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RPC VEEP MATHIS PUSHES DIGNITY AND DIVERSITY AT ESSENCE MUSIC FEST
(Atlanta, GA – July 9, 2007) Janice L. Mathis, Esq., M.C. Lyte, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Cornell West, Angela Davis, M1, James Peterson, Ph.D. discussed images in Hip-hop at the annual Essence Music Festival on Friday, July 6 in New Orleans. Hip-Hop Moving To A Higher Ground panelists were assigned a word to analyze in the context of Hip-Hop culture by panel moderator, asha bandele. The discussion was animated by the fact that the panelists received their word for the first time onstage and were limited to a three-minute response. Angela Davis reminded the audience of more than 1500 that black women always shine. Public intellectual and author Cornell West made the point that wisdom is found in the accumulated experience of African people. M.C. Lyte indicated that she has “experienced every conceivable emotion in connection with Hip-hop, including love and hate. I will never leave Hip-hop.” Mathis coined a new slogan in the struggle for meaning in Hip-hop, “we love Hip-Hop and we want Hip-Hop to love us.” The word assigned to Mathis was PUSH, which she defined as “creating our own reality.” Mathis, who represents Rainbow PUSH in a national coalition of women leaders committed to promoting positive images of black women and men in media, indicated that “attending shareholder meetings is an effective way to influence the corporate mega-powers that control Hip-hop and all media.” Other tactics the group has employed include picketing Viacom, owner of BET and MTV networks, and spurring Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) to hold hearings on Capitol Hill on July 11th. Essence Music Festival, presented by The Coca-Cola Company, featured a who’s who list of performers including Steve Harvey, Mary J. Blige, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, Beyonce, Neyo, the Isley Brothers, Tyler Perry and Chris Brown. Billed as a “party with a purpose”, topics such as wealth-building, spiritual growth and relationships dominated the day-time empowerment seminars, while the musicians and comedians took over the stage each evening, Thursday-Saturday. EMF is estimated to make a $100 million impact on New Orleans’ battered economy. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a civil and human rights organization committed to empowering individuals to create a fairer, more just world. For more information, contact Jerry Thomas at 773 256 2718. |
