Killa Kyleon Pays Homage To Martin Luther King Jr. On "Lorraine Motel" EP

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Stanford - "The other America" 1967

Even though Black History Month was in February, theres always time for a necessary moment to pay homage to the people who came before us to understand the path up ahead. This is where Killa Kyleon, one of the most thought-provoking and provocative lyricists to come out of Houston, plays a role. On his new EP, Lorraine Motel, he speaks on a heated topic on the first single, Killing Over Jays.

READ: Killa Kyleon Gets On The Grind With Styles P, Freddie Gibbs & Raheem DeVaughn

The song is a short, but heavy-handed record that features the Texan spilling rhymes about the innocent lives being taken over expensive basketball sneakers in poor neighborhoodswhile Michael Jordan remains silent on the matter. Kyleons first verse memorablystands out because it tells the all too familiar story of a youngster working hard and saving his money to buy a pair of kicks, only to be robbed and killed by local haters. He paints a very vivid picture over the jazzy, bass and horn-filled production of legendary H-Town fixture, Cory Mo.

Kyleon explains that the need for the project and its relevancy to issues in the African-American community is what motivated him to hit the studio.

TheLorraine Motelproject is directed at whats going on in todays society within the black community as a whole, Kyleonsays. Its not a one-sided commentary, it deals with the treatment people of color have been receiving from law enforcement and how we are programmed and influenced by social media, television and the culture of hip-hop to treat each other as well. As a race and culture, we need to stand together, but also take accountability for our actions. I feel the black American dream and ideal died when MLK was murdered in Memphis (at theLorraine Motel).

The timely EP also serves as an analogy of todays climate in America, he adds. We all (African Americans) died that day at theLorraine Motel. Barack Obama is the last of one of our strongest black leaders to lead us as a race. TheLorraine Motelproject focuses on events (both past and current) that have taken place since that fatal day.

The EP is available for purchase oniTunes.

Source: http://www.vibe.com/2017/04/killa-kyleon-martin-luther-king-lorraine-motel-ep/

Continue Reading ..

Albany Events: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Stanford - "The other America" 1967

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be celebrated next week.

An event will be held January 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. The public is invited to attend the free program in celebration of the 87th anniversary of Dr. Kings birth. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Each year I am always impressed by the talented musicians and performers who come to this annual event and pay tribute to Dr. King, and this year is no different with Grammy-award winner Dorinda Clark-Cole, piano prodigy Shuan Hern Lee, blues guitarist Guy Davis, jazz pianist George Caldwell, and the Capital District Community Voices of Praise among those taking the stage, Commissioner Destito said. I join Governor Cuomo in inviting everyone to come in person or watch the live video of this important New York State tradition at the Empire State Plaza of celebrating the life of Dr. King. He was a champion of civil rights, equality, and peaceful social change, and each year we gather on this date to rededicate ourselves to keeping his dream alive.

This years celebration will include a special performance by national recording artist Dorinda Clark-Cole. Clark-Cole is a three-time Grammy-award winning gospel singer who has been called the Rose of Gospel, the Church Girl, and Evangelist. She is a member of The Clark Sisters and daughter of gospel legend Mattie Moss-Clark.

A 20-year retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force who currently serves as vice president of resource development and strategic partnerships for the United Way of Delaware, the Reverend Dr. John G. Moore Sr. will be the keynote speaker at this years observance. Moore has spoken in many schools, colleges, churches, and organizational gatherings throughout the nation and has been instrumental in keeping the dream of Dr. King vibrantly alive in the hearts of audiences of all diverse backgrounds for more than 20 years.

For the second year in a row, this years memorial observance will include the presentation of King video moments, focusing on King The Man, The Dr. King Memorial Sculpture: Empire State Plaza, and The Civil Rights Movement: A Freedom Fighters Story.

The event will also include a number of theatrical and musical tributes to Dr. King from local and regional performers, including a performance by jazz pianist George Caldwell and members of the University at Buffalo music departments jazz ensemble, which he directs. There will also be a performance by 13-year-old international piano prodigy Shuan Hern Lee and by blues guitarist Guy Davis, the son of Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.

Doors will open at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a musical prelude performed by the Capital District Community Voices of Praise. The formal program will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.

