Whitney Houston Tribute At 'Billboard Music Awards'
'Celebrity Apprentice' Finale: Who Got Hired?
By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
The 13th Annual Essence Music Festival officially kicks off with a press conference on the morning of July 5, as tens of thousands of festival-goers converge on the Crescent City for a weekend filled with a host of festivities including empowering seminars, dynamic workshops and star-studded concert line-ups.
This year's event is a big deal for festival organizers -- as it is the official return for Essence Fest (one of the most successful annual attractions in New Orleans) since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005.
Last year's event -- while attracting its loyal legion of supporters -- took place in Houston but drew mixed reaction from many. The Texas city just wasn't prepared for an event of that magnitude. Some patrons complained of a lack of hospitality too.
While New Orleans, still being rebuilt, is a far cry from the revitalized cosmopolitan epicenter, the return of 'Essence' is a step in the right direction and a welcomed reprieve.
"New Orleans is just the obvious choice," said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications, upon announcing the return to The Big Easy last fall. "It is just the perfect city with phenomenal venues. It's also important for the festival to participate in the rebirth of this city."
The special theme of this year's event is "Claiming our City...Claiming Ourselves," with proceeds benefiting the Children's Defense Fund.
Along with a countless line-up of performers such as Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul Mary J. Blige, Smokie Norful, Beyonce, Chris Brown, MC Lyte, Ciara, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, Steve Harvey, Doug E. Fresh, Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley, Ludacris, Kindred the Family Soul, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Angie Stone, Ne-Yo, Ruben Studdard, The O'Jays with Keith Sweat, and Johnny Gill, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Slum Village, Kelly Rowland, and blue-eyed, Neo-Soul crooner Robin Thicke, the 2007 Essence Fest will pack a major political punch.
U.S. Senators and presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will join an already-powerful line-up of public speakers, and religious and political leaders.
They both are scheduled to address what is believed to be the nation's largest annual gathering of African-Americans celebrating Black music and culture. Obama will appear during July 5th's mainstage performances at the Louisiana Superdome, and Clinton will have a "conversation" on July 6 during the empowerment seminars at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during the day.
"The presence of Senator Obama in the Superdome on opening night will have a tremendous impact on New Orleans and is sure to put joy and much-needed hope into the hearts of the people," said 'Essence' magazine's Editorial Director Susan L. Taylor.
"We are very excited to have Senator Clinton join us and share in the dialogue ... especially this year as we are 'Coming Home'," offered Ebanks. "An appearance by a leading presidential candidate underscores the social and cultural significance of the Essence Music Festival and will help us to shine a spotlight on New Orleans' continued recovery."
BV ON THE SCENE: Check this space for periodic updates live from the 2007 Essence Music Festival.
In the meantime, Beyonce is looking forward to "Coming Home" below ...
BV Extras:
Comments: (20)
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By: Cassandra on 7/05/2007 7:54PM
OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES ARE THE WHITE MAN AND OURSELVES....
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By: jerry on 7/05/2007 9:07PM
Businesses are built to be sold. Whites and other races do it among themselves all the time. Hopefully one day our people will come together and develop the business acumen to do the same thing. Then we'll be able do the big business deals with each other.
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By: Brenda Derrick on 7/05/2007 9:25PM
I am shocked. I am a subscriber to Essence, and was not aware that it had been sold to a White owned business. How will this effect the magazine in the future? I need to write to Essence, I need some answers. How can they profess to be a magazine for and about black women? Will the same folks continue to work at Essence? So many questions, so few answers. BET did change, it is more X-Rated. I don't allow my children to watch those videos with the barely clothed women gyrating as if having sex.
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By: mzazshell on 7/06/2007 12:41AM
I agree, BET has changed. Everything is low budget and it shows! It's like the owners think that Black people will watch and accept anything. Nasty videos, shows with bad editing and horrible sound systems. Have you noticed that the audio is always the lowest?? So I suspect that Essence will change also. Slowly but surely.
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By: Marvice Young on 7/06/2007 1:06AM
Dear Jenifer,
Maybe you don't quite understand what's at stake when we continue to sell off things that have black interest. Of all the races in this country, we are the only ones that seem to not have as much pride and loyalty to our race. If you notice, the Asians, Whites, and most definitely the Hispanics, always band together and look out for each other. Why are there more Taco shops then Rib Shacks?, why are there more Arabs who own liquor stores?, but it's mostly blacks who buy the liquor. All the other races depend on themselves to better their communities. Why do you think Hispanics could care less that they are in America and refuse to speak or learn English? Because they don't have too. You see, their not depending on you to buy from them anyway. Asians are the same way. When they do something they don't try to bring you into their culture because it's their custom to share amongst each other. Black Americans are the only minority race that fails to understand the importance of keeping things within the race to help gain capital and at some point to use as political influence. We cannot continue to sell off everything. As it is in San Diego, California, Hispanics own all the radio stations that play hip hop and R&B. It is so frustrating to drive to Los Angeles and other places that have Black owned stations and hear the radio shows on and not be able to hear that in San Diego, because the owner of the radio show is not black and does not know what is truly important to us. And it is not good for us to end up being the minority race on the bottom of the economic scale. We give the white man a lot of grief for thier ancestors past mistakes, but believe me, the races that will soon become the majority will not be as guilt stricken as the white man was and will look at us as if we are stupid, because after all we've had a long time to have caught up, but it looks like we still haven't got it.
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By: Julius Bannerman on 7/06/2007 3:04AM
Sound like it will be a great conference in New Qrleans. This conference is sure to give the people of that great city continued hope. Check out my BLOG for further hope at: http://journals.aol.com/spinmind/ABlackManwithaViewPoint
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By: Janice on 7/06/2007 2:53PM
Hey everybody, who cares who owns the company anymore. The show should be a change from the BET awards. At least they have some people who are about change and growth on the program, sometimes entertainment can also be good. I get discouraged at times watching our young entertainer's caught all up in the glam and money. They seemed to have lost perspective. I think it will be a good show. I'd like to know when it will be televised as well. With all the rich Black people in this world today, you would think maybe just one or two of them, would consider starting a black magazine, or cabel channel or something that could make a difference. Instead all you see are the diamonds, ropes chains and their forever behaving badly. Wish some one would stand up and be counted, as Men and Women doing something positive.
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By: Nata on 7/08/2007 11:02AM
I am very glad the two top Presidential candidates made it to the Essence Festival. It is important that we're informed about not only skin-color, but about who is the best prepared, with the best plan to advance our issues.
What I don't get is all of the sudden 'Hatin' on Bill [Clinton.] Folks who really understand history and politics know he did a good job of fighting for many of our interests, in spite of the hostile Washington climate.
I think everyone should try to stay informed and vote for the candidate of their choice, but I don't believe all the nastiness represents "a new kind of politics."
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By: kiddo on 7/08/2007 6:43PM
I attended Essence fest '07. And it was great. the only negetive was that them sucka's brought up all the good seats but I'm ma get em' next time. gotta reserve early heh.
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By: mina on 7/24/2007 2:16PM
I was very dissappointed with her richmond, VA concert. I have seen her 3 times in the past and always felt I got my monies worth but this time I wish I could get a refund. She was the only act which was fine with me but she stayed on stage 1 hour, she did not change her outfit once, my seat was in the 4th row on the left side and she only came to that side of the stage 3 times the entire time. I paid 80 dollars for my ticket I know thats not anything to Mary but its alot to me and there was a time in her life it was alot to her. The audience set there stunned thinking she was coming back. I will never got to another concert unless she has other acts with her. I understand getting all your money but give the people what they paid for see I shouldve gone to see Beyonce!!!!
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