UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY MAY 14 - 31, 2020 VOL. 9 NO. 8

2020 pandemic edition the good the bad the unthinkable

Ashley Black a mask, a design, a statement Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Karen Gordon a shutdown an uplift Ken Makin Voices from The Frontline

UrbanProWeekly MAY 14 - 31, 2020

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IN REMEMBRANCE

Macon, Georgia, named a street after its favorite son. And Little Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2002, he announced his retirement from live performing. AP Photo

Little Richard, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dies Born Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream.

NASHVILLE (AP) Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, has died Saturday. He was 87.

Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother.

Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death.

Born Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream.

Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation — a gay, black man cele-

brated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era.

He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.

It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wopbop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”

A string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live.

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps — perhaps most notably in

UPW Publisher

URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA info@urbanproweekly.com

the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album.

“I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” Little Richard crowed at the 1988 Grammy Awards as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. “I am the originator!”

Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, one of 12 children. He was ostracized because he was effeminate and suffered a small deformity: his right leg was shorter than his left.

The family was religious, and Richard sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots.

The tug-of-war between his upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess tormented Penniman throughout his career.

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

Executive Editor KEN MAKIN 803-270-2331 editor@urbanproweekly.com

GEORGIA

Courage under the COVID-19 firestorm Demetrius Young - a second-generation public servant learning and leading on the fly Politics and public service aren’t just about responsibility for Commissioner Demetrius Young. They’re also about family legacy.

Young, the Ward 6 Commissioner for the City of Albany, Georgia is the son of two civic-minded parents. His late mother, Mary Young-Cummings, was the first Black city commissioner in Albany, as well as a civil rights attorney. Young won in a runoff in December, and surely expected to have a grace period to familiarize himself with his constituents’ needs and concerns.

Then COVID-19 happened. It hit Albany especially hard, and at one point, the city with a population of 153,000 people had the third-highest death per capita rate due to COVID-19 in the world, according to the New York Times.

THE MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE SHOW’S KEN MAKIN REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONER YOUNG IN ALBANY, GEORGIA ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A LEADER IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. MAKIN: There are various reports about how Albany, Ga., became one of the hotspots for COVID-19 cases.

Can you tell us about some of the vectors based on the information you have been presented?

COMMISSIONER YOUNG: There were two events that took place here in Albany that were associated with the initial spread of the coronavirus in our city. There was a funeral on Saturday, February 29th, and a second homegoing service on the following Saturday. While we are aware that there was a marathon attended by thousands of international and national runners, currently, none of the infections have been traced back to the marathon. That was the information we received from health officials and the epidemiologist who came to Albany.

What the officials have told us is that the majority of the infections were associated with the two funerals, and were traced back to individuals who had attended those two funerals. The original individual who was infected was from Atlanta and was actually the first death associated with the coronavirus here in Georgia. He attended the first funeral, and the virus spread through those individuals to the second funeral. It even spread into our court system via a juror who had attended the funeral. I understand that my community is feeling some type of way, and rightly so, because many people are seeking to place blame rather than help people and find solutions.

To date, we do not have any evidence that ties the infections back to the marathon.

MAKIN: What are your immediate concerns about the Governor’s attempts to “re-open” Georgia?

YOUNG: My immediate concern about Governor Brian Kemp’s

“reopening” of Georgia is that he did not give local officials the power to do what is necessary to protect their citizens based on their local situation with COVID-19. His reasoning was very conflicted and contradictory.

Initially, he said that he was giving power to local officials to do what is necessary for their community. Later, he said that he wanted uniformity regarding a statewide “reopening” — even as the virus begin to proliferate through the state.

This was especially frustrating given the data that we were seeing here in Albany, and even more puzzling because it conflicted with the guidelines coming from the Trump administration as well.

Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that the businesses he sought to open up were businesses where it would be most difficult to adhere to the social distancing recommendations. It would also be challenging for business owners to protect their workers and customers.

We also know that these are businesses that are frequented by AfricanAmericans, and African-Americans have been especially hit hard. We have suffered the lion’s share of the deaths from the virus. This is why so many in our community from celebrities, down to the man on the street wondered if the Governor was placing us in harm’s way intentionally.

As of right now, we know cases are on the rise in Georgia. As more testing is being made available, what I think you will see is a more accurate picture of how widespread the infections are throughout Georgia. We know it is not safe here in Albany to reopen businesses, and thankfully, for a large majority of the restaurants, barbershops and hair salons, they have chosen not to open.

“People are dying. Government must come to the aid of people who have signed a social contract with their lives.”­­— Demetrius Young “grace period” for you in terms of being in office. Everything is happening really fast, especially with the pandemic. How are you dealing with everything?

YOUNG: Things are happening really fast, so I haven’t had a chance to assess how I’m doing. Right now I’m just doing, which is my general mindset. It was already enough to learn the ins and outs of being a public official. Many say it’s like trying to drink from a fire hose your first six months.

