ARTIST FIGHTS FOR THE SOUL OF HARLEM
If you take a walk uptown these days, you’ll notice lots of new faces. The change in Harlem brought by the influx of whites into one of America’s most popular black neighborhoods, is the focus of a new art exhibit that can literally be seen on the streets.
Local artist, Brett Cook-Dizney, collaborated with ten uptown residents to create his latest public works project, "Harlem/Development Gentrification." Using bright, vividly colored spray paint, Cook-Dizney produced larger than life graffiti art portraits and placed them on street corners in and around Harlem. "It’s beautiful," Eric Jones of Harlem told THESOURCE.COM, admiring one of the pieces. "The colors and everything. It shows the realness of the community, the beautiful people." Another Harlem resident, Sean Rucker added, "I think it’s good that people from the community are being recognized right here in the community."
Gentrification refers to what’s now happening in Harlem, as in other urban centers across the nation, where people of color are being priced out of homes and businesses they’ve occupied for ages by middle- and upper-income whites. Cook-Dizney allowed his subjects to define and describe the story of a neighborhood undergoing residential, economic and cultural transition. He incorporated their words into the exhibit, using large stencil quotations in both Spanish and English on the borders of each portrait, and attaching to each piece a notebook containing a full interview transcript. "It’s about giving people voice and empowering marginalized communities," explained the artist. "Part of choosing the people was finding residents with different perspectives who also have an expertise," Cook-Dizney told THESOURCE.COM. "The subjects include a deacon of a church, a mother, a kindergarten school teacher, a principal, a former politician, an art critic, a student, a filmmaker, and an activist." Cook-Dizney’s street works typically depict people living in the areas where the work is installed; bringing art to a wide audience that doesn’t always frequent museums and galleries.
Other recent public pieces include his series on the streets of Brooklyn in response to the Brooklyn Museum’s Roots, Rhymes and Rage hip-hop exhibit, and a project addressing segregation with the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge. The Harlem project coincides with "Multifaceted," an exhibit of Cook-Dizney’s work on display at Manhattan’s P.P.O.W. gallery through May 12th, along with materials from the Harlem/Gentrification Project.
-- Daphne Young
KRS One
EACH ONE, TEACH ONE
Kris Parker, better known to us as KRS-One, has left his job at Warner Bros.’ A&R Department to head in a new direction, taking on the role of mentor at New York City’s Riverside Church. KRS, long dubbed the T’Cha, will work with 13-to-16 year old African American, African Caribbean and Latino boys, offering a mix of tutoring and straight talk. Reverend Mariah Britton, Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Riverside, says KRS approached her last summer with an interest in working with youth at the church. Now, six months later, the after-school mentoring program has kicked off. Every Thursday night, 30 youngsters meet with mentors from entertainment, law enforcement, Wall Street and the church. The goal of the program is to help young people discover their own identity and talents, as well as get them onto the right path.KRS-One is no stranger to Riverside Church. Four years ago he took part in rapper Pee Wee Dance’s (formerly of the original B-Boys) "History of Hip-Hop" workshop, which was held there. He has also lectured at the church and attended Riverside with his family. Reverend Britton says the pairing of these dynamic worlds is a match made in heaven. "We’re always searching for ways to reach young people, so I’m delighted that Kris will be working with us on the Pathfinderz project. He’s a devoted Christian and well studied historian who brings a lot to the table, onstage and off," Rev. Britton told THESOURCE.COM. She adds, "Hip-hop is an important part of life for young people today, so we need to find ways to reach out to them through the music." Parker is also organizing a youth concert series for the church, called "Spirit Move." The first show took place over the Thanksgiving holiday, featuring KRS-One, Poor Righteous Teachers, Ed O.G., Bevin Harris and the gospel group, Peculliar People. Look for the next concert to take place on March 23rd at the church, located on 120th and Riverside Drive.
-- Daphne Young
"Boycott"
“BOYCOTT” PORTRAYS A YOUNG DR. KING
HBO’s story of the early years of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the birth of the Civil Rights Movement gives a fresh face to the historic minister and man who galvanized the movement.
Jeffrey Wright, who starred in Shaft and Basquiat, admitted to being intimidated by playing the role of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But, he said, he felt it important to show young people a more "inexperienced" King who struggled as a young minister during the early days of the boycott. In the film, Dr. King loses his temper, doubts himself and even makes mistakes. But he manages to keep learning. When the movement triumphs, we realize Dr. King’s greatness.
