JOHN F. KENNEDY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Alumni Network presents

The Annual 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival Bash!

Calling ALL JFK alumni to the grass!

Festivities will kick off with the Class Reunion Dance on Friday, July 6^th.  Don’t meet us there…BEAT us there (Location TBA).  Starting at noon on Saturday, July 7^th, the All Classes Reunion Picnic FEATURING the Old School vs. New School Football SHOWDOWN will GO DOWN (Location TBA).  Come and partake in an event-filled weekend with family and friends for FOOD, NETWORKING, and LOTS OF FUN!

Stay tuned for updates!

For more information, feel free to contact:

Olivette c/o '88 at 504-610-6590

Donnyette c/o '89 at 504-421-2107
Ray c/o '90 at 504-339-6169

Sinead O'Connor's Open Letter On Trayvon Martin

I would like to extend my very deepest sympathies to the family and other loved ones of murdered teenager, Treyvon Martin. I am very sad today (and am certain the whole of Ireland is) to learn of poor Treyvon’s terrifying ordeal and horrified by the fact his known and named and admitted killer has not been arrested, despite the crime having taken place a month ago. This is a disgrace to the entire human race.

For those out there who believe black people to be less than pure royalty, let me inform you of a little known, but scientifically proven, many times over, FACT. Which after reading, you will hopefully feel both very stupid and very sorry. For you dishonor your own mothers and grandmothers.

EVERY human being on earth, no matter what their culture, creed, skin colour, or nationality, shares one gene traceable back to one African woman. Scientists have named it ‘The Eve Gene’. This means ALL of us, even ridiculously stupid, ignorant, perverted, blaspheming racists are the descendants of one African woman.

One African woman is the mother of all of us. Africa was the first world. You come from there! Your skin may be ‘white’.. because you didn’t need it to be black any more where you lived. But as Curtis Mayfield said.. “You’re just the surface of our dark, deep well”. So you’re being morons. And God is having the last laugh at your ignorant expense.
If you hate black people, its yourself you hate. And the mother who bore you. If you kill or wish ill on black people, its yourself you kill and wish ill on. As well as the mother who bore you.

When you dishonor the the utter glory and majesty of black people, you lie. Your heart lies to you and you let it. Despite seeing every day, all your life, how you and your country would be less than wonderfully functioning and inspiring to the world, without the manifold and glorious contributions made by the descendants of African slaves, who did not by the way actually ask to go to America and leave their future families there to be disrespected for eternity.

What are you doing hating yourself by hating your brothers and sisters who daily show you nothing but inspiration and love, despite having NOTHING, in their own country? Despite having barely a chance of anything, because of racism. Despite being granted no ‘permission’ for proper self-esteem.
These beautiful people continue to believe in and even manifest Jesus Christ better than you do. That alone could stand as the greatest reason your racism is blasphemy, were it not for all the other reasons.
These people you hate and fear ARE the body of Christ, just as we all are. Every child, woman or man. And they know it. Maybe thats why you cant bear to look at them. Because you see Jesus Christ and you cant stand the light.

Stop this ridiculous and uneducated attitude. You would be dead without black people. Think of all the greatest music ever composed. The greatest songs. The greatest inspirational heroes.. Muhammad Ali, Mandela, Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Soujourner Truth, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield. So many absolute angels, sent from God.
Without the inspiration of these people many millions of so-called ‘white’ people, including myself would not have had the strength to pay the price of life.

And black youth in America. I’m talking to you here too. I love you. So I don’t mean to sound cross, I’m just being a mother.. Why are you killing each other? Why are you hating yourselves? You are the most important people God ever sent to this earth, every man, woman and child among you! Don’t let uneducated people win and take your self-esteem or your esteem for each other, and make you kill each other. over guns, drugs, bling, or any other nonsense.
You are now entering YOUR version of a sort of civil rights movement and you’re gonna see history being made in what has certainly the profoundest potential to become THE most wonderful country on earth. Because soon ALL ‘isms’ and ‘sits” will end. including racism, as the people of the earth begin to understand, we are all one.

We came from one mother. We are all brothers and sisters. And we CAN get beyond this ILLUSION of separateness. With prayer and love. It CAN change. It WILL change. And YOU guys (young people of all kinds) are the ones who are gonna GENTLY change it. And you know where it starts? With MUSIC.

Don’t be guided by rap. Gangsta or otherwise. Sure.. enjoy it.. adore it.as I do.. but realize this.. rap ain’t about your civil or spiritual rights, baby boys and girls. It.. along with most music nowadays.. is about falsenesses and vanities. Bling, drugs, sex, guns and people- dissing. Its giving you the message you ain’t ‘good enough’ if you don’t have bling and ting.. and money. Or if you’re not what it deems ‘sexy’.
(This is true of all popular music not rap alone. I know. Its tragically true of all popular youth culture the world over).