The program will be televised live statewide with the assistance of the New York State Media Services Center, Time Warner Cable, Mid-Hudson Cable, and CUNY-TV.

Following the formal program, the City of Albany Beloved Community March will begin at the Plaza Concourse entrance on Madison Avenue. The march will conclude at the King Monument in Lincoln Park with a wreath laying ceremony.

There will also be a number of additional activities taking place on the Empire State Plaza concourse, including:

• Empire State Be A King Volunteer Fair
• Empire State Dr. King Quilts Display
• Dr. King Statewide Childrens Art and Essay Display
• Commemorative Dr. King Birthday Cupcakes

To honor Dr. Kings message throughout the year, a number of events are held to remind people of his vision for the community. These include a December food drive, a career fair on March 30; and a winter literacy drive to collect books for schoolchildren statewide.

More information and a live webcast of the event is available online at www.nyking.org.

Source: http://news10.com/2016/01/12/albany-events-remembering-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/

Continue Reading ..

How to Observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Drexel

Our Friend, Martin

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Drexel students, faculty and staff have several opportunities to observe and reflect on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.

DrexelNowhas compiled a list of events that will honor and remember the struggles of men, women and children fighting for civil rights and also carry on the spirit of Kings work.

MLK Day of Service Thursday, Jan. 18, 10 am 12 pm, Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships

Drexels West Phila. Action for Early Learning Initiative will be honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Family Read-Along and Book Distribution as part of the annual MLK Day of Service at Drexels Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, 3509 Spring Garden Street.Activities will take place on Monday, Jan. 18, from 10 am to noon. Parents, caregivers and children of all ages are encouraged to participate. Childrens books will be distributed. Raffle prizes include two netbook computers.

Space and supplies are limited. Register at actionece@pec-cares.org or call 267.777.5897.

Action for Early Learning is an initiative of Drexels Office University and Community Partnerships.

More information available here.

Drexel Racial Justice Retreat Thursday, Jan. 18, 9 am 5:30 pm, James E. Marks Intercultural Center (include an address here because isnt the center in a temporary location?

This retreat is a part of a series hosted by the Student Center for Inclusion and Culture (SCIC) that will introduce students to the ways in which race, power, privilege, class, gender, sexuality and religion intersect in American society. They will gain a better understanding of their own, and others, relationships with each of these areas. This fall retreat will focus onracial justice and leadership.

1. Students will be introduced to the ways in which race, power, privilege and class intersect in American society. 2. Students will have better awareness of key moments of the racial history in the United States.3. Students will gain a better understanding of their own and others life experiences.4. Student will feel more empowered to be an ally to others individually.5. Student will feel more empowered to build community across difference.

Register for this eventhere.

This retreat is CEO LEAD certified. Participants can earn up to two CEO LEAD credits to put toward receiving a leadership certificate from Drexels Office of Student Leadership Development.

For more details about CEO LEAD, click here.

This event is sponsored by the Student Center for Inclusion and Culture, Hillel, Department of Global Studies & Modern Languages and Student Leadership Development.

Leading for Change Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 am 3:30 pm, Enterprise Center,

4548 Market Street

The Leading for Change Fellowship presents the I Dream a City Teach In.

Come be part of Drexel"s leadership and entrepreneurial movement to improve Philadelphia as it strives to bring together strong leaders, on every level, to address the pernicious impact of poverty.

This six-hour discussion on leadership, entrepreneurship and poverty, race and well-being will feature keynote speakers, forums and discussion questions. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with local experts and leaders to get first hand insights into the latest issues on matters related to leadership, poverty, race and well-being in Philadelphian order to end financial disparities in the City of Brotherly Love

For more information and to register, click here.

MLK Day of Service at Lee Cultural Center Monday, Jan. 18, 9 am 1 pm, Lee Cultural Center, 4328 Haverford Avenue

Join the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and The DREAM Program, Inc. for a day of volunteer service at Lee Cultural Center in West Philadelphia.

Students, staff and faculty are invited to participate in painting and indoor renovation projects with The DREAM Program. Their mission is to build communities of families and college students that empower youth from affordable housing neighborhoods to recognize their options, make informed decisions and achieve their dreams.

Lunch and transportation will be provided. To register, click here.For additional information, email lindycenter@drexel.edu.

Source: http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2016/January/MLK-Day/

Continue Reading ..