media|timelessclassics|
Tuesday, October 27

cameo headlines howard university's yardfest

The 2009 HU Homecoming Steering Committee provides the old heads with a little reminder of the past. Usually Yardfest includes up and coming artists, however this year the coordinators saw fit to take it back. In their 33rd year of performing, the crowd enjoyed renditions of classics such as "Single Life", "Candy", "She's Strange", and "Word Up!". Here's a glimpse of the hour-long set from Cameo!


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artistspotlights|media|recentreleases|
Monday, October 19

philadelphia's rafiya presents: amazing




Got this new track in my inbox the other day. This is from Philly-based Afro-Soul singer Rafiya. The track is called 'Amazing'. Support her, you can find it at itunes. Shouts to Jimmy and 413 Management for the heads up.










Who is Rafiya?

Rafiya was born in Los Angeles to Congolese parents: a diplomat father and a sociologist mother. Due to her father’s career, she traveled extensively during her formative years: living in Congo (Democratic Republic), the Cape Verde Islands, Benin, Senegal, Guinea, Barbados and Ivory Coast. She moved to Philadelphia in 2001 to attend Temple University where she double majored in Sociology and Spanish, and graduated in 2006 with honors.

While attending school full-time in the aforementioned nations, Rafiya found time to work with local artists, absorbing their techniques and wisdom all the while enriching her sound. She has worked with Oscar Kidjo, recorded in Youssou N’Dour’s studio and toured France and North Africa with French rap star, Mokobe.

Every passing collaboration, studio session and performance strengthened her ever-present belief that she would be spending her life making music; making people smile, dance and think.

Rafiya writes and sings about the human experience in French and English but regardless of your native tongue, her passion translates itself in the melody. Parlez-vous Rafiya?
www.facebook.com/rafiyamusic
www.youtube.com/rafiyamusic
www.myspace.com/rafiyamusic


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thereadinglist|

when and where i enter: paula giddings




book info: published in 1984 by Morrow
author info: Paula Giddings is a professor of African American Studies at Smith College

Anna Julia Cooper. Ida Bell Wells-Barnett. Maria Miller Stewart. Mary Church Terrell. Mary McLoed Betuhune. These are just a few of the names that are mentioned in this important work on the history of Black women in the United States. In her work, Paula Giddings provides a narrative history of the impact of Black women on America and more specifically and importantly the lives of the Black community in America. For whatever reasons, the general history of African people in America is distorted, and this includes many African American women. Giddings begins the process of uncovering some of the stories and struggles of these women in the American context. Well-written and informative, When And Where I Enter is an important piece of scholarship for the casual reader, scholar, as well as the young people in our communities.

quote:

"...Black women had already proven their inherent strengths--both physical and psychological. They had undergone a baptism of fire and emerged intact." (pg. 55)


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