Kuumba Njia TV: The sequel

A while back I had written about an idea that I had for a black-owned digital television channel, calling it Kuumba Njia TV ("The Creative Way", or "The Way of Creativity" television edu-tainment).  I had outlined a treatment for it, and had sent out a few feelers to those that I know and trust in the media field.  I had gotten back a good bit of positive feedback.  I would like to come back to this topic, and follow up on it a bit.

Having our own channel would open up a lot of doors for us that have previously been closed before.  For actors, it would give them the opportunity to have steady work, and be able to consistently practice their craft to a mass audience.  They would be able to gain name recognition, and build up their acting resume'.  They can polish their craft, and increase their skills, having more of a choice as far as projects are concerned.  Let's face it; you'll be able to see all shades of Black faces morning, noon, and night.

For producers, the potential is limitless.  In my personal opinion, it would be the best way for us to explore entry in to genres that we are completely underrepresented in, or don't have much of a presence in at all.  For once, we'd be able to have a Drama series stay on the air for more than a handful of episodes, before getting yanked off the air.  I would also like to see us have a presence in an Animated series.  I know plenty of writers that have great ideas for an animated series, myself included.  Also...why can't we have a science fiction series from our perspective on the air?  Who's to say that we don't/won't exist in the future?  Comedies are good...Reality TV I can do without.  And having a documentary series on the air a la PBS...?  Need I say more?

For programmers, this can also be new and uncharted territory for them as well.  We can be as diverse as we want to with our programming, airing shows from other countries within the Diaspora.  We could also screen movies from other countries within the diaspora.  One suggestion that I had made for acquisitions was to send a representative/Acquisitions Officer/Media Buyer to some of these Black film festivals to scour for talent.  If not the festival winners, then maybe a filmmaker whose project moved something within you.  Also, I would like to see them bring back certain shows that had been successful on other networks at one time.   I remember watching a show on BET (back when it was still Black-owned) call "Screen Scene", which was a magazine show about brothers and sisters in the film and television industry, and the projects that they were working on.  "Teen Summit" was also a great show that deserves a rebirth, and I have to admit that I used to love watching "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley".  Ed Gordon did a masterful job after Tavis was fired, especially with the other flubs that they had hosting it before he finally took over.  Shows like these need to be rebirthed, and correctly emulated.

This untapped potential still exists.  The Black media is shrinking more and more everyday.  We need to build up our own resources, and use them to the maximum of their capabilities.  We need a strong foundation to work on, and continue to build on.  A media outlet like this can be a HUGE stepping stone.  It is a greater way to create greater cohesion with our brothers and sisters within the diaspora.  It is a great way to expose ourselves to each other, and give us a voice to communicate with one another.  With the dearth of documentarians out there, writers, actors, budding producers, filmmakers, and other visionaries....there is NO WAY that we can fail.

"Up you mighty race...you can accomplish what you WILL"
--   Marcus Mosiah Garvey

LatinoFest 2012

So, this past weekend was LatinoFest here in Baltimore, MD.  It's the largest Latino event here in Baltimore, if not the state, celebrating it's 32nd annual festival.  I decided to go at the last minute; I actually had plans to go to another event out of town that same weekend, but those plans got scrapped (lack of money, no ride, etc.).

So....I threw on my colors, locked my door, and off I went.  Took the local Metro to John Hopkins Hospital, and then walked the rest of the way to Patterson Park.

Considering that it was my first time going to the park...it was a long walk.
...In the heat.
...and I wasn't very hydrated, or well fed before I left out.
Not very smart of me.

Anyway....

I made it to Patterson Park, paid my $5 entry fee, and started to make my rounds.  I had decided not to bring my books with me, since I didn't have a table at the festival, and I wasn't carrying much cash on me (I had a dollar left after I paid to get in).  The park is actually quite spacious, reminding me of some of the parks back home in NYC.