Thankfully, politics has been my love for a long time — even before I really knew what politics was.

Right now, I am in my element, just learning everyday. I am trying to better the conditions for my city, my ward, and Black folks in general. There are a lot of things that I had planned to do that have now taken a backseat, but in this “new normal,” we will all have to adjust.

I do think there is an opportunity for us to rebuild struggling pockets of our communities through this pandemic. All of the conditions and the systemic ills that we have faced have been laid bare and have proved to be deadly for impoverished communities. If we in government do not MAKIN: As a “freshman” in pol- recognize now that we have to do itics, there really hasn’t been a more to change our conditions, then

we can’t say that’s what we want.

In many ways, the situation here in Albany is so dire that I don’t have time for people who want to simply stand in the way because of ideology or playing politics. People are dying.

Government must come to the aid of people who have signed a social contract with their lives.

MAD: You’re a second-generation public servant. What does your family legacy and your parents’ service mean to you personally and how you service your constituents?

Young: My family’s legacy in politics and public service is obviously something that I’m proud of. What I’m more thankful for is the way my parents left the simple legacy of treating people with dignity, fairness and love. That’s what our legacy truly is about. It’s something that I don’t take for granted and definitely don’t want to squander. I think for all of us who are blessed with a legacy of good parents, we should do our best to be good people. We should pass on what they did so that our children and generations after them will have a legacy that they can benefit from in terms of how they are treated and thought of in the community and society at-large.

UrbanProWeekly • MAY 14 - 31, 2020

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UrbanProWeekly MAY 14 - 31, 2020

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Voices From The Frontline Essential workers share their stories Black labor, white privilege. It is the untold story of the COVID19 pandemic that ravages our country and our world. We’ve heard about the disproportionate cases and deaths of AfricanAmericans with the coronavirus, but what we haven’t heard are the stories of the laborers who are on the frontline of this pandemic — until now.

The Makin’ A Difference show recently reached out to Black

workers throughout the country to gain first-person perspectives of working conditions. This is an ongoing commentary, which means that if you are on the frontline, you too can send your experience(s) to makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com.

The participants are anonymous out of the very real understanding that these stories may draw ire from companies and corporations. Here are their stories:

Trucker/ Independent Insurance Broker

“One thing that makes me upset is people with resources are stockpiling while poor people can’t even get the basics.” — Trucker

One of my Medicare clients reached out to me because she was in need. She is poor and doesn’t have a car. I took her five bags of groceries because the food bank ran out of food. I can’t eat when I know other people are hungry. My wife, who works with me, is still going on Medicare appointments to help seniors and social disability beneficiaries with Medicare prescription drug plans. It can be challenging because 80 percent of our clients are below the Georgia poverty level. We also help people pay their Medicare part B premiums, which are $144/month.

People still need help and we’re going to help them.

As far as trucking, it’s been a little tough because I’d rather be home with my family. At the same time, I know the country needs us to work, so I’m proudly fulfilling my duties to make sure I do my part to keep this country moving.

Trucking has also been a little difficult because we don’t have the luxuries we used to have with all the closures, but we’re doing our profession with a sense of duty.

One thing that makes me upset is people with resources are stockpiling while poor people can’t even get the basics. People need to be mindful of those who go without during situations like this.

— anonymous

“First, my job doesn’t supply my coworkers and I with masks or sanitizer, even though thousands of (coughing and sneezing) folks are coming in and out of the store all day.”

— Stocker

“Everyday, we come to work and risk the chance of bringing “The Rona” home to our families and children”. — Department Supervisor

“Basically, it’s been like Black Friday everyday. I’m not sure if the managers or people above them are that committed or focused about our safety.” — Stocker

Department Supervisor During an average eight-hour shift, you’re dealing with customers all day long. Customers come from different background and have differing attitudes. You come in and try to replenish the shelves as much as you can. A major change in terms of what I do is the concern(s) about safety.

Some employees are either scared to have too much contact with customers, or are scared to cough because they are afraid of how customers may respond. Everyday, we come to work and risk the chance of bringing “The Rona” home to our families and children. The morale, which wasn’t great to begin with, has dropped because management is complaining along with the labor force. Management wants to see the store shut down and protections for employees. We were told that we don’t have to close because we sell “essential” goods.

I can tell you personally, nothing out there is essential. A few weeks ago we did over $1 million in sales, and $200K of that was in the garden center alone. Home decorations did $68,000. Why were we really open?

That’s not even 10 percent of the sales. As a result, you have an environment of people just not coming to work, which puts added pressure on the folks who are coming to work.

There are arguments because employees are on edge, and customers will be customers, which is to say they are impatient. Because I’m in management, I’m supposed to “educate” the employees. I’m supposed to tell folks that “things aren’t that serious” and “to be safe” with a bunch of fancy words. I call that the “corporate sprinkles.”

