Thursday, August 20, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Black GQ Fashion: Seersucker Suits
Happy Memorial Day! It's officially summer and also it means my favorite fashion of the summer....Seersucker. I could submit a long lists of dos and don'ts but I will offer a few tidbits.
1) Keep it Basic: A blue/white, grey/white or tan/white color combination seersucker suit.
2) Crisp white always wins: You can't beat a crisp white shirt. Pink and light blue also works well.
3) Keep it Solid: When wearing a tie. A solid silk or knit tie works wonders. You are already turning heads with the suit.
4) Never wear white shoes: Unless they are canvas sneakers. Black or brown loafers if you are dressing up the suit.
5) Break it up: Wear the seersucker blazer with a pair of jeans and loafers or pair the pants with a nice white Polo shirt.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Black GQ Politics: Remarks by Dr. Robert Franklin
“The Soul of Morehouse and the Future of the Mystique”
President’s Town Hall Meeting
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
11 a.m.
President’s Town Hall Meeting
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
11 a.m.
(The following is an excerpt from prepared remarks delivered by Dr. Robert M. Franklin to the students of Morehouse College.)
…I’d like to address a subject that is vital to every man of Morehouse, namely,
the soul of Morehouse and the future of the Mystique.
I have tried to translate the mystique into terms more comprehensible to the
public. So, you have heard my vision language on many occasions and many of
you have already begun to interpret and apply this vision in creative ways. Here
is the vision in eight simple words:
Renaissance Men with social conscience and global perspective.
Morehouse produces such leaders in a very special kind of community; we call
it “The Brotherhood.” … [The Morehouse Mystique] is a distinctive and
mysterious bond between good men that strengthen us when we’re together and
sustains us when we’re apart and until we meet again. It is captured in rituals
like the College hymn. Show me one other college that sings its hymn in a
manner where a mystical bond seems to radiate above and within the members.
This is Morehouse. It cannot be reduced to words or data.
But after two years, I have learned something that I did not [know] before. One
of the critical ingredients in the Morehouse mystique is a fundamental sense of
discontent with mediocrity and nonsense. Morehouse men bond around their
complaints about how Morehouse often functions or ‘dysfunctions.’ In other
words, you cannot be a Morehouse Man in the making—a Renaissance Man
with social conscience and global perspective—unless you are uneasy about the
human condition. I want each of you to have a healthy impatience with the
status quo. And I will declare at every Morehouse commencement that
Morehouse men must be so sensitive to the presence of disorder, mediocrity and
injustice that they cannot sleep well at night until they tip the scale toward
justice. Unto whom much is given, much is required.
THE SOUL IN DISTRESS
But today, our soul is sick and our mystique is threatened. Not for want of more
financial resources. We have never had enough money. (And, it is amazing that
we continue to produce Ivy League results with HBCU resources.) Nor is the
mystique threatened by what the Harvard historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. called
“discrepancies between our rhetoric and our reality.” Every institution has its
discrepancies and gaps in quality and performance. My administration is fully
committed to eradicating and alleviating Morehouse discrepancies and I trust
that you see evidence of progress….
Our soul is threatened by the presence of a few people inside and outside the
Morehouse village who are spiritually ill and disoriented. So, I’d like to speak
very directly to those men and women, but primarily to men of Morehouse. As
all of you listen to these remarks, I want you to do two things: first, help us to
disseminate this message widely, especially to our brothers who were unable or
unwilling to join the president in this historic chapel meeting….
Second, to those who have not yet committed to the Renaissance and renewal of
Morehouse, I want you to listen and make a decision about whether you should
remain at Morehouse. I know that a few of you are enrolled because it was
mama’s or daddy’s dream. But, if it isn’t your dream, you should exercise the
discernment and the courage to transfer to a more suitable environment. There
are a lot of schools out there that would love to have a young man who
qualified for admission to Morehouse. And remember that there are thousands
of brothers out there who did not receive a Morehouse admission letter.
A PIVOTAL DATE FOR THE MOREHOUSE RENAISSANCE
On this day, April 21st, I want to set forth and clarify the expectations of the
Morehouse Renaissance. This date is pregnant with meaning. According to
tradition and myth, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother,
Remus, founded Rome, perhaps the first great international city, the first world
house. Today, I use that event to symbolize the groundbreaking of a renewed
Morehouse as world house.
I have articulated five attributes of the Renaissance Man. My staff calls them the
“Five Wells.” Well read, spoken, traveled, dressed and balanced. (To remember
them in order, remember that “R,S,T” are consecutive letters of the alphabet.
You’re on your own for remembering the final “D” and “B.”) I want to highlight
three of these today: reading (or the life of the mind), speech and dress.
· Well-read. You have seen that HBCUs face a crisis of graduating
students, especially black men. In many schools, less than 29% of the
men enrolled graduate within six years. This year, Morehouse is
reporting a rate of 67%, which is exceptional to most people—but not
good enough for Morehouse. Last week, at the student election debate, I
heard a candidate announce an initiative called “GOT: Graduate On
Time.” Perhaps more parents should follow the model of elite institutions
that award scholarships. They pay for eight semesters, period, and only if
the student maintains a 3.0 GPA.
· Last week, the College honored several hundred men who earned a place
on the Honor Roll at Morehouse College. Recently, a record was set as
688 students (out of our 2,600 total) earned the distinction of Dean’s List
placement. I challenged all of my students to aim for this honor and then
to aim higher. But, if you need assistance, be man enough to ask for help
rather than fail a course. Our teachers are smart, but most of them cannot
read your mind or follow the games some students play to pass courses
without really learning much.
· It gives me heartburn to mention this topic, but there is the matter of
academic dishonesty. During my time here, we heard the joke, ‘All work
and no plagiarism make for dull papers.’ Some of you are smart, but not
as smart as you think. We know about using technology to cheat, about
texting answers into exams. Brothers, someone is paying for a
Morehouse education. Shouldn’t you be trying to get it? Do the right
thing.
· I have seen too many students standing in lines wasting time. You should
carry something to read and make good use of your down time. Read
books, not just summaries of books. Choose an accomplished and prolific
writer as a role model. But just as important—if not more—study
grammar and syntax and the art of composition. General Education at
Morehouse seeks to teach and encourage you to apply these fundamental
rules. Learn the power of accurately constructed sentences and wellpositioned
words.
· It matters how well you write. Each of you must be able to write a solid
personal statement for a job, graduate application or a fellowship. Once
you have been accepted into the prestigious programs, it is crucial to be
able to write flawless research papers, theses and dissertations. And on
an ongoing basis, your written communications with superiors and
colleagues in the workplace are of even more importance. I do not want
employers or professors to call us and ask, ‘How did Morehouse graduate
a student who writes so poorly?’
· If you are not learning, if you need a tutor, ask for help. Morehouse
provides tutors and we are about to establish a more comprehensive
mentoring program inspired by a student-led movement called
Resurgence of the Crown….
· … The Renaissance Man is well-spoken. He chooses his words
carefully. This reduces the necessity of relying on profanity or empty
verbal placeholders like, ‘um, um, ahh…’ or nonsense like ‘you know
what I’m saying, you know what I’m saying?’
· Strive to have something valuable to say, and be in possession of elegant
words and phrases that allow you to effectively communicate complex
emotions and ideas. Profanity does not reflect your verbal grace and
style. It suggests a lazy mind and is contrary to the Morehouse ideal…
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RENAISSANCE
· In the matter of violence. Morehouse will be a campus of peace and
justice. We will be a violence-free zone. … We have an excellent judicial
council and it will continue to render decisions in student misconduct
cases. But, I intend to take a personal interest in brothers who try to
resolve conflict by violent means….
· In the matter of gender relations, Morehouse will be a community that
respects women. We will be a community of zero tolerance for sexual abuse,
date rape, prostitution, pimping and other forms of illegal behavior….
· In the matter of customer service and professionalism, Morehouse will
operate in accord with the best practices of a selective, private college. I
have heard your call for improved customer service. It is outrageous to learn
that occasionally a faculty or staff member has behaved in ways that fall
below Morehouse standards. We will not tolerate this. But, at the same time,
we expect every one of you to show respect to all faculty and staff.
· It is unacceptable to be demanding or demeaning, threatening or
challenging, insulting or inflammatory. We are here to meet your needs, but
the staff and faculty are not obligated to yield to rudeness….
· The other issue concerns our campus and its conservation efforts. We are
becoming a greener Morehouse. We will improve utilization of energyefficient
light bulbs and paper recycling. I want to thank students and alumni
for working with my team to accomplish this.