Poor Curtis Mayfield must be crying all day and night ALL day and night in heaven, every day and night.. To see what has been so successfully achieved by those who sent guns, drugs, and bling to squash the civil rights movement. Now you all don’t have to be murdered by racists any more.. you’re murdering each other FOR them! And your parents and grandparents are left crying.
Go back to strong black musical guides who left you information in the 60s and 70s. when they were living through the civil rights struggle. Curtis Mayfield. The Impressions. Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson. Sing back the Holy Spirit ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, as those artists did.

Forget bling. Forget “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. That is an evil message. Evil my dears is only life backwards. Turn it the right way up. With music. The messages American black youth are being given through music are not about the spiritual and therefore strong and conquering but PEACEFUL making of YOUR country into the wonderful place it secretly is and can be.. BECAUSE OF YOU, and BY YOU!!

You know not how you are adored, appreciated, valued, loved, cried for,smiled for, prayed for, all over the world. You know not how much inspiration and uplift-ment of heart you give to millions just by your presence on earth.
These musical guides will give you self-esteem. When you have self-esteem you can achieve anything. You can stand in the street as many did yesterday and change your country peacefully and with song. Chant down Babylon as the Rastas say. Rastafari will also give you self esteem. Investigate it.

You will notice, my beautiful sons and daughters, when you study, as you must, footage of all civil rights gatherings, how singing and music and sound and voice and the Holy Spirit were all employed and were so much part of the energy which moved things along.. just as running was in the South African gatherings I saw on tv in my own childhood, which inspired me to survive my own horrors.
What you listen to musically and whether or not you employ the Holy Spirit’s highest will for your life is whats gonna make you transcend all you’re having to suffer (the worst of which is low self-esteem.. or esteem based upon material ‘success’ or ‘sexiness’)) as a result of being the descendants of people who didn’t ask to be stolen and leave you where you are. Delete bling. Get conscious with your music. Demand conscious music from your artists. Go back to the artists who left you proper guidance.

This is some serious stuff and we (all manner of musical artists) are too silent on matters of enormous spiritual importance. Lemme ask you.. Jayzee and Eminem et al. Why was it always the black people only worked in the post rooms of record companies, which was always in the basement? Why was it that as each floor went up the skins got paler till it was fuckin ghosts at the top? And all us artists.. even me.. said nothing? Those buildings (record companies) always struck me as being a microcosm or painting of America, racially speaking. Christ almighty.. if its like that in the music business how is anything ever going to change?

We, musical artists are too silent on important stuff. And it is our job to be the gate-keepers of truth. ALL the people of this earth must come together eventually and see that we are one. ALL artists must stand up. Black, white, yellow, green, pink, fucking polka dot.. and be a light in these times.
The world is going to shift massively this year.. spiritually speaking. Musical artists are to be a massive part of that shift. Get up, lets all of us. And light Jah fire.. and BE lights.

Where’s the fire gone from music? Where is the love? the oneness? The knowing that music CAN and WILL move things in the right spiritual direction without hatred or violence? We must box clever. Sing the devil to sleep at your feet. Thats what Curtis teaches. He is the master of ALL musical masters. forget, forget, forget and forget again bling and guns and drugs and the worship of fame and money. Its time to wake up. We KNOW the power of music. Why aren’t we using it to change anything important?

Musicians all over the world should now gently demand this child’s killer be arrested immediately and the family of Treyvon Martin be immediately apologized to upon bended knee. Frankly. I myself would like an apology! America is a country I love and adore. what this man has done is un-American in the most horrific extreme.

Him not being arrested is extremely embarrassing and does absolutely NOT paint the true picture of of a country and a people who for the 90% majority are the kindest, most loving, intelligent, and wonderful people you could know.

Please.. ALL Americans should deplore this crime. As should ALL people of ALL nations. And deplore the fact this man has not been arrested. All Irish people should do the same. And I ask that we here in Ireland should express through our American embassy that we would like to see this man arrested this very minute. Because racism is not acceptable. Nor is vigilantism. And this was very clearly in no way at all a case of self-defense.

I leave you with some lyrics of Curtis Mayfield’s which I feel are appropriate for this situation. I am certain Curtis would have wanted to contribute to discussion on the issue of Treyvon’s murder and the condition of young black people in America today.. so here goes.. the song is called This Is My Country.. from the album of the same name.