— anonymous

Pharmacist

Stocker

I’ve actually had a reasonably positive experience. The clinic that I work at has been on a soft lockdown for the last 2 weeks. Anyone entering the building, staff included, is stopped at the door and screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Only new HIV intakes, emergency visits and lab appointments are allowed in the building.

The clinic director and other decision makers cut down staff significantly, allowing most providers (doctors and nurse practitioners) to work from home using our telemedicine capabilities . The only physician present in the building usually is the clinic director. The pharmacy has switched to mostly mail order. Our staff was cut significantly, also. Considering we were NOT prepared for this at all, I think it’s working relatively well.

— anonymous

My job is big on sales, which means we won’t be closing any time soon. I don’t even think the customers are that worried about it, being that they’ve been in the store every day from the time we open to the time we close. Basically, it’s been like Black Friday everyday. I’m not sure if the managers or people above them are that committed or focused about our safety. They have gave us a little bit of breathing room, saying we can call out if we feel sick or have symptoms but we would need to go to a doctor for that excuse. Overall, I think just because of the name and success of the company, the incentives could be way more considering we’re putting our health at risk. I won’t complain. I will continue to do what I can for myself to make sure I’m not affected by the virus and staying safe as possible while continuing coming to work until or if we do close down anytime soon.

— anonymous

Stocker First, my job doesn’t supply my coworkers and I with masks or sanitizer, even though thousands of (coughing and sneezing) folks are coming in and out of the store all day. I see other jobs getting two more dollars an hour, and we only got a one-time $300 bonus, with part-time folks only getting $150.

I don’t blame my store manager, I blame the company. They only care about the dollar bill. They’re hiring temporary workers now, only to keep us from getting overtime, and they’re going to cut everyone’s hours as well.

— anonymous

5 UrbanProWeekly • MAY 14 - 31, 2020

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

After being furloughed from my job, I had some free time on my hands and my mother and I started making masks for my family and a few close friends.

— Ashley Black

For Ashley Black, work stoppage led to inspiration

By Vincent Hobbs Augustan Ashley Black, 31, along with her mom Pamela Scott-Black, 63, turned their love of sewing into a service to help the community stay healthy during Covid-19. UPW spoke with Ashley about her foray into mask-making.

What inspired you to begin designing and sewing face masks?

After being furloughed from my job, I had some free time on my hands and my mother and I started making masks for my family and a few close friends. Covid-19 had just started becoming a more serious issue in the United States. As the shortage of PPE for medical personnel and other essential workers became more prevalent, I figured I would make masks to donate to hospitals, fire fighters, local grocery store workers, lawn care personnel, and especially elderly people.

JOANN’s Fabric Store was a major influence and outlet in my decision to donate by offering mask-making kits for customers. We could make masks, donate them to the store and they would distribute those masks.

My mother asked my grandmother, who taught us how to sew, to make masks so that she could donate as well.

How did you decide which fabric materials to use?

We started with the fabric my mother and I already accrued over the years. Once we started really getting into making masks and decided to sell, we would just pick out different prints we liked from fabric stores within a four-hour drive. A friend of mine, Tony Lloyd, has been a huge influence in some of our more popular prints. His mother, Betty Lloyd, worked at a fabric-making plant and she made and sold hand-sewn items growing up. He had always been around her picking out prints, so he has a pretty good eye.

Are you doing all of the sewing for the masks? How long does it typically take to create a mask from scratch?

My mother and I are making the masks from start to finish which takes about 30 minutes per mask, unless a customer asks for a custom mask

which would take longer. We make sure to take our time with each mask ensure its quality. Sewing is nothing new to us; we make all kinds of items.

My mother has been sewing since she was in grade school. My grandmother began teaching me in elementary school when I would spend some of my summer with her in Kahnawake, a Native American reservation right outside of Montreal.

What are some of the special requests that you’ve received for mask designs?

So far people have wanted special color combinations or something blinged out with rhinestones to make a fashion statement. Requests like that push us to be more creative and definitely make the process more interesting!

Pamela Scott-Black

I truly believe our masks make a difference in the health of the community by reducing the spread of not only Covid-19, but other viruses and bacteria that can be transport by sneezing, coughing, talking, and breathing. If I can help significantly reduce the spread of a virus that could possibly take the life of another person, I’m 100% on board. I believe something as simple as a mask can make all of the difference.

What is your favorite mask out of the collection?

My personal favorite, as well as my mother’s, is a beautiful orange and yellow mask with a black native sun design. I’ve gotten many compliments on it and that one is a popular seller as well!

Where can folks reach you?

It’ll be my pleasure to show anyone Covid-19 has severely affected Black and minority communities all of the many prints we have and the disproportionately compared to different styles of masks we offer. Use the overall population. Do you the following contact info: Email:TheBlackHouseMarket see yourself in a role as someone @gmail.com making a difference in the health Facebook: Mohawk Black of the community with your mask IG: Mohawk_Black_ creations?

