Monthly Archives: April 2008

The Fire Next Time Colloquium Spring 2008

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THE 2007-2008 FIRE NEXT TIME COLLOQUIUM OF THE W. E. B. DU BOIS DEPARTMENT OF AFRO-AMERICAN STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST PRESENTS

“How Equality is Constructed & Deconstructed in Immigration, Education, and Occupational Opportunity in America”

Featuring a panel of professors from the UMass Sociology Department–
Enobong Anna Branch * David Cort * Melissa Wooten
 & from the UMass Anthropology Department–
Amanda Walker Johnson

Wednesday, April 30th @ 4:30 p.m.
CCEBMS Library — 2nd Floor, New Africa House

Conference Pulls TRGGR for Change

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Breakin for Lunch

It was an day! The Triggering Change 2008 Conference: Hip-Hop, Media Justice & Social Responsibility was off the mediated change. Above is a moment before lunch (tastefully catered by Salsarengue Restaurant & Seafood of 392 High Street in Holyoke, MA, 01040; Phone: 413-533-1850) with some Springfield crunkers tearing it up for the crowd. The presentations and the conversations were informative, inspiring, and constructive. The were at least 300 unique participants in the conference to say nothing of the hundreds under the hip hop on the Hampshire College campus to rock to performances by Dead Prez, Rebel Diaz and local groups. More to come from/on this one!

TRIGGERING CHANGE CONFERENCE 2008

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BIG UPS to Brothers Chris Tinson and Carlos “Rec” McBride on pulling us Together in a great conference

TRGGR+Tee+Back.jpg CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION

TRGGR Media Group in association with others, present Triggering Change: Hip-Hop, Media Justice & Social Responsibility. This two-day conference (April 25th & 26th), will put scholars, artists, activists and intellectuals in conversation with each other and the students and local community about the political mission of Hip-Hop culture. This conference will engage youth in the area to think critically about media practices nationally and globally. Featured guests Rosa Clemente, Davey D, Dr. Jared Ball, Artemis, E-Fierce, David Stovall, Toni Blackman, Cherise Cheney, PopMaster Fabel, Marcella Runnel, J-Love and many others will discuss such topics as independent media, race and Hip-Hop, political organizing among youth of color, sexuality in Hip-Hop, and Hip-Hop aesthetics, among other subjects that may arise in the course of discussion.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH @ 5PM ~ MEET, GREET & BEATS

LOCATION: FOOD FOR THOUGHT BOOKS
106 N. PLEASANT ST., AMHERST, MA 01002

A “meet & greet” will kick-off the conference on Friday, April 25th at 5PM, at Food for Thought Books in Amherst. Invited guests will be there for book signings, snacks and live music.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH 9AM-6PM – LOCATION: ISENBERG BUILDING AT UMASS
(located on the Haigis Mall across from the Visitors Center and Massachusetts Avenue)
see: www.isenberg.umass.edu for map info

Saturday, April 26th, from 9-6pm, will be a full conference day with panels, workshops, lectures and vendor tables. For the complete Schedule of Events, go to http://www.triggeringchange08.blogspot.com/

I look forward to getting down with the whole conference. I’ve been invited to participate in the Final Conference Plenary, 6P.M.-7P.M.; Location: Mahar Auditorium (adjacent to Isenberg)

CAPITOL RESISTANCE
(Hip-Hop as Mass Media, A Mixtape Experience)
by DR. JARED BALL & HEAD-ROC

Closing Remarks:
Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, Chair, W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies

Followed on Saturday, at 9p.m.-12 Midnight, by this special event:

TRIGGERING CHANGE & TRGGR RADIO IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE HIP-HOP COLLECTIVE PRESENTS

DEAD PREZ & REBEL DIAZ

Location: Hampshire College Lawn (look for the huge tent). This event is Free. All ages welcome. Parental guidance and chaperones strongly suggested.

A Pan Jazz “Explosion” hits Atlanta

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Andy Narell, Orville Wright, Earl Rodney, and Ajamu Nyomba after the symposium’s Pan Jazz Concert. I will write a review of the 2008 Pan in Education Symposium for Pan on the Net.*

In brief, it was a excellent program that brought together a diverse, high-quality group of artists, educators, music scholars, and others in discussing the developing steelband movement and performing great Pan Jazz music.

Kudos to Dr. Ajamu Nyomba for all his hard work!

*For_the_review_go_to–http://www.panonthenet.com/news/2008/apr/atlanta-4-24-08-review.htm

Afternoon before PanJazz explosion!

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I’m in the Thomas Cole Research Center Auditorium right now listening to Earl Rodney, Andy Narell, Nicholas Mohan, and Lorenzo Sanford rehearse. Here’s a taste…

Saturday around 3pm, Ajamu and I were in-studio guests on the WRFG 89.3FM (Atlanta) show, Rockers International, hosted by Lisimba & Paul Abrahams. Below is a podcasted excerpt as well as the show’s description off their website at

http://wrfg.org/features/shows/shows-desc.asp?showid=66

International-Program Overview

It is generally agreed that the success of Bob Marley paved the way for Caribbean Music to be played on the radio, here in North America, with regularity. Started in 1984, from the studios of WRFG 89.3FM (Atlanta), Rockers International (Rockers) has evolved into an extremely popular three-hour high-energy music/community news show that caters to diverse tastes in Caribbean music. It is well known that the Caribbean produces some of the most vibrant forms of music, including calypso, mento, zouk, ska, reggae, soca, compas, and salsa. While other genres are played and experienced elsewhere at WRFG, Rockers has successfully focussed on reggae, ska, calypso, mento, and soca.

Program Goals

* To preserve the rich musical legacy started by artists like Trinidad’s Lord Creator and Fitzvaughn Bryan (1950s), Cuba’s Perez Prado (1960s) and Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley (1960s) from Jamaica.

* To expose our audience to palatable (mature) musical trends originating from, or having some connection to the Caribbean, and see where they fit into the world musical discussion.

* To be a mouthpiece of and for the community we serve.