Jazzheads have descended on the Big Apple this week as the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) holds its 33rd Annual Convention. Over 7,000 educators, musicians, industry executives, exhibitors, media and students from 35 countries expected to attend.
Organized labor is using online humor to turn up the heat on Walmarts anti-union practices. While the giant retailer rakes in billions, they are notorious penny-pinchers when it comes to employee wages. This variation on a Garth Brooks song speaks to the need to change that.
Former pro football player Roy Simmons will be up in Harlem next week to sign copies of his new book, Out of Bounds. Once an up and coming pro football lineman in the 1970’s and early 80’s, Simmons was the second NFL player ever to come out as gay and the first ever to come out as HIV-positive. After once playing in the Superbowl in the late 1980s, he wound up penniless, friendless, and on the brink of suicide. Simmons will be at Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe in Harlem on Tuesday, January 17.
A fuller picture is emerging about the troubling issues facing the Harlem Boys and Girls Choirs. They were recently asked to vacate their space on E. 127th Street by the New York City Department of Education, who claim the educational component of the organization has failed in its academic mission and suffers from administrative missteps. A recent article looks at the whole story.
Political watchers will find there is more to know about Christine Quinn, the newly named Speaker of the New York City Council, and the first woman and first openly gay leader of that body. Shes come a long way from being a grassroots housing advocate to what is arguably the second most influential position in the city.
Syndicated newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. hits the nail on the head in his assessment of what really scares straight men about seeing the film Brokeback Mountain. Its a fear he had to overcome himself.
And it wont be long now before Brokeback becomes the new euphemism for gay. I can see it already. Did you hear the news about Joe and his roommate Bob? Yeah, apparently theyve been living up on Brokeback Mountain the whole time. Or, Cmon Shirley, lets go. Nothing but guys from Brokeback Mountain in this bar.