Director Clark Johnson’s film starts at the beginning of the 381-day boycott and follows it to it’s triumphant end on November 13, 1956, when the Supreme Court sided with the Montgomery Improvement Association and struck down the Alabama bus segregation law. "It’s refreshing to see an accurate account of how this community came together to challenge and boycott the way they did," Patricia Sullivan, a lecturer on Afro-American Studies at Harvard University’s Du Bois Institute who consulted on the film, told THESOURCE.COM. Executive Producers Norman Twain (Lean on Me) and Shelby Stone (Mississippi Masala), and Producer Preston L. Holmes used a variety of cinematic formats to give the film a unique look, including real and re-created documentary footage and simulated home movies. "[The filmmakers’ technique] gives historical integrity to the film," added Sullivan.
Boycott also stars Carmen Ejogo (Love’s Labour’s Lost) as Coretta Scott King, Iris Little-Thomas as Rosa Parks and Terrence Howard (The Best Man, Big Momma’s House) as Ralph Abernathy. Also featured are stars CCH Pounder (of ER), Reg E. Cathey, Brent Jennings, Shawn Michael Howard, Whitman Mayo, Mike Hodge and Erik Todd Dellums. Boycott, which premiered on HBO on Feb. 24, will air repeatedly throughout March. Check your local listing for dates and times.
-- Daphne Young
WOMEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY LONG ISLAND COPS
The number of women who have come forward with complaints of sexual assault by police officers in Long Island continues to climb, following the arrest of an officer on sodomy charges. Officer Matthew Murphy, 36, was arrested January 24 at the Eighth Precinct station house in Levittown. Investigators interviewed a woman who says that in December 1999, Murphy stopped her for an alleged drunk driving violation and then ordered her to follow his police cruiser to a wooded area in West Farmingdale, where he sodomized her.
Matthews arrest came on the heels of a string of complaints by women on Long Island and in Orange County, NY, who say policeman either sexually assaulted them, harassed them or forced them to undress during a police stop. According to Julie Goldscheid, Senior Staff Attorney at the NOW (National Organization of Women) Legal Defense and Education Fund, news reports about these types of complaints prompt other women to break their silence. "[It’s difficult because often there is] fear and shame associated with this issue," Goldscheid told THESOURCE.COM. "Women don’t come forward, and it remains shrouded in silence, prevent[ing] the problem from being addressed."
Murphy is also under investigation by the Nassau’s Internal Affairs Unit for a similar assault last August. He has been charged with first degree sodomy, and suspended without pay. He is the third Long Island policeman to be charged in such a case in the last year. Suffolk County officer Teddy Hart was sentenced last week after he admitted harassing women over the telephone, using police computers to find their phone numbers.
Jay Seifert, a Nassau County policeman, was charged with raping and sodomizing a 30- year-old woman after a traffic stop in North Woodmere. He's since been charged with official misconduct, and suspended without pay. In addition, Frank Wright, a Suffolk County highway patrolman has been suspended without pay while that department and the F.B.I. investigate complaints from several women that he forced them to undress after stopping them on suspicion of drunken driving. "[These kinds of incidents are] all too common," said Goldscheid. "Sexual assaults and abuse go on at all levels of law enforcement."
-- Daphne Young
"Street Rage" hits Broadway Stage
A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in the Langston Hughes Auditorium in Harlem’s Schomburg Center this week to hear Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson read from his newest play, the story of an ex-con trying to cope with life on the outside.
Set in the projects in the mid-‘80s, King Hedley II follows the trials and tribulations of a family facing issues like unemployment and crime. The main character, King, played by Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, deals with the struggles of his daily life and the drama between his wife, mother, her ex-lover, friends and neighbors.
A native of Pittsburgh's Hill District, where King Hedley II takes place, Wilson explores the backlash of the Reagan-era on poverty, racism, and violence. The play features several rap songs of the period, including Public Enemy’s "Welcome to the Terror Dome" and "Fight the Power," as well as tracks by Ice Cube. Wilson, whose impressive body of work includes Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Jitney called King Hedley II , "the most eagerly awaited play of my career."
King Hedley II begins preview performances at Broadway’s Virginia Theatre on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, and opens on Sunday, April 29, 2001
-- Daphne A. Young
COMICS ON THE "AIRWAVES"
Chicago, IL - It's only 10:15 a.m. on a Monday, and already comedian George Willborn has finished one gig and is getting ready for his next! There’s just one small problem. Morning’s Willborn works in Washington, D.C. at WHUR ( located on the campus of the historically black college, Howard University) and his afternoon job is in Chicago (at V103 Radio)! But it’s all good. With the help of radio and modern technology, the veteran comedian manages to entertain radio audiences in two major markets each and EVERY weekday.