· As for our attractive ambience, we employ the services of professionals to
help maintain the grounds of the campus. …We have a collective
responsibility to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of our dorm rooms,
classrooms, bathrooms and the entire campus. If I can stoop to pick up trash,
may I ask that you do the same?
· After all of the filth and trash that the slave system forced us to endure, how
can we deliberately litter our campus with flyers and handbills? I have asked
our General Counsel to prepare a legal communication to the companies that
are employing people to dump handbills on our campus grounds....
SQUARING IDENTITY AND ETHICS: A CAMPUS IMPERATIVE
In the matter of diversity, Morehouse will be a safe, respectful campus that
balances personal liberty with the responsibility of membership in a moral
community. Morehouse is blessed with a variety of diversity assets. You hail from
43 different states and 27 different countries. You are diverse in ethnicity and race,
region, socio-economic background, culture, religion, political loyalty and personal
interest. But all of you can and will become Renaissance Men.
As an all-male institution with the explicit mission of educating men with
disciplined minds, perhaps the great challenge of this moment in history is our
diversity of sexual orientation. … Part of our greatness lies in our ability to accept
men of quality who wish to uphold the Morehouse mystique. We do not pry into a
person’s private identity; nor do we wish to have identity paraded in an undignified
manner. We do demand that everyone aspire to high ethical standards and
responsible community behavior. Identity must always square with, and yield to,
ethics.
…I have appointed a committee on Diversity and Tolerance to review the
effectiveness of what we have done and are currently doing. You will hear more in
the fall. But, let me be clear: three basic principles will govern our life together in
this moral community:
1. The principle of safety and security. Anthropologist Abraham Maslow
has observed that if people do not feel secure, not much else will matter.
Every student, staff and faculty member must feel safe and secure in the
Morehouse community.…
2. The principle of diversity. It is a privilege to study and live in a diverse
community. People often assume that an HBCU is less diverse than other
majority institutions. Well, I’ve been a student and taught at majority
institutions and they are hardly more diverse than Morehouse. We have a
small percent of non-African American men. Most majority schools have
a small percent of nonwhite students.
· Since we are unique, why don’t we use this opportunity to model
something our community needs? Straight men should learn more about
the outlooks and contributions of gay men. Read a book by a gay author.
Have an intelligent conversation with a gay neighbor. At a time when it
was truly scandalous to have homosexual friends or associates, Dr. King
looked to Bayard Rustin, a black gay man, as a trusted adviser. And,
Malcolm X regarded James Baldwin, a black gay man, as a brilliant
chronicler of the black experience. To my straight brothers, diversity at
Morehouse is an opportunity that can enrich your education if you are
courageous enough to seize the opportunity. We cannot force you, but we
invite you to learn from your environment.
3. The principle of decorum. Decorum is a Latin word that means orderly,
dignified, becoming and handsome. …
· Here, I offer a word about being well-dressed, the fourth of the
“Well” attributes. I have not desired to be overly prescriptive about
this. You do not have to wear a tie and jacket to class, although no one
would object to it. You’re a college student. You can enjoy yourself
while wearing comfortable clothing that respects the fact that you are
part of a community of educated and ethical men…
· We cannot monitor what you wear when you leave campus, but
while you are on the Morehouse campus, in the presence of adult
learners, do not sag your pants, do not show your undergarments.
Do not wear do-rags, and do not wear baseball caps in class or in
the cafeteria. …
· And, to those who would experiment with wearing clothing
associated with a women’s garb (dresses, tunics, purses and
pumps) I am directing that you not exhibit these items on the
Morehouse campus. Wear what you wish to off campus. But, while
you are here on the ground where Mays and Martin and Maynard
walked, those items are off limits. A man in women’s clothing on
campus is provocative and will not be tolerated.
I want to establish a culture of high expectation and encouragement, not one of
enforcement and harassment. But, I ask you to work with me to restore the
Morehouse that our mothers and fathers prayed and sighed for.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER
So, in summary, I want to say that Morehouse is your house. You must take
responsibility for its excellence.
…If you cannot follow the guidelines of a moral community, then leave. Change
your behavior or separate from this college.
…If you want to be part of something rare and noble, something that the world has
not often seen—a community of educated, ethical, disciplined black men more
powerful than a standing army—then you’ve come to the right place….
Up you mighty men of Morehouse, you aristocrats of spirit, you can
accomplish what you will!
…I’d like to address a subject that is vital to every man of Morehouse, namely,
the soul of Morehouse and the future of the Mystique.
I have tried to translate the mystique into terms more comprehensible to the
public. So, you have heard my vision language on many occasions and many of
you have already begun to interpret and apply this vision in creative ways. Here
is the vision in eight simple words:
Renaissance Men with social conscience and global perspective.
Morehouse produces such leaders in a very special kind of community; we call
it “The Brotherhood.” … [The Morehouse Mystique] is a distinctive and
mysterious bond between good men that strengthen us when we’re together and
sustains us when we’re apart and until we meet again. It is captured in rituals
like the College hymn. Show me one other college that sings its hymn in a
manner where a mystical bond seems to radiate above and within the members.
This is Morehouse. It cannot be reduced to words or data.
But after two years, I have learned something that I did not [know] before. One
of the critical ingredients in the Morehouse mystique is a fundamental sense of
discontent with mediocrity and nonsense. Morehouse men bond around their
complaints about how Morehouse often functions or ‘dysfunctions.’ In other
words, you cannot be a Morehouse Man in the making—a Renaissance Man
with social conscience and global perspective—unless you are uneasy about the
human condition. I want each of you to have a healthy impatience with the
status quo. And I will declare at every Morehouse commencement that
Morehouse men must be so sensitive to the presence of disorder, mediocrity and
injustice that they cannot sleep well at night until they tip the scale toward
justice. Unto whom much is given, much is required.
THE SOUL IN DISTRESS
But today, our soul is sick and our mystique is threatened. Not for want of more
financial resources. We have never had enough money. (And, it is amazing that
we continue to produce Ivy League results with HBCU resources.) Nor is the
mystique threatened by what the Harvard historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. called
“discrepancies between our rhetoric and our reality.” Every institution has its
discrepancies and gaps in quality and performance. My administration is fully
committed to eradicating and alleviating Morehouse discrepancies and I trust
that you see evidence of progress….
Our soul is threatened by the presence of a few people inside and outside the
Morehouse village who are spiritually ill and disoriented. So, I’d like to speak
very directly to those men and women, but primarily to men of Morehouse. As
all of you listen to these remarks, I want you to do two things: first, help us to
disseminate this message widely, especially to our brothers who were unable or
unwilling to join the president in this historic chapel meeting….
Second, to those who have not yet committed to the Renaissance and renewal of
Morehouse, I want you to listen and make a decision about whether you should
remain at Morehouse. I know that a few of you are enrolled because it was
mama’s or daddy’s dream. But, if it isn’t your dream, you should exercise the
discernment and the courage to transfer to a more suitable environment. There
are a lot of schools out there that would love to have a young man who
qualified for admission to Morehouse. And remember that there are thousands
of brothers out there who did not receive a Morehouse admission letter.
A PIVOTAL DATE FOR THE MOREHOUSE RENAISSANCE
On this day, April 21st, I want to set forth and clarify the expectations of the
Morehouse Renaissance. This date is pregnant with meaning. According to
tradition and myth, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother,
Remus, founded Rome, perhaps the first great international city, the first world
house. Today, I use that event to symbolize the groundbreaking of a renewed
Morehouse as world house.
I have articulated five attributes of the Renaissance Man. My staff calls them the
“Five Wells.” Well read, spoken, traveled, dressed and balanced. (To remember
them in order, remember that “R,S,T” are consecutive letters of the alphabet.
You’re on your own for remembering the final “D” and “B.”) I want to highlight
three of these today: reading (or the life of the mind), speech and dress.
· Well-read. You have seen that HBCUs face a crisis of graduating
students, especially black men. In many schools, less than 29% of the
men enrolled graduate within six years. This year, Morehouse is
reporting a rate of 67%, which is exceptional to most people—but not
good enough for Morehouse. Last week, at the student election debate, I
heard a candidate announce an initiative called “GOT: Graduate On
Time.” Perhaps more parents should follow the model of elite institutions
that award scholarships. They pay for eight semesters, period, and only if
the student maintains a 3.0 GPA.
· Last week, the College honored several hundred men who earned a place
on the Honor Roll at Morehouse College. Recently, a record was set as
688 students (out of our 2,600 total) earned the distinction of Dean’s List
placement. I challenged all of my students to aim for this honor and then
to aim higher. But, if you need assistance, be man enough to ask for help
rather than fail a course. Our teachers are smart, but most of them cannot
read your mind or follow the games some students play to pass courses
without really learning much.