Some people think we don’t have the right
to say its my country
before they give in
they’d rather fuss and fight
than say its my country
I’ve paid three hundred years or more
of slave-driving sweat and welts on my back
This is my country
Too many have died in protecting my pride
for me to go second class
We’ve survived a hard blow and I want you to know
that you must face us at last
And I know you will give consideration
shall we perish unjust or live equal as a nation?
This is my country.

She knows her history!!

Hope Mr. Brand has a good attorney!

Actor Russell Brand may have stunted his U.S. acting career by flinging a photographer’s iPhone through a window Monday.

Actor Russell Brand is shown in mug shot taken Thursday.

Brand, 36, in town working on an untitled Diablo Cody film, surrendered to police Thursday, was booked andreleased on a $5,000 bond. He was charged with damage to property in the amount of $700, a misdemeanor.

Several online sources pointed out Friday that in Louisiana that charge is a felony when the property damage exceeds $500. The broken window reportedly cast $240 and an iPhone can cost up to $500.

The CNN report said photographer Timothy Jackson had filed a police report claiming “criminal damages,” but apparently had gotten his phone back.

London’s Daily Mail wrote Friday that Brand could face deportation if he is convicted of felony criminal damage. But Brand was taking it all in stride Thursday night; he was photographed on Bourbon Street with a female companion after his release.

Turn Huckabucks Into Extra Bucks

I remember back in the day, during the hot summer months, my neighborhood friends and I playing cool can or a game of touch football against rivals from other hoods-usually five or six-man teams.  Young and full of energy, we ran around parked cars, chasing down footballs that barely made it through the telephone wires.  Few time-outs were called only to allow cars to pass by.  The game immediately resumed once the vehicle was in the clear.  We played for hours at a time as our sisters and their girlfriends cheered along the side walk, bragging about whose brother was better, or which boy was cuter, while holding a bag of Lays potato chips in one hand, and a fat pickle in the other.  Younger kids played hop scotch or jumped rope nearby.   By the end of the game, the heat had taken its toll on us.  A hundred bottles of Big Shot Pineapple soft drinks couldn’t quench our thirsts like a home-made huckabuck could.  It was like a ritual for us to mob up after a game and head to Mrs. Rita’s for an ice cold red, coconut, or pink lemonade huckabuck.

Twenty five cents was enough to buy one, and she seemingly never ran out of flavors.  That little old lady sold huckabucks for years.  Mrs. Rita even taught me the huckabuck trade-she was my grandmother.  Once I became knowledgeable about purchasing the supplies, mixing flavors, and handling the accounting aspect of the business, I was able to generate and save enough pocket change to spend at skate country, or catch a movie at the Joy theatre.  In fact, I financed my senior class trip and purchased my high school class ring with savings from the huckabuck venture.  It was a fun and honest hustle. 

Somewhere along the way, huckabuck business in the city fell off.   Unfortunately, kids today are not only missing out on what it’s like to indulge in one of New Orleans’ most treasured summer treats, learning valuable business and relationship-building skills are also opportunities lost.

I am not suggesting that one would strike it rich selling huckabucks.  You may even need to sell them at fifty cents each, to double your profits.  Or maybe you’d like to start off as a hobby, and then launch it into a full scale operation.  Nevertheless, it is means to supplement your income, especially during these tough economic times.  So, treat yourself.  Make a kid happy.  Keep the huckabuck tradition alive!

Recipe for traditional New Orleans huckabucks

Mix three parts New Orleans style snow ball syrup to one part water

Add pieces of mixed fruit (optional)

Fill 6 oz. plastic cup to just below the rim

Freeze approximately 4 hours

Enjoy!

Greetings

Where'yat yall!

Welcome to NOLA Noir, where the heart of the city hangs out. Whether it’s downtown St. Bernard, uptown Canal, Gentilly, the East, around town, back of town, your back yard, or Tulane and Broad, we are everything New Orleans!

     

We are the Zulus, Indians, marching bands, and flame throwers that give flavor to the most fascinating outdoor party in the world.  Yes, the birthplace of jazz greats, from Louis to Celestine, and sister Mahalia, the real gospel Queen.  Home of the Bayou Classic, second line, snow balls and huck-a-bucks, where we are not only the roux, but the flour in the roux of the Crescent City gumbo.  B. W. wouldn’t be Cooper, and Sundays couldn’t be Super without us.  From back in the day afros, curls, stacks, wraps, and waves, to razor sharp fades, and micro braids.  Pontchatrain Beach, B 97, Q 93, WYLD all jammed, and FM 98 was hot when Maze did the Super Fest, and “Lil Farley” was the popular phrase.  Who can forget cruising the lake and the River View, or Family Day in the Park?  Way before Katrina and Camille, Miss Betsy was boss.  The Famous Disco, Nexus, A Touch of Class, The Bottom Line, Big Man’s, Rumors, and Club Whispers…those were the days...

