I attended the kick off of HarlemWeek on Sunday at U.S. Grant National Park on West 122nd Street and Riverside Drive (the Western edge of Harlem). It was great!
I arrived at 3pm just in time for an hour and a half of uplifting gospel performances.
The crowd was then treated to an incredible fashion show. The centerpiece of which were amazing hats. A planned medley of Steve Wonder tunes was cancelled by persistent and increasingly heavy rain. A scheduled appearance by Stevie Wonder was canceled, though he called in to inspire the crowd, and told us that he had been inspired by us too. There was a verbal tribute to him, during which we were reminded of his role as a great artist and civil rights figure prominent in bringing about Martin Luther King day.
It was the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, a feeling that permeated the day and its festivities.
There was a reading of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream”, the words of which remain as moving and relevent today a they ever were.
I was able to catch up with Vince Morgan with whom I first met recently at my local favorite HarlemFoodBar. We chatted about politics, music, and the need for grass roots representation now more than ever.
And I also got a chance to meet Elliot Spitzer. I told him I really loved what he had to say on Bill Maher this past Friday: July 26, 2013 Clip: Race Issues
Click here for more information on HarlemWeek and this week’s activities.