· It gives me heartburn to mention this topic, but there is the matter of
academic dishonesty. During my time here, we heard the joke, ‘All work
and no plagiarism make for dull papers.’ Some of you are smart, but not
as smart as you think. We know about using technology to cheat, about
texting answers into exams. Brothers, someone is paying for a
Morehouse education. Shouldn’t you be trying to get it? Do the right
thing.
· I have seen too many students standing in lines wasting time. You should
carry something to read and make good use of your down time. Read
books, not just summaries of books. Choose an accomplished and prolific
writer as a role model. But just as important—if not more—study
grammar and syntax and the art of composition. General Education at
Morehouse seeks to teach and encourage you to apply these fundamental
rules. Learn the power of accurately constructed sentences and wellpositioned
words.
· It matters how well you write. Each of you must be able to write a solid
personal statement for a job, graduate application or a fellowship. Once
you have been accepted into the prestigious programs, it is crucial to be
able to write flawless research papers, theses and dissertations. And on
an ongoing basis, your written communications with superiors and
colleagues in the workplace are of even more importance. I do not want
employers or professors to call us and ask, ‘How did Morehouse graduate
a student who writes so poorly?’
· If you are not learning, if you need a tutor, ask for help. Morehouse
provides tutors and we are about to establish a more comprehensive
mentoring program inspired by a student-led movement called
Resurgence of the Crown….
· … The Renaissance Man is well-spoken. He chooses his words
carefully. This reduces the necessity of relying on profanity or empty
verbal placeholders like, ‘um, um, ahh…’ or nonsense like ‘you know
what I’m saying, you know what I’m saying?’
· Strive to have something valuable to say, and be in possession of elegant
words and phrases that allow you to effectively communicate complex
emotions and ideas. Profanity does not reflect your verbal grace and
style. It suggests a lazy mind and is contrary to the Morehouse ideal…
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RENAISSANCE
· In the matter of violence. Morehouse will be a campus of peace and
justice. We will be a violence-free zone. … We have an excellent judicial
council and it will continue to render decisions in student misconduct
cases. But, I intend to take a personal interest in brothers who try to
resolve conflict by violent means….
· In the matter of gender relations, Morehouse will be a community that
respects women. We will be a community of zero tolerance for sexual abuse,
date rape, prostitution, pimping and other forms of illegal behavior….
· In the matter of customer service and professionalism, Morehouse will
operate in accord with the best practices of a selective, private college. I
have heard your call for improved customer service. It is outrageous to learn
that occasionally a faculty or staff member has behaved in ways that fall
below Morehouse standards. We will not tolerate this. But, at the same time,
we expect every one of you to show respect to all faculty and staff.
· It is unacceptable to be demanding or demeaning, threatening or
challenging, insulting or inflammatory. We are here to meet your needs, but
the staff and faculty are not obligated to yield to rudeness….
· The other issue concerns our campus and its conservation efforts. We are
becoming a greener Morehouse. We will improve utilization of energyefficient
light bulbs and paper recycling. I want to thank students and alumni
for working with my team to accomplish this.
· As for our attractive ambience, we employ the services of professionals to
help maintain the grounds of the campus. …We have a collective
responsibility to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of our dorm rooms,
classrooms, bathrooms and the entire campus. If I can stoop to pick up trash,
may I ask that you do the same?
· After all of the filth and trash that the slave system forced us to endure, how
can we deliberately litter our campus with flyers and handbills? I have asked
our General Counsel to prepare a legal communication to the companies that
are employing people to dump handbills on our campus grounds....
SQUARING IDENTITY AND ETHICS: A CAMPUS IMPERATIVE
In the matter of diversity, Morehouse will be a safe, respectful campus that
balances personal liberty with the responsibility of membership in a moral
community. Morehouse is blessed with a variety of diversity assets. You hail from
43 different states and 27 different countries. You are diverse in ethnicity and race,
region, socio-economic background, culture, religion, political loyalty and personal
interest. But all of you can and will become Renaissance Men.
As an all-male institution with the explicit mission of educating men with
disciplined minds, perhaps the great challenge of this moment in history is our
diversity of sexual orientation. … Part of our greatness lies in our ability to accept
men of quality who wish to uphold the Morehouse mystique. We do not pry into a
person’s private identity; nor do we wish to have identity paraded in an undignified
manner. We do demand that everyone aspire to high ethical standards and
responsible community behavior. Identity must always square with, and yield to,
ethics.
…I have appointed a committee on Diversity and Tolerance to review the
effectiveness of what we have done and are currently doing. You will hear more in
the fall. But, let me be clear: three basic principles will govern our life together in
this moral community:
1. The principle of safety and security. Anthropologist Abraham Maslow
has observed that if people do not feel secure, not much else will matter.
Every student, staff and faculty member must feel safe and secure in the
Morehouse community.…
2. The principle of diversity. It is a privilege to study and live in a diverse
community. People often assume that an HBCU is less diverse than other
majority institutions. Well, I’ve been a student and taught at majority
institutions and they are hardly more diverse than Morehouse. We have a
small percent of non-African American men. Most majority schools have
a small percent of nonwhite students.
· Since we are unique, why don’t we use this opportunity to model
something our community needs? Straight men should learn more about
the outlooks and contributions of gay men. Read a book by a gay author.
Have an intelligent conversation with a gay neighbor. At a time when it
was truly scandalous to have homosexual friends or associates, Dr. King
looked to Bayard Rustin, a black gay man, as a trusted adviser. And,
Malcolm X regarded James Baldwin, a black gay man, as a brilliant
chronicler of the black experience. To my straight brothers, diversity at
Morehouse is an opportunity that can enrich your education if you are
courageous enough to seize the opportunity. We cannot force you, but we
invite you to learn from your environment.
3. The principle of decorum. Decorum is a Latin word that means orderly,
dignified, becoming and handsome. …
· Here, I offer a word about being well-dressed, the fourth of the
“Well” attributes. I have not desired to be overly prescriptive about
this. You do not have to wear a tie and jacket to class, although no one
would object to it. You’re a college student. You can enjoy yourself
while wearing comfortable clothing that respects the fact that you are
part of a community of educated and ethical men…
· We cannot monitor what you wear when you leave campus, but
while you are on the Morehouse campus, in the presence of adult
learners, do not sag your pants, do not show your undergarments.
Do not wear do-rags, and do not wear baseball caps in class or in
the cafeteria. …
· And, to those who would experiment with wearing clothing
associated with a women’s garb (dresses, tunics, purses and
pumps) I am directing that you not exhibit these items on the
Morehouse campus. Wear what you wish to off campus. But, while
you are here on the ground where Mays and Martin and Maynard
walked, those items are off limits. A man in women’s clothing on
campus is provocative and will not be tolerated.
I want to establish a culture of high expectation and encouragement, not one of
enforcement and harassment. But, I ask you to work with me to restore the
Morehouse that our mothers and fathers prayed and sighed for.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER
So, in summary, I want to say that Morehouse is your house. You must take
responsibility for its excellence.
…If you cannot follow the guidelines of a moral community, then leave. Change
your behavior or separate from this college.
…If you want to be part of something rare and noble, something that the world has
not often seen—a community of educated, ethical, disciplined black men more
powerful than a standing army—then you’ve come to the right place….
Up you mighty men of Morehouse, you aristocrats of spirit, you can
accomplish what you will!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Black GQ Books: Our Kind of People - Lawrence Otis Graham
The book starts with a controversial epigraph, a distillation of the sentiments of the black elite regarding their own:
Bryant Gumbel is, but Bill Cosby isn’t. Lena Horne is, but Whitney Houston isn’t. Andrew Young is, but Jesse Jackson isn’t. And neither is Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Clarence Thomas, or
It was 10 years ago that Lawrence Otis Graham's "Our Kind of People" hit book stands.Our Kind of People presents a telling view of blacks in settings other than those featured on the evening news. Instead of the standard depictions and glamorized scenes, it peers into the privileged lives of over three hundred successful members of
Our Kind of People serves as a kind of Baedeker's guide to the lives and follies of the black elite, listing and describing the schools they attend (Howard, Morehouse, and Spelman, historically, the Ivy-league today), the places they vacation (Martha's Vineyard or Sag Harbour), and the organizations to which they belong (the Boule and/or the Guardsmen for men, the Links and Girlfriends for the women).
Our Kind of People is a lively, generally accurate, and informative account of the black elite. One only wishes Graham had delved a little more into the dissonance between the group's ideals and those of the larger African American community to which it belongs, a community which fought for so long against all forms of invidious exclusion.