UrbanProWeekly MAY 14 - 31, 2020

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Karen a Gordon pandemic reflection She is the Empress of Cool, a serial collaborator who wants everyone to win and for lives to be changed, through connecting diverse populations and amplifying creative voices. She is the last person you would expect to be shut down.

So, is she really . . .?

Karen Gordon started Garden City Jazz, back in 2003, and in partnership with The City of Augusta produced and promoted Candlelight Jazz series during the summers at the downtown riverwalk.

That business grew as a direct result of her service to the arts community. She has a degree in public relations, is a jazz musician and vocalist, and along with a team of loyal volunteers and music lovers proceeded to provide some of the finest musical entertainment the area has known.

Over the course of ten years, the Garden City Jazz team promoted an annual Masters Week block party, a full complement of arts events over Labor Day Jazz Weekend, a quarterly magazine, and myriad concert series.

Gordon is working to motivate the next generation of artists to think outside the box and take their place as creators of culture, keepers of the flame, and leaders of community.

Among her collaborations are: • POP-UP AUGUSTA! (a secret supper club that showcases local chefs, performing artists, and visual artists utilizing nontraditional venues); • OPERATION CLEAN CITY CONCERT SERIES; • GROWING AUGUSTA: ARTS, AGRICULTURE, AGENCY (a project pairing creatives with farmers and hobby growers to convert blighted and vacant lots to creative spaces and edible landscapes).

Karen Gordon

Photos courtesy of Vincent Hobbs

UPW: Performing artists and arts organizations operate on very small profit margins. You have you finger on the pulse of the performing arts and the downtown business communities, both of which have been shut down.

What has been the biggest challenge up to now?

GORDON: For me, the most difficult thing about the Covid19 pandemic, is the sense of uncertainty and the quality of the information that we, as a community, are receiving. There is no optimal time for a pandemic, but, for the local hospitality industry, this couldn’t have come at a worse time.. Spring in Augusta represents rebirth and renewal — growth.

It’s the time when we emerge from our winter cocoons to embrace the warmth in climate and of other people. Arts organizations hold major fund/friend-raisers.

The big golf tournament comes to town, flooding our town with thousands of people and millions of dollars. Restaurants spruce up outdoor dining rooms, and bars serve up beverages and live music four to five days a week. New life springs forth from the earth, and the Garden City is geared up for all of it.

Hotels, travel industry, arts, entertainment, restaurants are all having to execute a hard pivot or shut down completely and wait this thing out.

Entertainment, hospitality, and food & beverage (F&B) are experiencing near 100% unemployment. And the most difficult thing is... nobody knows how long we must shelter.

For those of us in arts/entertainment, the postponement of Masters Week was a significant blow, but it wasn’t a death knell. Neither was the public health advisory recommending no gatherings of more than ten people, followed by “social/physical distancing”. The game changer was the manner in which this pissing contest between the president and the media played out. Precautions were not taken (on a national level), public outrage and panic ensued, and common sense was caught in the crosshairs. Trickle down. Change the narrative. Repeat.

UPW: What is the most common complaint about the shutdown that you have heard from performing artists, cultural organizations and venue operators?

GORDON: The COVID-19 virus is a moving target, and independently-owned and operated small businesses are just that: independent. Concerns range from being able to pay lease, mortgage, payroll, household bills, child care to concerns over homeschooling and groceries. I’ve heard friends lament over lack of support and resources from local government to inability to provide basic safety equipment for themselves and staff. It seems that everyone has been thrust into survival mode, as though we’ve all been dropped into the ocean, just as a riptide is forming.

And there’s no guidance. No lifeguard.

And the life jackets are defective.

The most unfortunate part of this for small businesses is that there are so many who see COVID19 in black and white, and not in the usual sense. The “stay home” edict, while the lesser of two evils, is simply not a one size fits all solution, when the narrative changes almost daily. We take such pride in telling other people what they should do, as if we are walking daily in their shoes. We so easily post rude comments on social media about how the coffee shop should close because we can make coffee at home... about how parents need to spend more time with children “instead of at the club”.. about how it’s just music. We so readily and unknowingly share our privilege and ignorance.

We attempt to shame people for minding their own, and then we call out customers who patronize them. I’ve heard of more owners choosing to chose, not because of health reasons, but because they don’t want to deal with the social media backlash. Small business owners, organization leaders, and creatives are the fabric of this community. They care about how we emerge on the other side. They are not putting themselves and others at risk for a few dollars.

If anything, they’re trying to support THEIR employees in the best way they know how. And I won’t even get start-

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ed Governor Kemp opening up for business just as unemployment checks were set to deploy. Real classy move, Brine! #check UPW: Have you been able to divine any “silver linings” as a result of the pandemic?