Our movement at NOLA Noir is to celebrate our heritage, share experiences, and dialogue about how we can help move New Orleans forward by engaging in spiritual, economic, political, and social, awareness, in our own unique way. So, whether you are home, or home away from home, let’s keep the N.O. in our hearts and minds!

          

NOLA African-American Heritage

OURhistory

French rulers of colonial Louisiana adopted the Code Noir (Black Code) in 1724.   Code Noir legally restricted the rights of slaves brought over from Africa, although Blacks in New Orleans enjoyed more freedom than other Blacks anywhere else in the world.  Louisiana experienced a transitional period in 1763, and became controlled by Spain.  

In 1802 a monumentally significant event took place that would forever shape the racial and cultural aspects of New Orleans.  Toussaint L’Ouverture organized and led a group of Black enslaved revolutionaries in Haiti, who had been fighting for a dozen years, to crush Napoleon Boneparte’s army of 60,000 men.  The impact of this victory of unarmed slaves facilitated the signing of a treaty between the United States and France, and ultimately enabled the Louisiana purchase of 1803.  L’Ouveture’s rebellion so shook the American slave societies, particularly in Louisiana, that it ignited a confrontation at Bayou La Fourche.  Meanwhile, anxieties in Haiti had become so great that free Black Hatians and slave owners-with slaves in tow, sought refuge in Louisiana and Cuba.  Due to the mass influx, Governor W.C.C. Claiborne eventually enforced a ban on free Black males, and discouraged free people of color from immigrating to the territory of Orleans.

As Claiborne’s and other officials labored in vain, the population of Black Creoles sweltered after nearly 90 percent of Hatian refugees settled in New Orleans upon being exiled from Cuba in 1809. The 1809 migration brought 2,731 whites, 3,102 free persons of African descent, and 3,226 enslaved refugees to the city, doubling its population.  Sixty-three percent of the Crescent City inhabitants were now black.  The multiracial refugee population settled in the French Quarter and the neighboring Faubourg Marigny district, and revitalized Creole culture and traditions, becoming known as the “Creole Capitol”.

Different aspects of African culture had its place in the city as well.  A vital place for this development was a little field called Congo Square, now commonly known as Armstrong Park-located on the foot of the French Quarter, and known as the birthplace of jazz.  Congo Square was an area that was carved out of the area’s landscape where slaves were allowed to congregate on Sundays.  Hundreds of blacks gathered to play music, sing, dance, and socialize in West African tradition.  The diverse mix of tribal customs lent itself to new variations of common traditions.  Mardi Gras was another temporary outlet for slaves which allowed them to exercise their heritage, where many of the city’s Mardi Gras traditions are largely African-American, most prominently the famous Mardi Gras Indians and the Zulu parade.


Until Irish and Italian immigration tipped the racial scales to a majority white population for about 100 years, New Orleans had been overwhelmingly a black city.  The population included Black Creoles descended from unions of Africans with the French and Spanish.  These Creoles often were gen de couleur libres (free people of color) who lived in Treme, the oldest African-American neighborhood still in existence.
New Orleans is home to three Historically Black Universities, Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), Dillard University, and Xavier University, which is the only African-American Catholic university in the country.

Little-Known Black History Fact: New Orleans' Faubourg Treme District

Some men in Faubourg Tremé in New Orleans are shown in this vintage photograph.

Faubourg Tremé in New Orleans was home to the largest community of free black and Creole people in the Deep South during slavery. By the way, the word "faubourg" is French for suburb.
Located on the northern border of the French Quarter above Rampart Street, Tremé was integrated with French Créoles during the 1800’s, many of whom fled Haiti during the Haitian Revolution. The area became home to prominent people like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong.

In the city of Tremé, the free black residents were fighting for property rights in the Louisiana courts in the early 1800’s when most black were still bonded in slavery. The citizens were in a league of their own. Even during Abraham Lincoln’s administration, blacks from Tremé sent a delegation to meet with the president in the middle of the Civil War to demand voting rights.

Tremé was a mix of culture and status. There were huge mansions on Esplanade Avenue, 17th-century Creole Cottages, and, of course, there were shacks. The area is home to the famous St. Augustine Church of 1842 and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

In 1898, Tremé developed a “red light district” called Storyville. The area would develop the greatest jazz sounds known to music history. It would thrive until its demolition in 1917.

Tremé is now home to the famous Louis Armstrong Park, where the famous Congo Square is located; that’s the place were free and enslaved blacks were allowed to dance and congregate one day a week. Most recently, Treme is the centerpiece for the HBO original series, “Treme,” starring Wendell Pierce. The show focuses on the jazz heritage and culture of this historic part of the Big Easy.