ayanacontreras
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no room for pride
Art from Immig-Art, anonymously contributed immigration experiences as a group art project. Immig-Art was founded by my friend, Kabuika Kamunga, a Congolese filmmaker and journalist based in Chicago.
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Alvin Ailey American Dance: back in chicago
the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is back in Chicago (at the gorgeous Auditorium Theatre). Those loyal darkjive readers among you, I warned you weeks ago that it was time to save up…. highlights of this year’s program include: Night Creature – One of Ailey’s most classically choreographed ballets juxtaposed within Ellington’s jazz idiom –…
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Blackness…Finally Forgivable?
from the Stop Smiling Blog…. A Pugilist’s Pardon, Once Unforgivable Posted on: April 1, 2009 at 1:48 pm // MARGINALIA It’s Jack Johnson, 1 — Scooter Libby, zero. Senator John McCain delivers some straight talk we can believe in with the announcement this week that he is seeking a presidential pardon for the late Jack…
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pARTy like an art star….
First Fridays at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Tomorrow, Fri. April 3rd) Happy hour takes on a new meaning with First Fridays at the MCA. Cash bar featuring specialty drinks and free Wolfgang Puck appetizers. Enjoy live music from local DJs, the world’s only iMac G5 digital dating bar, creation stations, and more. Each month features…
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the Twinight Revue is Coming
The Chicago-based record label Numero Group has brought together several veteran local soul acts from the short-lived (local) Twinight Record label (circa late 60s- early 70s). Among them will be: Renaldo Domino, Syl Johnson, and the Notations. They’ll perform Saturday at the Park West on Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Tomorrow on Chicago Public Radio’s morning…
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Africa Hi-Fi (back and in full effect!)
mark your calendars for Ron and Sonia’s ongoing afro-funk-highlife-house-shindig…. Saturday, April 11th at Sonotheque… AFRICA HI-FI SUPPORTS NEXTAID , an LA based non-profit that uses music events to raise money for children in South Africa orphaned by the horrendous AIDS EPIDEMIC, and AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, working diligently to raise awareness and action against Human Rights Violations…
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This Love is Real
The Lovelites were a young female group out of Chicago featuring Patti Hamilton on lead. They gained notoriety in the late 60s for their song about teen pregnancy called “How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad (that I’ve Been Bad).” Here in Chicago, though, they are best known for “My Conscience”…a record penned by…
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Portraits of Black Chicago: Cool Off
Black youngsters cool off with fire hydrant water on Chicago’s South Side in the Woodlawn community… June 1973 “…The kids don’t go to the city beaches and use the fire hydrants to cool off instead. It’s a tradition in the community, comprised of very low income people. The area has high crime and fire records. From…
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Cult Movie of the Week: Shaft in Africa
I will start with the disclaimer: I am not really a blaxploitation film lover. I’m a lover of their funky romps-of-soundtracks. That said, I dig Shaft in Africa despite its more reserved soundtrack. Why? It’s titled Shaft…..in Africa! Not only Africa, but, specifically, Ethiopia… a country that holds a lot of romance for me because…
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i miss van hunt
…I do. I don’t think I’m alone… am I? Blue Note has the Masters to album, Popular Machine, and he claims he can’t afford to buy them back. Wow. Sounds like some Frankie Lymon-like wackness**. Meanwhile, Popular Machine, originally slated for release in January 2008, has become more of a Popular Myth. I like his…