GORDON: Yes, quite a few actually. After two months of thinking “I’m never gonna financially recover from this” (shouts out to Joe Exotic), it occurred to me that I’ve been here before. in this place, this situation before. I’ve been at a place in which my life seemed to come to a standstill, and the rest of the world continued to move without me. That’s how it felt, at least. The world moved around me. And without me. That was 12 years ago, and so I had forgotten what that felt like. That part sucks, but I find joy in rediscovering my family, who (while I have been running to and fro, staying busy) have been here all the time. I find happiness in Zoom conference calls with my siblings. I find comfort in the knowledge that this isolation is only temporary. And I find peace in planting herbs and vegetables.

As soon as the rumors of quarantine began to flit about, I immediately started preparing to plant.

I placed my first greenhouse order for nearly 800 seedlings in January, expecting them to arrive early April.

But the first wave arrived the first of March. Neither of the garden beds were ready, so I planted in whatever vessels were available. I needed a distraction from the falling sky and tumbling walls. In this respect, COVID was a blessing. Had our regular music schedule continued, I would’ve found a reason not to focus on planting. Then, when social distancing became a thing, group activities were fowned upon. Planting became my time of solitude and silence.

I’ve got projects that I want to do - that I need to do - that I HAVE to do. Because I made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to do

UrbanProWeekly • MAY 14 - 31, 2020

Hotels, travel industry, arts, entertainment, restaurants are all having to execute a hard pivot or shut down completely and wait this thing out.

Entertainment, hospitality, and food & beverage (F&B) are experiencing near 100% unemployment.

And the most difficult thing is... nobody knows how long we must shelter.

It seems that everyone has been thrust into survival mode, as though we’ve all been dropped into the ocean, just as a riptide is forming. And there’s no guidance.

No lifeguard. And the life jackets are defective. anything else until I got those things accomplished. Those things are the community garden and South Augusta market. I’m close, but I’m not there yet.

There are still miles to go.

UPW: The possibility of severe food shortages still looms. How do you view the importance of your agricultural efforts in these uncertain times?

GORDON: This question needs a whole article unto itself. Growing our own food is the most important thing that Black people should do right now.

Right this moment. It is empowering in that you discover how easy it can be to nurture plant life. It is revolutionary in that you see what self-sufficiency looks and feels like. It is community in that you can and should share it with other people. It is humbling in that nature is gonna do its thing, with or without you, and SHE does her best work when you get out of her way. And that is a beautiful thing.

The more I learn about agriculture and food systems, the more there is to uncover. Every connection forged leads to another disparate set of dots which need tending as well. Food insecurity, food justice, land rights, heir rights, redlining, systemic racism, Farm Bill, etc... It’s quite the daunting undertaking, but one positive from pandemic is that more people are paying attention to where food comes from and showing interest in growing for health and wellness. That’s good news, but there are still a few more miles to go.

UPW: Garden City Jazz hosts several Masters Week activities as well as many other events on your calendar that had to be postponed.

How does that change the mission of Garden City Jazz moving forward or is the future still too uncertain to plan effectively?

GORDON: But yeah, the whole shutdown is a challenge because Garden City Jazz is not a destination. There’s no stationary, fixed location. We move around. we are flexible, portable. And

because of that, we rely on partnerships and relations to make the donuts on a daily basis. Our locations range from traditional (black box theater, art gallery, coffeeshop, greenspace, etc) to ‘saywhat?!’ (rooftop garden, portable storage unit, parking deck, even on a trailer hitched to a pickup).

We’ve been trying unorthodox things to keep things interesting and to stand out from the crowd.

These days, I’m considering flipping that though. I’m working on a small venue in the metropolis of South Augusta that we can utilize for live music, in addition to continuing the mobile events and flexible venues. Different areas of town, sizes, styles and genres of music and art.

In this case, “different’ means a few things. It’s either something we’ve NEVER done before. It could refer to something we have done, but that we execute in a whole new way. Or it could be a combination of both. The constant thing, though, is change. And whatever changes are made, they must be felt.

So, we’re exploring our options.

We’ve certainly got a lot of work to do.

We = the music scene and the F&B industry. I’ve gotten super comfortable staying at home lately, and I never thought would be my thing. My family has moved to a new home which is ridiculously off the beaten path, but it’s really cool. It’s a cool space to be in, and a great space to work and create from.

We’re figuring it out. My team and I, we talk all the time. We talk about work, family, and community. We began shifting our conversation as soon as (spring) Masters was canceled.

My message to our work group was “Yo! Sh*t just got real. You dressed?

I’m 10 minutes out.” And we’ve been in constant contact since mid-March, planning our next steps and how we are going to show up. Whether we are going to take the lead or whether we are just going to drift.

I believe everyone is having these talks - or they should be. If we are going to lead, we have to make very bold strides. And that’s where we are right now, taking risks. And we’re

At the very least, business as usual is just no longer acceptable.