What are your thoughts?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Black GQ Politics: Kevin Powell on Chris Brown/Rihanna
Given all the hype and controversy around Chris Brown's alleged beating of Rihanna, I feel compelled to post this essay I originally wrote in late 2007, so that some of us can have an honest jump off point to discuss male violence against females, to discuss the need for ownership of past pains and traumas, to discuss the critical importance of therapy and healing. Let us pray for Rihanna, first and foremost, because no one deserves to be beaten, or beaten up. No one. And let us also pray that Chris Brown gets the help he needs by way of long-term counseling and alternative definitions of manhood rooted in nonviolence, real love, and, alas, real peace. And let us not forget that Rihanna and Chris Brown happen to be major pop stars, hence all the media coverage, blogs, etc. Violence against women and girls happens every single day on this planet without any notice from most of us. Until we begin to address that hard fact, until we all, males and females alike, make a commitment to ending the conditions that create that destructive behavior in the first place, it will not end any time soon. There will be more Rihannas and more Chris Browns.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Black GQ Entertainment: Underground Inauguration events
Shout out to the mayor of Capitol Hill/DC: Mike McQuerry
Some of the Underground Inauguration Events
January 14th – 20th
Wednesday, January 14th
7pm - Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill will host the unveiling of a trailer for an upcoming documentary that explores how the “Joe the Plumber” phenomenon became one of the most defining moments of the 2008 presidential election. The film “JoeBama: A Catchphrase, The Real Joes, and How Ohio Was Won” will be released in its entirety later this year. The event will be attended by the producers of the film from Impulse Media Productions, Inc and a number of individuals who appear in the film. Members of the press and the general public are welcome to attend.
Who: Film Producers, Campaign Organizers, General Public
What: Unveiling of the trailer for “JoeBama: A Catchphrase, The Real Joes, and How Ohio Was Won”
Where: Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill – 1610 U St., NW in Washington, DC
When: Wednesday, January 14th
For more information on the documentary, please contact Matt Meyer at matt@impulsemp.com.
Thursday, January 15th
5:30pm - Obamanatics: Pre-Inauguration Gathering
Dinner Party & BaRock the Way Happy Hour
@ Jin Bistro Lounge
2017 14th Street NW
FREE All Night
5pm – PANDORA @ The Park
On January 15th, The Usual Suspectz, Triple Crown & TEAMBBC.COM invite you to join us in celebration of a true milestone in American History. As we prepare for our President Elect to take his new office, and give birth to a “new” nation, we will also in regal style and fashion, celebrate the birth of The Society of the Crown. The Society of the Crown is a collection of America’s top brass. The few who influence and shape the direction of young America - Those who continue to empower change in our increasingly complex society. We have great confidence that our newly elected President shares the same vision. In honor of this once in a lifetime event, we invite you to raise a glass and toast this momentous occasion - a true achievement which belongs to all Americans.
RSVP for membership and complimentary VIP admission before 9.
Email membership@pandorathursday.com by 4pm Thursday, January 15th.
Louis Vuittion Moet Hennessy, Ciroc, Bad Boy Entertainment, NBLSA, NBA-YLD, NSBE-AEDC, PAN-HELL
The Park at Fourteenth • 920 14th St. NW WDC • 20005
Friday, January 16th
8pm - Belvedere Presents Jay-Z’s Inaugural Gala – Sophisticated Refined
@ Love
1350 Okie Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Semi Formal Attire
www.LovetheClub.com for more info
10pm - Hypnotik Entertainment, DT Nation & Esby Inc. Present:
"Initiation"
Where: Café Asia
1720 I St NW Washington DC
www.hypnotikentertainment.com for more info
Saturday, January 17th
2pm - Inauguration Event - Meet Kwame Jackson from The Apprentice
Discover Krimson by Kwame, the executive neckwear collection from Kwame Jackson, from TV’s The Apprentice. He will help you select the perfect tie, offer professional style cues, and sign autographs. Plus, with any Krimson neckwear purchase, score a special gift.
Where: Men’s Furnishings on Main Floor of Macy’s @ Pentagon City
6:00pm – 9:00pm - Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration (Black Tie Gala Reception)
Held at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, NW
Washington DC 20008
9 pm - Celebrating Achievement – Manifesting Change
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Pre-Inaugural Ball
Formal Attire
Martin’s Crosswinds
7400 Greenway Center Drive
Greenbelt, MD 20770
9-11pm Open Bar and Buffet
For more info go to www.collegeparksandsandyspring.org/website
10pm - MLK /Inauguration Weekend (House Music Lovers)
SHIFT - Classic Beats on Full Blast with DJ’s Danny Krivit+Ron Trent along with your local DC Favorite DJ’s Chris Burns + 007
@ Warehouse Loft
411 NY Ave NE W DC
10pm-5am $15 before $20 after
Sunday, January 18th
12:00pm – 3:00pm - President-elect Barack Obama will kick off the schedule of official inaugural activities in Washington, D.C., with a welcome event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon. The event will be free and open to the public.
3:30pm-4:30pm - Gospel Musical Concert at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church
2pm – 8pm - East Coast Caribbean Events, Mixx Productions, Caribbean Nationals for Obama, Caribbean Democrats for Obama & Special Guest Host: Marlon Hill Attorney, Florida Elector, & Social Activist, Host of D' Peoples Politics on Caribbean Riddims 880AM
Sponsored by Caribbean Airlines
Obama-Soca-Rama Inauguration Day Fete
@ De Island Loft
Blazin' The Hottest Soca & Reggae
Back to Basics (NY), Eternal Vibes (Miami) Andy Mix (DC)
Funky Rollers Rhythm Section and more!
$10 before 3pm, more after
1348 4th Street, NE Washington DC 20002
DC Farmer’s Market District
4th and Penn Street, NE
Plenty of Free Parking and you can also take the RED line Metro to New York Avenue and walk 2 blocks.
Food provided by the infamous Garage Boyz (DC MudMas) Chef, Captain Black Beard
Menu: Curry Goat and Dumplings, Curry Chicken, Spanish Rice and much more!
Alongside Sheldon the Corn Soup Man
For More Info:
myspace.com/eastcoastcaribbeanevents
eastcoastcaribbeanevents@yahoo.com
202-725-3218 /301-943-8176
Come Celebrate with Obama Caribbean Organizers, Volunteers and Supporters!
2:30pm – 5:30pm - CSE Marketing Group Present Chestnut Law Firm Inauguration Reception
@ Acadiana
901 New York Avenue, NW
Must RSVP: RSVP @cheekysassoent.com
Sponsored by the Chestnut Law Firm and Co-hosted by Young Elected Officials Network
4pm – art whino
This exclusive Inaugural Appreciation production will give back to the community that embraces it the most. We plan on hosting numerous special guest attendees at this affair and will welcome them with special incentives courtesy of all brands represented; who are these special guests attendees? You, you, him AND her; we are ALL VIP's!!
@ the national harbor
150 National Plaza
National Harbor, MD 20745
sounds: dj Lil Mic (http://www.djlilmic.com) (XM Sirius Radio) & dj MAF
art: JPalmer Designs (http://www.jpalmerdesigns.com) (unveiling of an Obama Art Project)
fashion: greedy genius (www.greedygenius.com) spring 09 showcase set l-r-g clothing (www.l-r-g.com) showcase set
music (specialty): skullcandy (http://www.skullcandy.com) headphone listening station
food: catfish Fridays (chicken, catfish, mac&cheese, greens, yams)
drink: ciroc vodka, nuvo sparkling liqueur, guinness stout, harp lager, red bull
entertain: celebrate history. celebrate life. celebrate each other. the true art of celebration.
appreciate: the DMV (DC. Maryland. Virginia) region
no cover charge.
no guest list.
no passes.
no tickets.
no headaches.
no problem.
this event is FREE** and open to the public.
10pm – RECESS-IS-ON (House Party)
A Good Old Fashion House Party
Open bar and Hors D’oeuvres
Sounds By DJ Quite Nice
*EXCLUSIVE INVITATION Only*
To Purchase a limited amount of $20 Tickets go to: www.RecessIsOn.eventbrite.com
This is an EXCLUSIVE, invite only event with a premium open bar w/ bartenders, one of the hottest DJ's in town, and hors d'oeuvres all night-- for only $20! The party will be held in my new and beautiful 2000 square foot two story home.
9pm - Obama: That One!!!