I must admit, I really had a good time.  It was quite fun; I just wish that I would have gone with a friend or two.  This was the first time that I had gone to a Latino event, living here in the South, and NOT have to feel on guard.  I actually felt love at the festival.  I actually had a few fellow Hondurans shout me out, and shake my hand.  Not all of them were Garifuna, but they gave me respect.  I even had a photographer take a picture of me.  =)

One thing that did surprise me...you had a good number of Puerto Ricans at the festival.  I didn't even know that they were that thick out here in Baltimore.  Most of the time, when discussing the Latino community out here in B'more, they always talk about Mexicanos.  I didn't even know that they had a large amount of Boricuas in B'more.  You learn something new every day....

One criticism (or should I say critique?) that I have of the festival, that I have with all Latino festivals; the lack of representation of our African roots.  Our African heritage always gets left out.  If they do have some sort of representation of our Africano roots, it's like ONE blasted token black act (usually a dance troupe, or a Capoeira school demonstrating their style).  They did have El Canario, Jose Alberto, performing at LatinoFest, but still, they needed more than just that (imho).  Then again, maybe he was fulfilling that 'token black act' role I was just talking about....

But...that's just my opinion....

All in all, I did enjoy the festival.  I got to chat with my boy Sam, who is a member of the organization that created LatinoFest; EBLO....Education Based Latino Outreach.  I got to see some foine looking ladies all day (and yes....I meant to spell the word that way!!!).  Got to see some other people that I know as well (shout out to Miguel and Angelo).  Even got to buy a Honduran soccer jersey and necklace (yes, my cheap ass broke down, and went to an onsite ATM).

Looking forward to their Baltimore County version of LatinoFest.  Hope to see you there!

Odunde Festival 2012

I was lucky to be able to attend the Odunde Festival in Philadelphia this year.  A local organization here in Baltimore set up a bus trip, and I was able to purchase a ticket, and attend the bus ride.  This was my first time being able to attend the Odunde Festival, so I was actually a bit excited.  The ride up was entertaining enough; we watched two documentaries about the black hair care industry, one independently done by a brother named Aron Ranan called "Black Hair", and Chris Rock's so-so (imho) documentary called "Good Hair".  It was very interesting to see which perspective both men took in their respective films.....

It was a nice, bright, sunshiny day.  It was on the warm side, but not bad at all for June.  The people that I went on the trip with made it seem as is it was very hot and humid; it wasn't.  Note to self: next time I go on a trip like this, either go by myself, or with some people in my age group.  The trip wasn't bad by any means; not at all, and I did have a good time.  The bus trip was mostly older people, and they tended to get a bit fussy, and overheated.

Odunde was nice, if a bit compact.  It was a bit hard to move around, and see all of the different vendors.  People acted as if they didn't know how to walk around, or properly stop by a vendor without clogging up the whole walk space.  It made it slightly irritating to have to stop every third step or so because people kept stopping at different tables, talking to the vendors.  At the same time, it was kinda sad; you saw the effects of gentrification and how it was affecting the neighborhood.  Some even wondered aloud if Odunde would even continue to be held at it's current location.

The organization that I went with had a table with them, so as to hand out some of their literature, and other information that they had.  I was a bit dismayed, considering the fact that they had placed their table on one of the side streets, where there was very little foot traffic.  It also irritated me that they kept moving the table to stay out of the sun.  Like I had said, it was not THAT hot that day.  And since when are black people afraid of a little sun?!?!  You'd think these people were vampires or some other nocturnal creature, the way they were acting! All dressed up in African attire, yet you're running from the sun....

smdh...

All in all, it was a positive experience, and I was even able to sell a few copies of my books.  I hope that I can return next year, hopefully as a vendor this time (if I can afford their vending fees).  I think that it is good to be able to experience as many cultural festivals as possible, especially one that you haven't been to before.  I'm hoping that I can attend a few more festivals before the summer is out.  Here's to good fortune.