But here’s where the magic lies — in EXPERIENCES. The Augusta community will emerge from sheltering in place like the natural world after hibernation.

All things old will have been made new, and that requires more than a new coat of paint. ready to bring new experiences to the table. That’s the kind of committment that we are making to ourselves, and we expect others to do so as well. I believe that if we keep that commitment — if we are true to it, then several things are bound to happen. In the short run, the people who trust us enough to come back after COVID19 will not be disappointed. That seems simple enough, but it’s a tall order when you consider that our audience has been left to their own devices to come up with creative ways to entertain, feed and bartend for themselves.

At the very least, business as usual is just no longer acceptable.

But here’s where the magic lies — in EXPERIENCES. The Augusta community will emerge from sheltering in place like the natural world after hibernation. All things old will have been made new, and that requires more than a new coat of paint. Of course, at first, it’ll be just enough to see familiar faces and get back to our old stomping grounds. But once the shine wears off, how will we compel guests to return when they’ve perfected their own quarantini and sourced the best livestreamed concerts?

It requires a new mindset, fresh energy, and a new appreciation for those who help us keep the lights on.

Brian Chesky, CEO of AirBNB, refers to it as delivering a 10-star experience.... Shall we dance?

UrbanProWeekly MAY 14 - 31, 2020

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FEVER? COUGH? SHORTNESS OF BREATH?

Free screenings available online.

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin

Reclamation reclamation (n.) — the process of claiming something back or of reasserting a right By now, you’ve seen the video. If you haven’t, please don’t watch it. It’s a movie that Black folks have seen far too often.

Ahmaud Arbery was running. That was his right.

Ahmaud’s right to run, his right to be Black, his right to life — all were taken away by a white father and son with guns.

Their actions were the physical manifestation of a white person calling a black person a nigger.

This is not unfamiliar territory.

The same thing happened during the Hamburg Massacre. The same thing happened on Black Wall Street. The same thing happened in the name of voting rights. Black progress was violently halted by white supremacy.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was important because it legalized equality. But you still have to enforce that equality.

Whose responsibility is it to make sure it’s enforced? This question encapsulates the challenge of being Black in America — and really, throughout the world.

When I wrote the first two Black History Guidebooks, I wrote them from a retroactive perspective. I wanted to talk about Black history as

something perpetual. I wanted it to extend beyond February. Our history is important because Americans — Black and white — don’t understand that Black labor built this country AND Black labor sustains this country.

We are still fighting for respect and reparations to this day!

It is important that I write this book from the perspective of the present day. There are conflicts from the past that continue to attack our communities today.

Look how COVID-19 has ravaged our communities. The challenges that Black people face with the coronavirus have much more to do with systemic racism than they do with personal health and responsibility.

You won’t hear that in mass media, though. In this paper alone, there are stories of Black frontline workers, and not just doctors and nurses.

There are stories of stockers and truck drivers. Heaven forbid we forgive the beautiful Black faces who work in sanitation and manufacturing. Shoutout the mail carriers, as well! All of these jobs, and many others, are “essential” These people — our brothas and sisters — have never stopped working.

Rarely, we’ll see the story of folks like Chicago’s Deshaun Taylor, a 23-year-old brotha who was turned

“Healthcare is a human right. It’s a right that shouldn’t be tied to employment, but that is one of many failures of our healthcare system in America.” back from the hospital twice, even though he tested positive for COVID19. He later died.

Healthcare is a human right. It’s a right that shouldn’t be tied to employment, but that is one of many failures of our healthcare system in America.

That reason, among others, underscores the need for reparations. (I would highly recommend “From Here To Equality,” a great and new read from Dr. Sandy Darity and Kirsten Mullen, two of the foremost minds on reparations in the world.)

We must rethink Black labor in this country. We need higher wages. We need protection for workers.

I think about all of these things, and then, I think about Ahmaud.

He was like a lot of us. He was just running.

I think about the white father and son who took his life. I think about they infringed on Ahmaud’s rights.

That infringement — their rights — were protected by the Glynn County Police Department, for starters. The injustice system protected them because they were white.

Our focus now should be to reclaim everything we’ve lost. We need to fight for everything — we need to not only fight for voting rights, but fight to make sure that we don’t think our only two options are either Joe Biden

or Donald Trump. We need to fight for school curriculums that make Black history a priority. We need to make sure our legislators fight for working-class people with the same energy they roll out the red carpet for corporations.

We need to reclaim the right to run — whether it’s running for public office without the burden of partisan politics, running to city meetings or just running down the street.

If it takes our community being more serious about being armed, that makes perfect sense. History has shown us that civil rights don’t mean much in this country without armed self-defense.

This reclamation project is about more than conflict, though. It’s about understanding that there is no America without Black people. You will give us the respect we deserve as taxpayers, as workers, as human beings.

And if you don’t, we’ll give you hell until we get that respect.