Sponsored in part by HBO with Host Hill Harper
@ The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
DJ Beverly Bond
Host Committee Includes Ben Soto, John rhea and Tanya Lombard
For Further info and Ticket please visit www.ObamaThatOne.com
Monday, January 19th
7am – 7pm - Take in some of the local area scenes – The Eastern Market
The venue at Eastern Market includes: Local merchants offering everything from fresh produce and flowers, to delicatessen, bakery, meat, poultry, cheese and dairy products. There is also the delicious Market Lunch - renowned for its crab cakes and blueberry pancakes, an arts and community center and open-air, fresh local produce year round. The Eastern Market is strategically located at 225 7th Street, Southeast, Washington, DC. It is 7 blocks west of the Capitol, 1 block north of the Eastern Market MetroRail Station and Pennsylvania Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
10am - Interfaith "Prayer, Peace, Praise" Service
Tenth Street Baptist Church
1000 "R" Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20001
Rev. A.C. Durant, Host Pastor
(Immediately following the Interfaith Service, we will march to the Wreath Laying Ceremony)
1pm - Wreath Laying Ceremony
African- American Civil War Memorial
Vermont Avenue & "U" Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20009
Hon. Frank Smith, Jr. Chairperson
6pm - Celebrity Celebration Performance
The Historic Lincoln Theatre
1215 "U" Street NW
Featuring Local and National Entertainers and Performers
(Free Event Requires a Ticket.)
(Tickets will be available beginning Monday, January 12, 2009)
Ticket Location: The Historic Lincoln Theatre
10pm - The Usual Suspectz and True School Corp. Present The COOLEST Event of 2009 Inauguration
“The Cool”
@ The Historic Republic
1355 U Street, NW
Serato Specialist: DJ Shogun and DJ Cuzzin B
Advanced Tickets Available now on Groovetickets.com Keyword: The Cool
Complimentary Late Night Chicken and Waffles
Urban Chic Attire (Stylish Sneakers w/Blazer Accepted)
For Table Reservations please email tablereservations@therepublicdc.com
Tuesday, January 20th
Inauguration Day
When: 11:30 am
Where: Swearing‐in Ceremony takes place on the west front steps of the U.S. Capitol
Parade proceeds from the U.S. Capitol down Pennsylvania Ave NW. Viewing stands and bleachers will extend from 3rd to 17th Sts.
Cost: Free
Closest Subway: Smithsonian Metro Station (note: only the Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open)
Some of the Underground Inauguration Events
January 14th – 20th
Wednesday, January 14th
7pm - Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill will host the unveiling of a trailer for an upcoming documentary that explores how the “Joe the Plumber” phenomenon became one of the most defining moments of the 2008 presidential election. The film “JoeBama: A Catchphrase, The Real Joes, and How Ohio Was Won” will be released in its entirety later this year. The event will be attended by the producers of the film from Impulse Media Productions, Inc and a number of individuals who appear in the film. Members of the press and the general public are welcome to attend.
Who: Film Producers, Campaign Organizers, General Public
What: Unveiling of the trailer for “JoeBama: A Catchphrase, The Real Joes, and How Ohio Was Won”
Where: Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill – 1610 U St., NW in Washington, DC
When: Wednesday, January 14th
For more information on the documentary, please contact Matt Meyer at matt@impulsemp.com.
Thursday, January 15th
5:30pm - Obamanatics: Pre-Inauguration Gathering
Dinner Party & BaRock the Way Happy Hour
@ Jin Bistro Lounge
2017 14th Street NW
FREE All Night
5pm – PANDORA @ The Park
On January 15th, The Usual Suspectz, Triple Crown & TEAMBBC.COM invite you to join us in celebration of a true milestone in American History. As we prepare for our President Elect to take his new office, and give birth to a “new” nation, we will also in regal style and fashion, celebrate the birth of The Society of the Crown. The Society of the Crown is a collection of America’s top brass. The few who influence and shape the direction of young America - Those who continue to empower change in our increasingly complex society. We have great confidence that our newly elected President shares the same vision. In honor of this once in a lifetime event, we invite you to raise a glass and toast this momentous occasion - a true achievement which belongs to all Americans.
RSVP for membership and complimentary VIP admission before 9.
Email membership@pandorathursday.com by 4pm Thursday, January 15th.
Louis Vuittion Moet Hennessy, Ciroc, Bad Boy Entertainment, NBLSA, NBA-YLD, NSBE-AEDC, PAN-HELL
The Park at Fourteenth • 920 14th St. NW WDC • 20005
Friday, January 16th
8pm - Belvedere Presents Jay-Z’s Inaugural Gala – Sophisticated Refined
@ Love
1350 Okie Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Semi Formal Attire
www.LovetheClub.com for more info
10pm - Hypnotik Entertainment, DT Nation & Esby Inc. Present:
"Initiation"
Where: Café Asia
1720 I St NW Washington DC
www.hypnotikentertainment.com for more info
Saturday, January 17th
2pm - Inauguration Event - Meet Kwame Jackson from The Apprentice
Discover Krimson by Kwame, the executive neckwear collection from Kwame Jackson, from TV’s The Apprentice. He will help you select the perfect tie, offer professional style cues, and sign autographs. Plus, with any Krimson neckwear purchase, score a special gift.
Where: Men’s Furnishings on Main Floor of Macy’s @ Pentagon City
6:00pm – 9:00pm - Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration (Black Tie Gala Reception)
Held at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, NW
Washington DC 20008
9 pm - Celebrating Achievement – Manifesting Change
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Pre-Inaugural Ball
Formal Attire
Martin’s Crosswinds
7400 Greenway Center Drive
Greenbelt, MD 20770
9-11pm Open Bar and Buffet
For more info go to www.collegeparksandsandyspring.org/website
10pm - MLK /Inauguration Weekend (House Music Lovers)
SHIFT - Classic Beats on Full Blast with DJ’s Danny Krivit+Ron Trent along with your local DC Favorite DJ’s Chris Burns + 007
@ Warehouse Loft
411 NY Ave NE W DC
10pm-5am $15 before $20 after
Sunday, January 18th
12:00pm – 3:00pm - President-elect Barack Obama will kick off the schedule of official inaugural activities in Washington, D.C., with a welcome event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon. The event will be free and open to the public.
3:30pm-4:30pm - Gospel Musical Concert at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church
2pm – 8pm - East Coast Caribbean Events, Mixx Productions, Caribbean Nationals for Obama, Caribbean Democrats for Obama & Special Guest Host: Marlon Hill Attorney, Florida Elector, & Social Activist, Host of D' Peoples Politics on Caribbean Riddims 880AM
Sponsored by Caribbean Airlines
Obama-Soca-Rama Inauguration Day Fete
@ De Island Loft
Blazin' The Hottest Soca & Reggae
Back to Basics (NY), Eternal Vibes (Miami) Andy Mix (DC)
Funky Rollers Rhythm Section and more!
$10 before 3pm, more after
1348 4th Street, NE Washington DC 20002
DC Farmer’s Market District
4th and Penn Street, NE
Plenty of Free Parking and you can also take the RED line Metro to New York Avenue and walk 2 blocks.
Food provided by the infamous Garage Boyz (DC MudMas) Chef, Captain Black Beard
Menu: Curry Goat and Dumplings, Curry Chicken, Spanish Rice and much more!
Alongside Sheldon the Corn Soup Man
For More Info:
myspace.com/eastcoastcaribbeanevents
eastcoastcaribbeanevents@yahoo.com
202-725-3218 /301-943-8176
Come Celebrate with Obama Caribbean Organizers, Volunteers and Supporters!
2:30pm – 5:30pm - CSE Marketing Group Present Chestnut Law Firm Inauguration Reception
@ Acadiana
901 New York Avenue, NW
Must RSVP: RSVP @cheekysassoent.com
Sponsored by the Chestnut Law Firm and Co-hosted by Young Elected Officials Network
4pm – art whino
This exclusive Inaugural Appreciation production will give back to the community that embraces it the most. We plan on hosting numerous special guest attendees at this affair and will welcome them with special incentives courtesy of all brands represented; who are these special guests attendees? You, you, him AND her; we are ALL VIP's!!
@ the national harbor
150 National Plaza
National Harbor, MD 20745
sounds: dj Lil Mic (http://www.djlilmic.com) (XM Sirius Radio) & dj MAF
art: JPalmer Designs (http://www.jpalmerdesigns.com) (unveiling of an Obama Art Project)
fashion: greedy genius (www.greedygenius.com) spring 09 showcase set l-r-g clothing (www.l-r-g.com) showcase set
music (specialty): skullcandy (http://www.skullcandy.com) headphone listening station
food: catfish Fridays (chicken, catfish, mac&cheese, greens, yams)
drink: ciroc vodka, nuvo sparkling liqueur, guinness stout, harp lager, red bull
entertain: celebrate history. celebrate life. celebrate each other. the true art of celebration.
appreciate: the DMV (DC. Maryland. Virginia) region
no cover charge.
no guest list.
no passes.
no tickets.
no headaches.
no problem.
this event is FREE** and open to the public.