"Usually on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I'm in D.C. and I just do both shows in the studios there (at WHUR 96.3 FM) and then I fly back (to Chicago) on Wednesday to be in the V103 (102.7 FM) studios the rest of the week," says the Chicago born comedian. Willborn joined the morning team over at WHUR Radio just three months ago, but he’s no rookie to radio. Back in 1995 he became one of the first comedians to be hired to work on radio full-time. “It’s been a tremendous blessing” says Willborn, “because I get to spend more time with my family.”
George is married (to his wife Peytyn) and they have two children. The comedian says although working radio wasn’t in his plans, “the pays good and steady, it keeps me very busy….. and it continues to open other doors for opportunity.” In addition to working his daily radio gigs, George also hosts “Downtown Comedy Night,” every Wednesday at the popular Chicago club, “Isaac Hayes.”
To contact comedian George Willborn, visit the V103 website www.v103.com/onair.html or email him at [email protected]
- Daphne A. Young
COMEDIAN TONY SCULFIELD JOINS WGCI MORNING TEAM
Chicago, IL – He’s known as the “one man riot,” and in the windy-city he’s waking up radio audiences every weekday morning with his raw sense of humor, as part of the popular morning team over at WGCI Radio (107.5 FM).
Comedian Tony Sculfield, gets to share the spotlight each day with hosts, “Crazy” Howard McGhee and Nikki Woods, but warns that although it’s a lot of fun, doing comedy on the radio is quite different, “you go from having maybe an audience of a couple hundred people, like at a club, to like here at WGCI, maybe a million listeners a day!” Sculfield adds “radio can be more challenging because comedians are used to instant gratification with their audience, but that's not how it works.”
The Chicago native says comedians have to depend on letters and phone calls to let them know how their doing on the air. The veteran stand-up comedian says he ask himself everyday, “if I’m in my car and I hear this line… is this gonna sound funny? He also says comedians interested in working on radio HAVE to have good writing skills…and “you have to trust your instincts.” Well this recipe seems to be working, not only for Sculfield, but for other comedians as well, as station managers across the nation continue to tape into more and more comedians to help spice up their shows and boost ratings. Plus, Sculfield adds, “it’s a lot of fun.”
Next time you’re in the windy-city, don’t miss a chance to laugh with Tony Sculfield and the morning team over at WGCI (107.5 FM), from 5:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.! The show’s a riot!Read more about comedian Tony Sculfield by visiting the WGCI website at: www.wgci.com/f_sculfield.html
- Daphne A. Young
######
Local artist, Brett Cook-Dizney, collaborated with ten uptown residents to create his latest public works project, "Harlem/Development Gentrification." Using bright, vividly colored spray paint, Cook-Dizney produced larger than life graffiti art portraits and placed them on street corners in and around Harlem. "It’s beautiful," Eric Jones of Harlem told THESOURCE.COM, admiring one of the pieces. "The colors and everything. It shows the realness of the community, the beautiful people." Another Harlem resident, Sean Rucker added, "I think it’s good that people from the community are being recognized right here in the community."
Gentrification refers to what’s now happening in Harlem, as in other urban centers across the nation, where people of color are being priced out of homes and businesses they’ve occupied for ages by middle- and upper-income whites. Cook-Dizney allowed his subjects to define and describe the story of a neighborhood undergoing residential, economic and cultural transition. He incorporated their words into the exhibit, using large stencil quotations in both Spanish and English on the borders of each portrait, and attaching to each piece a notebook containing a full interview transcript. "It’s about giving people voice and empowering marginalized communities," explained the artist. "Part of choosing the people was finding residents with different perspectives who also have an expertise," Cook-Dizney told THESOURCE.COM. "The subjects include a deacon of a church, a mother, a kindergarten school teacher, a principal, a former politician, an art critic, a student, a filmmaker, and an activist." Cook-Dizney’s street works typically depict people living in the areas where the work is installed; bringing art to a wide audience that doesn’t always frequent museums and galleries.
Other recent public pieces include his series on the streets of Brooklyn in response to the Brooklyn Museum’s Roots, Rhymes and Rage hip-hop exhibit, and a project addressing segregation with the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge. The Harlem project coincides with "Multifaceted," an exhibit of Cook-Dizney’s work on display at Manhattan’s P.P.O.W. gallery through May 12th, along with materials from the Harlem/Gentrification Project.
