of Black Fire has been massive,” Branch said. “But lots of people here in this country might not know about Black Fire, and that is one of the reasons why we did this documentary to document that history.”

Afrikana presents a screening of “Black Fire” followed by a performance and Q&A with Branch at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia on Wednesday, Feb. 15

Spectrum Editor’s Black History Month listicle

CHLOE HAWKINS

Spectrum Editor

The month of February calls for many things: a famous groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, a national holiday dedicated to spreading unconditional love to partners and friends, and last but not least; a chance to highlight and celebrate all things surrounding Black culture.

While it’s nice to always be on the look out for culture-driven events, here are some specific ones that are happening locally this month.

Black Art Exhibitions

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has curated many Black-focused ex- hibitions for the month of February, and throughout the year.

These installations include Isaac Julien’s “Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass,” Ebony Patterson’s “Three Kings Weep” and a photo gallery by Dennis O. Williams titled “A Powerful Influence: Early Photographs of African Americans.”

For all the art lovers in Richmond, this sounds like a day well spent enjoying the history behind Black history and artwork.

Rootin’ For Everybody Black Strangeways Brewing is hosting a burlesque and variety experience titled “Rootin’ For Everybody Black” on Feb. 17.

SparkDazzle Entertainment will be bringing Blackness in all forms during this experience. Strangeways’ doors open at

8:30 p.m., and the performance begins at 9 p.m.

Black History Museum

The Black History Museum and Culture Center of Virginia is presenting an interactive, educational event on Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Notable Black figures, historical and current, will be portrayed by children throughout the museum. This is a fun way to learn about Black history while also supporting Black people of all ages. This event is free to the public.

Black Voices

TEDxVCU is collaborating with VCU Office of Multicultural Affairs to curate three TED Talk discussions centered around African culture and Black joy. Connect and find a sense of community with fellow minorities on campus at this event. It’s taking place at the VCU Student Commons on Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Black Book Expo

The Elegba Folklore Society is hosting its annual Black Book Expo: A Conscious Literary Festival from Feb. 25-26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This expo will offer a deep dive into literary topics such as African spirituality, diasporic culture and social justice.

Black authors will be present to meet and chat. Their books will also be available to browse and buy, and this festival is free.