10pm – RECESS-IS-ON (House Party)
A Good Old Fashion House Party
Open bar and Hors D’oeuvres
Sounds By DJ Quite Nice
*EXCLUSIVE INVITATION Only*
To Purchase a limited amount of $20 Tickets go to: www.RecessIsOn.eventbrite.com
This is an EXCLUSIVE, invite only event with a premium open bar w/ bartenders, one of the hottest DJ's in town, and hors d'oeuvres all night-- for only $20! The party will be held in my new and beautiful 2000 square foot two story home.
9pm - Obama: That One!!!
Sponsored in part by HBO with Host Hill Harper
@ The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
DJ Beverly Bond
Host Committee Includes Ben Soto, John rhea and Tanya Lombard
For Further info and Ticket please visit www.ObamaThatOne.com
Monday, January 19th
7am – 7pm - Take in some of the local area scenes – The Eastern Market
The venue at Eastern Market includes: Local merchants offering everything from fresh produce and flowers, to delicatessen, bakery, meat, poultry, cheese and dairy products. There is also the delicious Market Lunch - renowned for its crab cakes and blueberry pancakes, an arts and community center and open-air, fresh local produce year round. The Eastern Market is strategically located at 225 7th Street, Southeast, Washington, DC. It is 7 blocks west of the Capitol, 1 block north of the Eastern Market MetroRail Station and Pennsylvania Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
10am - Interfaith "Prayer, Peace, Praise" Service
Tenth Street Baptist Church
1000 "R" Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20001
Rev. A.C. Durant, Host Pastor
(Immediately following the Interfaith Service, we will march to the Wreath Laying Ceremony)
1pm - Wreath Laying Ceremony
African- American Civil War Memorial
Vermont Avenue & "U" Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20009
Hon. Frank Smith, Jr. Chairperson
6pm - Celebrity Celebration Performance
The Historic Lincoln Theatre
1215 "U" Street NW
Featuring Local and National Entertainers and Performers
(Free Event Requires a Ticket.)
(Tickets will be available beginning Monday, January 12, 2009)
Ticket Location: The Historic Lincoln Theatre
10pm - The Usual Suspectz and True School Corp. Present The COOLEST Event of 2009 Inauguration
“The Cool”
@ The Historic Republic
1355 U Street, NW
Serato Specialist: DJ Shogun and DJ Cuzzin B
Advanced Tickets Available now on Groovetickets.com Keyword: The Cool
Complimentary Late Night Chicken and Waffles
Urban Chic Attire (Stylish Sneakers w/Blazer Accepted)
For Table Reservations please email tablereservations@therepublicdc.com
Tuesday, January 20th
Inauguration Day
When: 11:30 am
Where: Swearing‐in Ceremony takes place on the west front steps of the U.S. Capitol
Parade proceeds from the U.S. Capitol down Pennsylvania Ave NW. Viewing stands and bleachers will extend from 3rd to 17th Sts.
Cost: Free
Closest Subway: Smithsonian Metro Station (note: only the Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Black GQ Entertainment: Inauguration Week
Friday, January 16th
- BET’s VIP dinner at Debra Lee’s home 7pm-10pm
- Hip-Hop Caucus concert at Ibiza (1222 1st Street, NE)
- National Congress of Black Women “Just Desserts” (also called “A Historical Affair”) reception and dance at US Chamber of Commerce from 9pm to 1am; $135 reception / $285 Dinner
- A “Celebration of Change” Inaugural Ball at the Grand Hyatt
- Franco Nuschese is hosting a private party at Café Milano benefiting National Italian American
Foundation and The Gallo Foundation
Saturday, January 17th
- The People’s Inaugural Prayer Breakfast at the Independence Ballroom of Grand Hyatt Hotel; 8am start and $100 tickets (www.peoplesinauguralgala.com)
- Politics and Poetry Champagne Brunch at the O Street Mansion from 10:30am to 2:30pm; hosted by the National Congress of Black Women
- A Salute to Michelle Obama luncheon at B. Smith’s from 12:30pm – 2:30pm
- Inaugural Celebrity Basketball Game 4pm at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School
Hosts include SeeMeBall.com and Lonnie Harrell of the And 1 Mixtape Tour; Confirmed celebrity participants include the Redskins' Clinton Portis and Santana Moss, the Baltimore Ravens' Willis McGahee, and the 49ers' Vernon Davis. The event benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington. Tickets: $15; $100 for VIP tickets
- The People’s Inaugural Women’s Leadership Luncheon at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1pm ($150
ticket)
- Family Concert featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock hosted by the Washington Performing Arts
Society from 2pm-5pm at the People’s Congregational United Church of Christ ($12 tickets)
- Radio One Inaugural Celebration from 5pm-9pm at Lincoln Theater
- International Inaugural Ball from 7:30pm to 3am at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel. Hosted by Inner Caucus
and WHUR 96.3 FM, this ball features Project Runway finalist Korto Momolu and performance by Kindred - $150 per ticket
- The “People’s Inaugural Premier” at the Historical Society from 8pm to 12am ($250 for VIP ticket)
- BET is hosting its second Honors Award on Saturday at the Warner Theater
- Change the Game Gala at the Sports Club/LA at the Ritz Carlton from 9pm to 1am ($75 ticket)
- Three Dog Agency is hosting an event at Café Milano to benefit Horton’s Kids from 11pm – 2am
- “A Dream and a Change” ball with various delegations from NJ, NY, IL, NoVA Urban League YoungProfessional, Greater Baltimore Leadership Association, Greater Washington Urban League from 8:00pm to 3:00am at the Hyatt Regency; www.inaugurationevents2009.com
- The “Audacity of Hope” party from 8pm to 1am at the Four Seasons; Audacity of Hope Ball
Proceeds benefit Returning Wounded Soldiers from Iraq and their Families. ($350 ticket)
- The Green Inaugural Party: Maximum Celebration, Minimum Impact
8pm- midnight at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Tickets are $500 Green Inaugural Ball
Billed as the most environmentally-friendly pre-Inaugural celebration. Headline performance by
Wyclef Jean. Organic food and drink, LED lighting, entertainment audio-visual production will be
tailored to minimize environmental impact. (Not to be confused with Al Gore’s event on the 19th)
- Spirit of Asia in America: Presidential Inaugural Reception at the St. Regis, Astor Ballroom and
hosted by the Asia Society to celebrate the democratic process and the contributions of Asian
Americans to this historic Presidential election ($150 ticket; $275 per couple)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
- Presidential Inaugural Committee Official Welcome Event will take place in the afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial. President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden will officially kick-off the inauguration activities with an event that is free and open to the public on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
- Brunch to Honor Michelle Obama (private) at the Four Seasons (More details to follow).
- The Young & Powerful Presidential Brunch from 11am to 2pm at the City Club in Franklin Square
- ‘Obama on Mt Rushmore’ Champagne Brunch from 10:30am to 1:30pm at the Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown
- Artist and Athletes Alliance Diplomatic Luncheon at the Decatur House including a host
committee of various ambassador and the prime minster of Kenya
- Route 44 to The White House at Four Seasons Hotel
Grammy winner Albertina Walker, the "Queen of Gospel", will headline a gospel and musical
Inaugural brunch. The event will benefit the DC-based CB&JT Family Foundation which provides youth mentoring and senior assistance programs for underserved families
- Children’s Inaugural Ball from 12pm to 5pm at The Historical Society of DC
Free tickets, but no longer taking ticket requests. www.everychildmatters.org
- EMILY’s List luncheon at the Hilton Washington from 12pm to 2pm featuring Senators-elect Kay Hagan and Jeanne Shaheen and Governor-elect Bev Purdue ($150 ticket)
- California State Society Inaugural Fashion Show & Lunch at 11:30am
Ritz-Carlton Hotel at 1150 22nd Street, NW; Tickets: ($200 ticket)
- The People’s Inaugural Gospel Concert at the Lincoln Theater at 2pm ($85 ticket)
- Alaska State Society inaugural celebration at Sonoma Restaurant from 5:30pm-8:30pm ($50
ticket)
- Junior Statesmen Foundation: 75th Anniversary event at The Hotel Monaco from 6pm to 9pm
($75 ticket)
- BET International Reception at BET Headquarters (6th floor), 4pm to 7pm
- California Inaugural Bash is hosted by the California Democratic Party; 8 PM-midnight at National Air and Space Museum; ($150 ticket)
- “Welcome to DC Event” hosted by Mayor Fenty (to Benefit DC Public Schools) at the DC Armorystarting at 6pm
- Inaugural Yellow Dog Benefit for TAPS with proceeds going to the families of service members
who lost their lives in the military (www.taps.org); 10pm-2am - Rock and Roll Hotel
- “Diamond & Stars” event for the Obamas’ charities of choice at the J.W. Marriott (we hear this was
moved to the Italian Embassy) with 5:30pm VIP reception; chaired by the Powells
- “Dreams of My Father” American Scholars Inaugural Ball hosts are expecting 1500 guests to
attend this event at the Four Seasons featuring Macy Gray, LL Cool J, Alicia Keys and preeminent African American scholars and education leaders ($550 VIP ticket; $350 ticket)
- Lincoln 2.0 Ball is slated for Sunday at 8pm with proceeds benefitting the American Art Museum and the American Experience Foundation); Smithsonian American Art Museum ($375 ticket, $850 VIP)
- Metropolitan Gala from 8pm to 1am at the Georgetown Waterfront
- African American Church Ball from 6pm at the Grand Hyatt
- The African Diaspora Inaugural Ball from 7pm to 12am at the Harman Center for the Arts
- The People’s Inaugural LGBT Gayla from 8pm to 2am at the Historical Society of DC
- Foreign Diplomats Ball at the James Monroe House
- 2009 Ohio Celebration at the Mayflower Hotel ($250 per ticket)
- Maryland Inaugural Ball from 7pm to 11pm at the Mayflower
- Volta Live “Red Goes Blue” Inaugural Bash at the Mellon Auditorium from 8pm to 11pm to honor Senator Harry Reid and Nevada
- Aloha Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park
Organized by former Obama campaign workers, the ball will carry out a Hawaii theme with island entertainers and hula dancers, reminiscent of the president-elect’s years in Hawaii. ($300 ticket)
- Voto Latino Inaugural Party "Celebrando El Cambio-Renewing America's Promise," from 7:30pm to 12am at Union Station. Marc Antony, Rosario Dawson, Tony Plana and Wilmer Valderrama are among the expected revelers. Funds raised will go to the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, a nonprofit raising money to build a Latino museum in DC.