-- Daphne Young
KRS One
EACH ONE, TEACH ONE
Kris Parker, better known to us as KRS-One, has left his job at Warner Bros.’ A&R Department to head in a new direction, taking on the role of mentor at New York City’s Riverside Church. KRS, long dubbed the T’Cha, will work with 13-to-16 year old African American, African Caribbean and Latino boys, offering a mix of tutoring and straight talk. Reverend Mariah Britton, Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Riverside, says KRS approached her last summer with an interest in working with youth at the church. Now, six months later, the after-school mentoring program has kicked off. Every Thursday night, 30 youngsters meet with mentors from entertainment, law enforcement, Wall Street and the church. The goal of the program is to help young people discover their own identity and talents, as well as get them onto the right path.KRS-One is no stranger to Riverside Church. Four years ago he took part in rapper Pee Wee Dance’s (formerly of the original B-Boys) "History of Hip-Hop" workshop, which was held there. He has also lectured at the church and attended Riverside with his family. Reverend Britton says the pairing of these dynamic worlds is a match made in heaven. "We’re always searching for ways to reach young people, so I’m delighted that Kris will be working with us on the Pathfinderz project. He’s a devoted Christian and well studied historian who brings a lot to the table, onstage and off," Rev. Britton told THESOURCE.COM. She adds, "Hip-hop is an important part of life for young people today, so we need to find ways to reach out to them through the music." Parker is also organizing a youth concert series for the church, called "Spirit Move." The first show took place over the Thanksgiving holiday, featuring KRS-One, Poor Righteous Teachers, Ed O.G., Bevin Harris and the gospel group, Peculliar People. Look for the next concert to take place on March 23rd at the church, located on 120th and Riverside Drive.
-- Daphne Young
"Boycott"
“BOYCOTT” PORTRAYS A YOUNG DR. KING
HBO’s story of the early years of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the birth of the Civil Rights Movement gives a fresh face to the historic minister and man who galvanized the movement.
Jeffrey Wright, who starred in Shaft and Basquiat, admitted to being intimidated by playing the role of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But, he said, he felt it important to show young people a more "inexperienced" King who struggled as a young minister during the early days of the boycott. In the film, Dr. King loses his temper, doubts himself and even makes mistakes. But he manages to keep learning. When the movement triumphs, we realize Dr. King’s greatness.
Director Clark Johnson’s film starts at the beginning of the 381-day boycott and follows it to it’s triumphant end on November 13, 1956, when the Supreme Court sided with the Montgomery Improvement Association and struck down the Alabama bus segregation law. "It’s refreshing to see an accurate account of how this community came together to challenge and boycott the way they did," Patricia Sullivan, a lecturer on Afro-American Studies at Harvard University’s Du Bois Institute who consulted on the film, told THESOURCE.COM. Executive Producers Norman Twain (Lean on Me) and Shelby Stone (Mississippi Masala), and Producer Preston L. Holmes used a variety of cinematic formats to give the film a unique look, including real and re-created documentary footage and simulated home movies. "[The filmmakers’ technique] gives historical integrity to the film," added Sullivan.
Boycott also stars Carmen Ejogo (Love’s Labour’s Lost) as Coretta Scott King, Iris Little-Thomas as Rosa Parks and Terrence Howard (The Best Man, Big Momma’s House) as Ralph Abernathy. Also featured are stars CCH Pounder (of ER), Reg E. Cathey, Brent Jennings, Shawn Michael Howard, Whitman Mayo, Mike Hodge and Erik Todd Dellums. Boycott, which premiered on HBO on Feb. 24, will air repeatedly throughout March. Check your local listing for dates and times.
-- Daphne Young
WOMEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY LONG ISLAND COPS
The number of women who have come forward with complaints of sexual assault by police officers in Long Island continues to climb, following the arrest of an officer on sodomy charges. Officer Matthew Murphy, 36, was arrested January 24 at the Eighth Precinct station house in Levittown. Investigators interviewed a woman who says that in December 1999, Murphy stopped her for an alleged drunk driving violation and then ordered her to follow his police cruiser to a wooded area in West Farmingdale, where he sodomized her.
Matthews arrest came on the heels of a string of complaints by women on Long Island and in Orange County, NY, who say policeman either sexually assaulted them, harassed them or forced them to undress during a police stop. According to Julie Goldscheid, Senior Staff Attorney at the NOW (National Organization of Women) Legal Defense and Education Fund, news reports about these types of complaints prompt other women to break their silence. "[It’s difficult because often there is] fear and shame associated with this issue," Goldscheid told THESOURCE.COM. "Women don’t come forward, and it remains shrouded in silence, prevent[ing] the problem from being addressed."
Murphy is also under investigation by the Nassau’s Internal Affairs Unit for a similar assault last August. He has been charged with first degree sodomy, and suspended without pay. He is the third Long Island policeman to be charged in such a case in the last year. Suffolk County officer Teddy Hart was sentenced last week after he admitted harassing women over the telephone, using police computers to find their phone numbers.
