Wanted: Well-traveled, technologically savvy, energetic African Americans to sample the City of Brotherly Love's nightlife, culture, and rich history.

To get those travelers here, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. is launching an aggressive campaign today called Philly 360. While the tourism group has marketed to African Americans since 1997, this is the first time it is targeting the emerging and coveted group of urban African Americans under 40 who travel.

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(New York, NY) -Seven people gathered in the early afternoon on Sept 17 for a check presentation ceremony in the 11th floor conference room of a west mid-town NYC office. James Wellons, Esq., CEO of Fire Island Blackout (FIBO), a Philadelphia, PA-based company, presented a $2,000 check to Carl Siciliano, founder and executive director of the Ali Forney Center (AFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter and services for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth around the city.

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(September 11, 2009) ATLANTA -- At approximately 11:30pm on Thursday, September 10, 2009, a gay bar in Atlanta, the Atlanta Eagle, was raided by the Atlanta Police Department (APD). The present writer for Atlanta Progressive News--who had come to the bar to dance--witnessed as several bar staff, male dancers, and patrons were arrested between approximately 12:30am and 1am and taken away in paddy wagons, but it is not immediately clear why. One source stated he believed it was because the bar did not have a license for the dancers, but that would not explain why some patrons were also arrested.

About ten police cars and about 15 cops raided the bar, allegedly looking for drugs.

However, the police were said to have ordered all patrons to get on the ground--including patrons who were just dancing or standing at the bar--and numerous patrons said people were handcuffed indiscriminately. Bar patrons were furious at the aggressive and indiscriminate treatment and called the incident "harassment." Patrons also stated that at least three undercover cops were present. One patron stated he knew this because he saw the undercover police first without their badges, mingling with the crowds, and then again with their badges on.

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The Annual West Indian day Parade never disappoints. Music, food, parade, festivities, and everything in between Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn and the smallest village in Trinidad, is on full display at New York's largest parade. From a photographer's standpoint, it's challenging yet fun to capture all the images of this parade. Challenging because of the enormity of the crowd, and everything happens in a flash, you have to be quick! But it's also fun, because there is so much to photograph. 

I've been going to the West Indian Day Parade since I was a kid growing up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where the parade begins. I have fond memories of going as a family, sitting on my dad's shoulders to view the vivid display of costumed revelers gyrating to the beats of island music. We also used the opportunity to sell items like leather handbags made in Haiti, records, and anything else we wanted to get rid of, because with a crowd of a million or so people, we were sure to sell our wares. This year, I went as the lone photographer, seeking to capture an aspect of my West Indian heritage and to share in the pride. While the parade is many things to many people, to me, it's a day to celebrate West Indian heritage, culture and pride, embracing our rich history and paying homage to our not-so delicate past. All in all, it was a great day. From the 400 photos taken, I've edited down to this lot. Hope you enjoy them!

Colorful costumes and masqueraders are a highlight of the West Indian Day Parade.

(New York, NY) - The quote from James Baldwin, "Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it," was repeated, for effect and as a testament of accomplishment, by George Faison, co-founder and artistic director of the Faison Firehouse Theater, in his introduction and welcome at the celebration commemoration of Baldwin's 85th birth anniversary on Aug 2.

Helen Baldwin, wife of the late Will Baldwin, sister-in-law of James Baldwin. Photo by Antoine Craigwell

Organized by Faison and Tad Schnugg, co-founder of the Theater, with guest and press coordination handled by Richard Pelzer, III, Mega Management, Inc., the celebration at the Theater was standing room only as each of the house's 120 seats were taken. Making presentations, including tributes in song, excerpts from Baldwin's work and reminiscences of him, a panel of personalities included poet and playwright Amiri Baraka; writer, playwright and poetess Sonia Sanchez; Andre Leon Talley, editor-at-large, Vogue Magazine; James Baldwin's immediate relatives, his sister-in-law Helen Baldwin, wife of Will Baldwin, and nephew, Trevor Baldwin; Alexa Birdsong, who had studied under Baldwin; Herb Boyd, writer; Prof. Eleanor Traylor, chair, English Department, Howard University; and Genovis Albright, singer and musician.

George Faison  Photo by Antoine Craigwell

According to published biographies, James Arthur Baldwin was born on Aug 2, 1924 and died of suspected stomach cancer on Dec 1, 1987. At the time of his death he had seen much, written much and had become a leaven in the discourse on African-American issues. He was among many accomplishments a novelist, an essayist, a playwright, scriptwriter, director, poet, filmmaker, college professor, and a lecturer, His works include Go Tell It On The Mountain (1953), Giovanni's Room (1956), Another Country (1962), Fire Next Time (1962), and Just Above My Head (1979); his plays include Blues for Mister Charlie (1964) and Evidence of Things Not Seen (1986).

Trevor Baldwin-James Baldwin's nephew. Photo by Antoine Craigwell The evening's program also included piano accompaniment by Deval Crawford and performances by several young people, who Faison referred to as his protégés and of the Theater, and who did both spoken word and song presentations. Highlights of the evening were the occasions when Sanchez, Baraka, and Traylor shared with the audience their memories of Baldwin, and read from works they had previously written that paid tribute to the work, the passion and the activism, as they understood him and as he perceived he was understood by the Black community.

Baldwin's sister-in-law said that while she and her son Trevor were the only two representing the family at the celebration, she apologized for the absence of Baldwin's brother George, who was hospitalized, and for two of his sisters, Barbara and Ruth, who were ministering to him.

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