Monday, January 19, 2009
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The President-elect and Vice President-elect and their families, like Americans in communities all across the country, will participate in activities dedicated to serving others in communities across the DC area.
- The Oprah Winfrey Show - SOLD OUT
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. According to Harpo Productions, Winfrey will host a live episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" from the Kennedy Center Opera House on Jan. 19, the day before Barack Obama takes the presidential oath of office. At least two shows are planned in DC, the second on Wednesday.
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee luncheon with Nancy Pelosi from 11am to 2pm
at the Mellon Auditorium
- Italian American Democratic Leadership Council Inaugural Celebration at the Darlington House
from 5pm to 7pm
- Free Concert! Aretha Franklin, Nuttin' But Stringz & the Let Freedom Ring Choir at 6pm; John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage; Free tickets are required. Beginning at 4 pm on January 19, tickets will be distributed one (1) per person, on a first-come first-served basis,in line in front of the Concert Hall.
- Concert for America's Children (Presidential Inaugural Committee Official Event)
Evening at the Verizon Center. Tickets: Concert will be free, but tickets are required.
- Hip Hop Summit Action Network black-tie event from 8pm – 2am at the Harman Center; hosted by Russell Simmons, LL Cool J and T.I.
- Artists and Athletes Alliance / Service Nation event at Café Milano from 7pm-10pm
- HuffPo Ball at The Newseum at 555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW from 8pm to 1am
- 2009 Green Inaugural Ball at the Portrait Gallery from 7pm-12am SOLD OUT
Not to be confused with the Wyclef Jean event on the 17th, this event is hosted by Al Gore. The 2009 Green Inaugural Ball Host Committee also includes the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, and American Wind Energy Association.
- A Salute to Change Gala presented by The National Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Newspaper Publishers Foundation from 8pm-midnight at Embassy of France. The Gala Benefits the NNPA Foundation and the NNPA Media Services Wing of the John H. Johnson School of Journalism at Howard University. Evening includes buffet dinner, dancing and a full bar – Sponsored by Hennessy Entertainment. Attire: Black Tie Optional. ($250 ticket)
- Inaugural party hosted by Luke Russert at the Rookery from 8pm to 4am
- Historical Inaugural Ball is hosted by the Historical Society, this event from 8pm to 1am
- Arab-American 2009 Inaugural Celebration is hosted by the Arab-American Institute at The
Fairmont Washington from 7 PM-11 PM featuring Arab-American comedians Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader of Comedy Central's Axis of Evil entertain party-goers. ($100 ticket)
- International Conservation Caucus Foundation Gala at the Mellon Auditorium at 6:30pm VIP
reception, 7:30pm dinner ($2,500 per ticket)
- HBCU Inaugural Gala Ball for Historically Black Colleges and Universities from 8pm-1am at Sequoia at Washington Harbor
- Netroots Nation “Yes We Can” party at the Clarendon Ballroom from 7pm to 12am ($90 ticket)
- Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala SOLD OUT Hosted by Asian Americans for Obama, the event will start at 7pm at Mandarin Oriental Hotel ($250
ticket)
State Events On January 19th:
- Arkansas State Society Inaugural Gala at National Press Club at 8pm ($150 VIP ticket)
- Colorado Inaugural Ball at the Westin DC City Center from 6pm to 10pm ($350 ticket)
- Sunshine and Stars Florida Inaugural Ball at the Corcoran Gallery of Art SOLD OUT
- Georgia Inaugural Gala at National Museum of Natural History from 8pm to 12am
- Illinois Society Inaugural Gala at Renaissance Washington Hotel from 5:30pm to 1:30am
- Indiana Society Inaugural Gala at 6pm at Omni-Shoreham Hotel; ($350 ticket)
- Kentucky Society Bluegrass Ball
6:30pm at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel; NOTE: Qorvis is working in close cooperation with the organizers of this event. This event is the Washington Post’s Top Pick.
- New Hampshire State Society Reception at Willard Intercontinental Hotel at 5pm
- New Mexico State Society Land of Enchantment Inaugural Ball SOLD OUT
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian from 7pm to 10pm
- North Carolina State Society Ball SOLD OUT
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at 2660 Woodley Road, NW
- Yes We Did! Celebration hosted by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party at Washington Plaza Hotel.Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey, Chairman T.J. Rooney, members of thePennsylvania Congressional delegation and other Pennsylvania Democrats join together for a night of fun and celebration. ($150 ticket)
- South Carolina State Society Inaugural Ball
8pm at the Smithsonian Air and Space; ($125 ticket)
- South Dakota State Inaugural Reception from 6:30pm to 9pm at James Monroe House ($50 ticket)
- Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball
Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland
- Virginia Ball at the Westin Arlington Gateway from 7pm to 11pm
Presidential Inauguration / Swearing in Ceremony / Parade:
Tickets Required
Each Senator and Representative receives a limited number of free tickets to the swearing-in ceremony that they may distribute to the public at their discretion. One KY Congressman’s office recently said that it received 10,000 requests for only 300 allocated tickets. No website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim.
The President-elect will take the oath at noon on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Following the oath of office,the President will give his inaugural address, setting out his vision for America and goals for the nation. After the Inauguration ceremonies, the President and the Vice-President traditionally attend an inaugural luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The parade will take place in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 20, 2009 on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW with viewing stands and bleachers set-up between 3rd and 17th Streets.
http://dc.about.com/library/maps/blmapinauguration.htm
Since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural ceremony on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the President to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House. The only President not to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue was Ronald Reagan. President Reagan did not do so in 1985 due to freezing cold temperatures which were made dangerous by high winds. In 1977, Jimmy Carter started a new tradition by walking from the Capitol to the White House; although for security reasons, subsequent Presidents have only walked a part of the way.
The Presidential Inauguration Parade is expected to be the most attended event of the year. Security will be complex and many roads will be closed. Parking will be extremely limited. You should expect long lines and delays. The best way to get to the parade will be by Metro. You can purchase your Metro fare in advance to save time. According to Weather Underground's Trip Planner, since 1993, temperatures onJan. 20 in Washington have run from an average low of 27 to an average high of 39.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
There are many parade viewing parties along the parade route. We’re hearing that Secret Service is requiring guests enter the security checkpoints at very early hours. At least a handful of parties have been cancelled due to the early morning deadlines to load in their guests.
- Inaugural Brunch for Change from 9am - 2pm at the Monocle. Congressman Jim Pascrell is the
Honorary Host of the event
- New York State Society Pre-Inaugural Parade Brunch at Willard Intercontinental Hotel ($175 ticket)
Inaugural Galas and Balls
Many inaugural balls and galas will take place at venues throughout Washington, DC from January 15-24th, 2009.
The official balls are planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee and unofficial balls and
parties are planned by the State Societies of Washington, DC and a variety of other organizations.