Jay Seifert, a Nassau County policeman, was charged with raping and sodomizing a 30- year-old woman after a traffic stop in North Woodmere. He's since been charged with official misconduct, and suspended without pay. In addition, Frank Wright, a Suffolk County highway patrolman has been suspended without pay while that department and the F.B.I. investigate complaints from several women that he forced them to undress after stopping them on suspicion of drunken driving. "[These kinds of incidents are] all too common," said Goldscheid. "Sexual assaults and abuse go on at all levels of law enforcement."
-- Daphne Young
"Street Rage" hits Broadway Stage
A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in the Langston Hughes Auditorium in Harlem’s Schomburg Center this week to hear Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson read from his newest play, the story of an ex-con trying to cope with life on the outside.
Set in the projects in the mid-‘80s, King Hedley II follows the trials and tribulations of a family facing issues like unemployment and crime. The main character, King, played by Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, deals with the struggles of his daily life and the drama between his wife, mother, her ex-lover, friends and neighbors.
A native of Pittsburgh's Hill District, where King Hedley II takes place, Wilson explores the backlash of the Reagan-era on poverty, racism, and violence. The play features several rap songs of the period, including Public Enemy’s "Welcome to the Terror Dome" and "Fight the Power," as well as tracks by Ice Cube. Wilson, whose impressive body of work includes Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Jitney called King Hedley II , "the most eagerly awaited play of my career."
King Hedley II begins preview performances at Broadway’s Virginia Theatre on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, and opens on Sunday, April 29, 2001
-- Daphne A. Young
COMICS ON THE "AIRWAVES"
Chicago, IL - It's only 10:15 a.m. on a Monday, and already comedian George Willborn has finished one gig and is getting ready for his next! There’s just one small problem. Morning’s Willborn works in Washington, D.C. at WHUR ( located on the campus of the historically black college, Howard University) and his afternoon job is in Chicago (at V103 Radio)! But it’s all good. With the help of radio and modern technology, the veteran comedian manages to entertain radio audiences in two major markets each and EVERY weekday.
"Usually on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I'm in D.C. and I just do both shows in the studios there (at WHUR 96.3 FM) and then I fly back (to Chicago) on Wednesday to be in the V103 (102.7 FM) studios the rest of the week," says the Chicago born comedian. Willborn joined the morning team over at WHUR Radio just three months ago, but he’s no rookie to radio. Back in 1995 he became one of the first comedians to be hired to work on radio full-time. “It’s been a tremendous blessing” says Willborn, “because I get to spend more time with my family.”
George is married (to his wife Peytyn) and they have two children. The comedian says although working radio wasn’t in his plans, “the pays good and steady, it keeps me very busy….. and it continues to open other doors for opportunity.” In addition to working his daily radio gigs, George also hosts “Downtown Comedy Night,” every Wednesday at the popular Chicago club, “Isaac Hayes.”
To contact comedian George Willborn, visit the V103 website www.v103.com/onair.html or email him at [email protected]
- Daphne A. Young
COMEDIAN TONY SCULFIELD JOINS WGCI MORNING TEAM
Chicago, IL – He’s known as the “one man riot,” and in the windy-city he’s waking up radio audiences every weekday morning with his raw sense of humor, as part of the popular morning team over at WGCI Radio (107.5 FM).
Comedian Tony Sculfield, gets to share the spotlight each day with hosts, “Crazy” Howard McGhee and Nikki Woods, but warns that although it’s a lot of fun, doing comedy on the radio is quite different, “you go from having maybe an audience of a couple hundred people, like at a club, to like here at WGCI, maybe a million listeners a day!” Sculfield adds “radio can be more challenging because comedians are used to instant gratification with their audience, but that's not how it works.”
The Chicago native says comedians have to depend on letters and phone calls to let them know how their doing on the air. The veteran stand-up comedian says he ask himself everyday, “if I’m in my car and I hear this line… is this gonna sound funny? He also says comedians interested in working on radio HAVE to have good writing skills…and “you have to trust your instincts.” Well this recipe seems to be working, not only for Sculfield, but for other comedians as well, as station managers across the nation continue to tape into more and more comedians to help spice up their shows and boost ratings. Plus, Sculfield adds, “it’s a lot of fun.”
Next time you’re in the windy-city, don’t miss a chance to laugh with Tony Sculfield and the morning team over at WGCI (107.5 FM), from 5:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.! The show’s a riot!Read more about comedian Tony Sculfield by visiting the WGCI website at: www.wgci.com/f_sculfield.html
- Daphne A. Young
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