Ken J. Makin is the host of the “Makin’ A Difference” show. Episodes are available at soundcloud.com/ makinadifference. Send your feedback to makinadifferenceshow@ gmail.com or send a text to (803) 270-2331. Your feedback could be a part of the next column!

UrbanProWeekly • MAY 14 - 31, 2020

THE BLACK HISTORY GUIDEBOOK, VOL. III

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Richmond County agrees to new school schedule Richmond County Board of Education unanimously approved next year’s school calendar -- which includes a Fall Break to support the rescheduled Masters Tournament and a shortened Thanksgiving holiday break -- and released details on the upcoming summer school program Tuesday.

All summer school students will take their courses virtually from June 1 through June 30, Monday through Thursday. Classes run from 8 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Daily attendance is mandatory.

The program is available only for eighth graders who took and failed high school classes and high school students that need credit.

Westside HS to offer prestigious AP Capstone Diploma Program AUGUSTA The Richmond County School System (RCSS) is proud to announce Westside High School’s plan to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program this fall. According to the College Board, “The AP Capstone program is an innovative program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success, such as research, collaboration, and communication.” Westside will be one of approximately 1,800 schools worldwide to offer this prestigious program.

The AP Capstone Diploma program is the most advanced studies program AP offers. The program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Westside HS currently offers 18 AP courses and will be offering 3 new courses in 20202021 including AP French, AP Biology, and AP Seminar (Capstone). The Class of 2022 will be the first class with the opportunity to graduate with this diploma.

“The AP Capstone Diploma program will take our AP academy to the next level,” says Mr. William Smith, Westside High School Principal. “I am proud of all the students and teachers that have helped make this happen.

Patriot Nation is honored to house this diploma program.”

“This program promotes our system’s mission and provides an unparalleled opportunity for Westside students to prepare for college and beyond,” explains Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw, Superintendent of Schools.

“Through the addition of the AP Capstone Diploma program, the RCSS continues to provide choices to students as they reach their full academic potential.”

Students will be required to earn a 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research tests, as well as four additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma. Students who earn a score of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research, but choose not to pursue other AP courses or do not score 3 or higher on other exams, may earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Eligible students can recover up to four classes or two credits, with each course worth one-half credit.

Devices and Smartspot hotspots are being prepared for checkout at each high school.

Preregistration began Monday and runs until May 8. Preregistration finalization will run from May 11 until May 22. Late registration will run from May 18 until May 19. No students will be accepted after May 19. Preregistration forms can be accessed here.

The school board will also be distributing summer learning packs for K-8 students. Each pack will include a grade-level summer express workbook, an answer key, five age-ap-

propriate books with corresponding activities, and online access to iReady and other software. Associate Superintendent Malinda Cobb said these packs are to help prevent the summer slump students experience, and while they are not mandatory, completion will result in extra credit.

The current plan is to distribute them at the end of May. Students will return from Summer Break on Aug. 3, three days sooner than originally intended, while teachers will return on July 27 for planning. There will be three Fall vacations this year: a Fall Break from Oct. 9 through Oct. 12, a Fall Break from Nov. 9 through Nov. 16 to coincide with the Masters , and a Thanksgiving

RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Phase V SPLOST Building Program

holiday from Nov. 25 through 27.

The last day of the 2020-2021 school year will be an early release day on May 25.

The Christmas/Winter Break will run from Dec. 23 through Jan. 4, including a teacher planning day on Jan. 4.

Richmond County Graduation Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw said in a board meeting on Tuesday that they are monitoring the pandemic closely in the hopes of having graduation as scheduled. Graduation is scheduled May 26 through May 28.

However, alternate dates have been scheduled with the James Brown Arena in June and July.

B-19-015-4046 RENOVATIONS TO GLENN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY INVITATION TO BID Sealed proposals from Contractors will be received for the Renovations to Glenn Hills High School project by the County Board of Education of Richmond County at the address below until 3:00 p.m. local time, May 28, 2020, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. No extension of the bidding period will be made.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held May 19, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. local time at the project site located: 2840 Glenn Hills Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30906 Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 1781 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Bidding documents may be obtained at the office of the Architect, Cheatham Fletcher Scott Architects, 420 ½ 8th Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Applications for documents together with refundable deposit of $400 (payable to the Architect) per set should be filed promptly with the Architect. Bidding material will be forwarded (shipping charges collect) as soon as possible. The full amount of deposit for one set will be refunded to each prime contractor who submits a bona fide bid upon return of such set in good condition within 10 days after date of opening bids. All other deposits will be refunded with deductions approximating cost of reproduction of documents upon return of same in good condition within 10 days after date of opening bid.

Contract, if awarded, will be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 35 days after time has been called on the date of opening.

Bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. Personal checks, certified checks, letters of credit, etc., are not acceptable. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities & informalities.