Official Presidential Inaugural Committee Balls: Just Announced
All official balls require an invitation to purchase a ticket. The President-elect and the Vice President-elect will appear at each of the 10 inaugural balls.
President-elect Barack Obama will host a Youth Inaugural Ball, five Regional Inaugural balls, and a ball for his Home States – Illinois (Renaissance Washington Hotel) and Hawaii (Mandarin Hotel).
Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball for his Home States as well: Delaware and Pennsylvania(Ritz-Carlton). These balls round out the list of official inaugural balls to be held on Tuesday, January 20, along with the previously announced Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and Commander in Chief’s Ball.
The Youth ball, to be held at the Washington Hilton, is intended for young Americans aged 18-35 and will celebrate the inauguration of the new president and the role young Americans can play to serve their communities. Tickets will be available at a reduced price of $75. Performances include Kanye West, Fall Out Boy and an A-list performer to be named shortly. Hosted by an A-list celeb. Remote locations in Kenya, New Orleans and Washington, DC will showcase young people 'being the change' to help their communities.
The Regional Inaugural Balls are an inaugural tradition that President-elect Obama will continue, inviting guests from the Midwest, the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic regions to their own celebrations. Tickets will be available to invited guests for $150.
o Eastern Inaugural Ball - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, PR, and USVI invited guests at Union Station;
o Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball - MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ, and WV invited guests at the DC ConventionCenter;
o Midwest Inaugural Ball - KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, and MO invited guests at the DC Convention Center
o Southern Inaugural Ball - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX invited guests at
the National Guard Armory
o Western Inaugural Ball - AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK, GUAM/AS
invited guests at the DC Convention Center
Neighborhood Inaugural Ball - DC residents, additional guests at the DC Convention Center
Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball - Enlisted active duty and reserve military; National Building Museum
State Society Galas on January 20th:
Arizona Inaugural Gala
8pm at the Historical Society of Washington DC at 801 K Street, NW
Tickets: $175 per person / $300 per couple
Michigan Inaugural Ball
7:30pm to 12am at Smithsonian American History Museum
Garden State Inaugural Gala
7:30pm at Washington Court Hotel
Unofficial Inaugural Balls and Galas on January 20th:
All America Ball
9pm - 1am at Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel ($175 ticket)
American Music Inaugural Ball
Two-ball event (3500 guests) event to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
1. Legends Ball hosted by Dionne Warwick (black tie) ($450 ticket)
2. Urban Ball hosted by Ludacris (dress to impress) ($350 ticket or $675 to attend both)
American Indian Inaugural Ball
8:00pm at Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
Ancestors Dream Inaugural Ball
Gaylord National Resort from 8pm to 2am, hosted by the Prince George's County Presidential Inaugural Committee
BET Inaugural Ball
Mandarin Oriental hotel from 9pm to 2pm with proceeds benefiting America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest non-profit alliance dedicated to the well-being of children and youth founded by Colin and Alma Powell. The Ball will also support two DC institutions - Dunbar High School and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Bytes & Books Inaugural Ball
7:00pm at Folger Shakespeare Library at 201 East Capitol Street SE
The National Coalition for Technology In Education and Training plans to honor George Lucas and Senator Ted Kennedy at its $2,500-per-couple event (for the lowest-tiered sponsorship).
Brandywine Street Association Inaugural Ball
Carnegie Institution of Science from 8pm to 1am
Corcoran Gallery of Art hosted by Information and Communications Technologies
Hosted by LINK AMERICAS Foundation, The Alliance for Public Technology, The Children's Partnership,Education Development Center and the George Lucas Educational Foundation - Edutopia. ($1,000 ticket)
The Creative Coalition Inaugural Gala Ball
Pre-ball VIP dinner, concert and inaugural ball at Harman Center for the Arts. The event is expected to include a large number of celebrities including Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon, and Elvis Costello. Director Barry Levinson will be shooting final scenes for a film called Poliwood, a documentary about Hollywood's involvement in the presidential race.
DC’s 51st Inaugural Ball
John Wilson Building at 8pm
Equality Ball
Presented by the LBGT community (HRC, PFLAG, etc), the event will be held on Tuesday, January 20,2009 at the Mayflower Hotel. Appearances by Cyndi Laufer, Melissa Etheridge, Rufus Wainwright and others. ($375 ticket)
The George Washington University Inaugural Ball
8:00 p.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel at 2500 Calvert Street, NW
Georgetown Harbour Inaugural Gala 8pm sponsored by: Tony & Joe's Seafood Place in Georgetown’s Washington Harbour; Tickets start at $150 and increased after Jan. 1
Google Event
The Google party will be at 9pm-2am on at the Mellon Auditorium (1301 Constitution), sponsored jointly with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. 2,000 guests (invite only) and Google will match suggested donations to designated charities. Event will be a "lounge", an alternative to traditional balls, which means no black tie.
Heroes Red, White & Blue Inaugural Ball
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9pm at the Warner Theater
Celebrate America's military heroes and to honor injured service members and their families at Walter Reed Army and National Naval Medical Centers and to benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washingon and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
The Hill Ball
B Smith’s Restaurant from 8:30pm-11:30pm
Historic Inaugural Ball
8pm to 1am at the Historic Society of Washington D.C., at 801 K St NW, Washington D.C. Sponsored by Changeworks, LLC, this gala celebrates the inauguration of Barack Obama and the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Howard University Inaugural Champagne Brunch, Parade Viewing and Gala
Howard’s Armour J. Blackburn Center
Land of Enchantment Inaugural Ball
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian at 4th St. and Independence Ave. SW
MTV “Be the Change” Ball CANCELLED
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Official Obama Inauguration Celebration Party
Fur (33 Patterson Street, NE)
Inaugural Peace Ball
7 pm at Smithsonian Postal Museum. Hosted by Busboys and Poets, the Smithsonian Postal Museum and special guest host Harry Belafonte, the ball will be the largest gathering of peace activists in Washington on Inauguration Day without a protest. ($165 ticket)
Pearl Gala
Hosted by Asian Americans for Obama from 7 PM-midnight at Mandarin Oriental. ($250 ticket)
The President’s Ball
7:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. at The Washington Times Building ($250 ticket)
The Purple Ball SOLD OUT
Fairmont Hotel at 2401 M St, NW, hosted by Lou Gossett Junior’s Eracism Foundation. This is a small, more intimate champagne dinner that is expected to include both celebrities and politicians. The host committee includes notable names like Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Brad Silberling, Josh Lucas, Kate Walsh and Patricia Arquette.
RIAA/Feeding America (formerly known as Second Harvest) Inaugural Ball
Ibiza from 10pm – 2am featuring Rihanna
Sikh Inaugural Ball
Benefitting the DC Boys & Girls Club, the event will be held at the Ascot-I the Indian Experience
The Spirit of Hope Inaugural Ball
The Washington Club at Patterson House Mansion at 15 DuPont Circle
Unity in Service Inaugural Ball
Trinity University, Main Hall Social Room at 125 Michigan Ave NE
The unofficial ball gives recognition to the men and women of our military with selected Service members serving as honorary co-hosts and a portion of each ticket price is set aside to benefit military families in need through the Armed Forces Relief Fund. ($90-175 ticket)
Vanity Fair / Estee Lauder Party at The Park from 10pm to 4am (invite only)
We the People Presidential Inaugural Gala & Ball
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill; Organized by campaign volunteers, the gala recognizes the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the country with a VIP celebration, featuring open bar,three-course dinner and live entertainment. Hill Harper and BeBe Winans plus event hosts including Senator Max Baucus, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Richard Burr, Senator Robert C. Byrd, Senator Benjamin Cardin, Senator Robert Casey, Jr., Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator John Kerry, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Barbara S. Mikulski, Senator Ben Nelson, Senator Bernard Sanders, Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
After-parties and Hearsay Items: (we will continue to update this list)
Don Peebles, his wife Katrina and an evolving list of celebrity co-hosts, including Star Jones and Chris Tucker are hosting an event at the Georgetown Club. The invitation-only event for a few hundred guests will kick off at midnight after official festivities on January 20; it runs til 4am and breakfast dishes will be served
BET is hosting an inaugural after-party at the Mandarin
Perennial Sports is hosting a VVIP event at Cady Alley / L2 / Leopold
We hear:
…that Esquire is hosting an event at the Newseum on Sunday night for www.obamathatone.com
…there’s a launch party for Gwen Ifill’s book “Age of Obama” on Saturday, January 17th
…there is a parade viewing party at the Canadian Embassy
…that Ellen Malcolm of EMILY’s List is hosting an after-party at Lebanese Taverna
…that Maureen Dowd is hosting an event over the weekend to honor David Geffen
Sunday, January 11, 2009
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