- From New Orleans to Atlanta: breakfast with Darrell at Truett’s Grill (’50s diner offshoot of Chik-fil-A), personal thanks goes out to Philippe Paul, Samiya Bashir, Ronn Taylor, Kenneth Jones, Tekserve’s David Lerner, the wonderful staff at Kiehl’s and my Atlanta connection, the DIC’s own Eric Flavors & Mike Slaughter — thank you all for helping my friend. And J, I promise to pick up my camera sooner than later, just for you.
- Coming Soon: singer Kevin Bryant performs at Coda this Friday (9/23) @ 6:30pm, the Shake A Hand Benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims brings house music to Harlem this Saturday (9/24) - great DJs for a great cause and we’re getting together again at Bogota Latin Bistro on Sunday (10/2)
- Featured Music: Sarah Vaughan’s Little Man (You’ve Had A Busy Day) with the Count Basie Orchestra, Soul II Soul’s Keep On Movin’, Patricia Kaas’ Reste Sur Moi (remixed by Danny Tenaglia), Blaze’s Elevation, Prince’s America - 12” version being turned out by my ancestor DJ Ron Hardy, D Train’s You’re The One For Me (dedicated to Steven & Larry - congratulations!), GQ’s Disco Nights (Rock Freak), Rufus & Chaka Khan’s Any Love, Sade’s Keep Looking
September 2005 Archives
If there was ever a time that Black people in this country needed what is owed to us, it is right now. We are currently experiencing the largest displacement of Black people post-slavery; most people don’t seem to fathom the magnitude of this event. If the tip jars that I’ve seen around the city today are any indication, it’s evident that people certainly don’t seem to understand the cost or the significant psychosocial implications of rebuilding 1,000,000 lives in other parts of the country. Maybe it’s just because they could care less. Here are some links to people who do care and news of other ridiculous shit surrounding this tragedy:
- Barbara Bush said, “And so many of the people in the arenas here, you know, were underprivileged anyway. This is - this is (chuckle) working out well for them.”
- The End of Randall Robinson’s America
- One of the planet’s most fantastic voices, soulsinger Ledisi makes short work of FEMA’s gross incompetence and neglect (or is something else going here on that’s even more heinous?) on her message board: FEMA didn’t accept Amtrak’s help in evacuations, FEMA turned away experienced firefighters, FEMA turned back Wal-Mart supply trucks, FEMA prevented the Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel, FEMA didn’t let Red Cross deliver food, FEMA barred morticians from entering New Orleans, FEMA blocked 500-boat citizen flotilla from delivering aid, FEMA failed to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board, FEMA asked Chicago to send just one truck, FEMA turned away power generators and FEMA urged first responders not to respond. Disgusted yet? No? How about some speeches from Under Secretary Brown that emphasize FEMA’s role under Homeland Security in The War Against Terrorism …
- Condoleezza Rice’s job as one of the highest ranking officials of the President’s cabinet obvious doesn’t preclude her from buying shoes as thousands drown in one of this country’s worst natural disasters …
- Thank you Oprah for being on the job when you didn’t have to be.
- Michael Moore hosts that Kanye West videoclip.
- @ Kenyon’s: Prayer for New Orleans!, Notes FROM New Orleans, Donate $$ To Local New Orleans Fund
- @ John’s: The Hurricane Katrina Catastrophe (or on ‘looting’), ‘We need help down here!’ + Hughes Poem, More Hurricane Katrina Relief Information, Kanye West speaks out + More relief info
- @ Negrophile: What I wouldn’t pay to hear a Fox anchor ask, ‘Say, Bob, why are these African-Americans so poor to begin with?’, ‘But it does go to show you that racism ain’t everywhere.’, ‘In New Orleans it’s really the reverse, that water flows away from money.’, ‘When you look at who is left behind, it is very disturbing to me.’, ‘We dance at funerals, and now we have to dance at our own funeral.’, That was Kanye West, not Cornel West — Kanye West.
- @ Keith’s: A Total Breakdown, Refugees or Evacuees?, Bush to New Orleans: Who Knew?, More Critics Challenge Bush on Hurricane, How You Can Help, We Knew This Would Happen
- … and I’m hoping that the families of Darrell and Bernie each make it to safety.
I just got word that my friend Darrell Baldwin Diggins made it out of New Orleans just in time and is okay. Details are sketchy at the moment - he’s either in Alabama or Georgia - and his family lost everything. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
UPDATE: Please visit Darrell’s blog for details about how you can help him.