To promote local participation, a database of Sub-contractors, Suppliers, and Vendors has been developed by the Program Manager, GMK Associates. Contact Jeanine Usry with GMK Associates at (706) 826 1127 for location to review and obtain this database.

Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw County Board of Education of Richmond County Administrative Office 864 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 c/o: Mr. Bobby Smith, CPA

AUGUSTA In an effort to balance the current COVID-19 uncertainty and possible health risks with the desire to produce a high-quality production, the Production and Creative team of FROM MOZART TO MOTOWN have made the decision to take a “COVID-19 intermission” and reschedule FROM MOZART TO MOTOWN to Friday, March 19, 2021. Tickets will be available at The Miller Theater on February 1, 2021.

Special advanced tickets and seat locations that have already been sold will, of course, be honored.

A Holiday Gift-Giving Special with a limited number of seats will be available after Thanksgiving. Follow Russell Joel Brown on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and specials or email mozart2motown@gmail.com to be added to the email news. We look forward to coming together in March and providing an evening of amazing entertainment and memories.

Stay Safe, Healthy and Happy in these unprecedented times.

About Russell Joel Brown “From Mozart to Motown- An Evening with Russell Joel Brown” is a high-energy, tour de force performance by Broadway actor and Augusta native, Russell Joel Brown. Backed by a 7-piece band and 15-member high school student ensemble, this performance features 10 different styles of music: classical, spirituals, Broadway, jazz, blues, country, African, R & B, rock, and gospel. The show is a benefit concert for Boys With A Future.

Five sold-out audiences at Augusta’s historic Imperial Theater between 2002 and 2004, solidified the popularity of this show that appeals to young and old alike. Popular songs such as Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”; Lynard Skynard’s

“Sweet Home Alabama”; “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera; Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train”; and the traditional spiritual, “Give Me Jesus”, are just a few of the songs that Russell Joel Brown has interpreted with his chameleon-like voice. A voice that is sometimes soothing, and oftentimes a powerful baritone. Production numbers, with sizzling choreography and beautiful costumes round out the evening and include a Motown retrospective of “My Girl”; “My Guy”; “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”; and more!

An Augusta native, Russell Joel Brown is a veteran actor, singer, and dancer of the Broadway stage. He appeared on Broadway and international tours of Disney’s “The Lion King”, “Smokey Joe’s Café”, “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, “Big River” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Also to his credit, he sang for the funerals of such luminaries as Thurgood Marshall, Arthur Ashe, Cab Calloway, and Dizzy Gillespie. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College.

Mr. Brown impacts the lives of children and adults alike by supporting August area non-profits in raising much-needed funds. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, Colton Ballet Company, and many others have benefited from Mr. Brown’s fundraising concerts and appearances. His oneman show, From Mozart to Motown sold out the 850-seat Imperial Theater 5 times, guest appearances at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s “Star-Spangled 4th of July” and “Tuesday’s Music Live” concerts garnered standing room only audiences, and his tour de force performance as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in “Ragtime” was the talk of the 2019 theatrical season.

Reflective of his passion for pouring into the lives of young people, Russell

Joel Brown developed and currently serves as Director of Boys With A Future, a world-class after school program for inner-city boys in academic and life crisis in the Harrisburg

area of Augusta. This program seeks to revolutionize this underserved area through education, the only sure way out of poverty and into a fulfilling and well-rounded life.

1970 Augusta Riot Observance now online

Mural Competition Winner Named Cole Phail from Appling, Georgia won with the most votes for his piece titled “The Spirit of Funk” in Augusta’s James Brown Mural Competition. Phail used a variety of art styles including realism, graphic, and impressionistic and packed his imagery with the lyrics of James Brown’s greatest hits and his various nicknames and titles. iconic catchphrase, “I Feel Good” and is the theme for this mural.

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On the afternoon of May 11, 1970, Black Augustans gathered at the Municipal Building to protest a suspected recent act of police brutality that crystalized the severe racism of Augusta. Two days prior, Black leaders faced the evidence of torture on the body of a Black 16-year-old boy, Charles Oatman, who had died while in custody at the County Jail. When White officials stonewalled, some protesters set fire to White and Chinese-American owned businesses in the area now known as the Laney Walker and Bethlehem neighborhoods.

The uprising grew in scale and number, but police mobilized, firing rounds throughout the night. By dawn, police had shot in the back and killed six unarmed, Black men and boys. Many more people were wounded.

Fifty years later, the calendar lines up exactly with that of 1970.

The Augusta Riot Observance Committee has online content that will allow people to walk through the events in synchronous time as they happened 50 years ago. All planned, in-person events have been postponed until the current health crisis has passed.

More information about the 1970 Augusta Riot can be found at www.1970augustariot.com.

UrbanProWeekly • MAY 14 - 31, 2020

“From Mozart to Motown with Russell Joel Brown” Covid 19 Intermission rescheduled for March 2020

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