One-on-One with Jsoul

huevoicesdotcom's Bobby Marvin interviewed R&B/soul vocalist Jsoul on his new album Black Sinatra and his experience working with Fertile Ground front man James Collins.

My Black Agenda AND Your Black Agenda (COMMENTARY)

There has always been a divide of ideology in Black America. W.E.B. Dubois felt the need to highlight the plight of blacks and agitate the confines of racial injustice, while Booker T. Washington preferred that blacks concentrate on making a way for ourselves and refrain from bucking the status quo. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached peace and togetherness, while Malcolm X touted the need for self-preservation. Spike Lee's body of work depicted self-pride and honed in on police brutality. Tyler Perry has seen unprecedented success by conquering box-offices and creating a multi-million dollar business as Madea.

Needless to say, we won't always agree on how we should move forward, but it cannot be ignored or taken for granted that we do face issues today as a people. Funny enough, I've heard that we are not a monolithic group. Yet when it comes to poor health care, unemployment and high school drop-out reports we all seem to fall inline together. You can take the time to laugh, I'll wait....

The question of should there even be a Black Agenda has floated around as of late. My colleagues and I have exchanged passionate, constructive debate over the matter and my conclusion still stands. Given the history of black folks in America I can't recall a time when there wasn't a need for an agenda, even today. It is often ignored in media but the systematic racism and inequality is still too comfy in our society.

Please let me say that The Black Agenda is not based on the premise of exclusion but the need for empowerment. It is a plan and timetable set forth to recognize and improve critical areas within the black community. So, now that I have shared mine. What is Your Black Agenda?

One on One with Pastor Jamal Bryant

Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple, talks about his work with the new TV One reality series K-Ci & Jo-Jo Come Clean.

huevoicesdotcom @ Thousand Women for O'Malley/Brown event

President Barack Obama' senior adviser Valerie Jarrett speaks at the Thousand Women for O'Malley/Brown/Mikulski. Jarrett came out to Martin's Camelot in Upper Marlboro to rally Democrat voters and show her support for Maryland Democrats in a crucial general election.

huevoicesdotcom interview with Axiom

huevoicesdotcom's interviews hip-hop/soul duo Axiom. Comprised of actor/emcee Black Root and singer/emcee Wordslave, Axiom has cut their teeth on Baltimore/Washington's open mic circuit and earned praise for their eclectic works like Heat Rises and Mindstate Mixtape. Now the group talks about their latest project It's A Mixtape and what's next to come.

huevoicesdotcom @ First Annual Mother-Son Dance

Urban Leadership Institute(ULI) sponsored the 1st Annual Mother-Son Dance: An Invitation to Manhood, an event aimed at celebrating and strengthening families. Over a dozen women along with their sons packed a banquet room at the Radisson Cross Keys. Hosted by David Miller,co-founder of ULI,the dance featured author/publisher Cassandra Mack and sports journalist Brian Custer.

The Mother-Dance is apart of the Raising Him Alone Campaign, an initiative set forth to empower single mothers raising young African-American males nationally and internationally. David Miller and youth advocate Matt Stevens recognized the overwhelming broken homes in urban settings and the need for services to support families. In 2009, the two launched the campaign honing in on single mothers. Since then, Miller has published a book component (Raising Him Alone) followed by a national tour of workshops and conferences.

One on One with Lydia Caesar

To help celebrate Gypsy Soul's 2nd Anniversary, Queens, New York native Lydia Caesar came through with a performance that commanded attention.Coined as a Rock N B singer for her blend of alternative rock and R&B, Caesar's stage presence exudes class often unseen in today's music realm. Her fashion sense is reminiscent of Whitney Houston in the 80's and her taste in music is not bad either. huevoicesdotcom's Bobby Marvin interviewed the dynamic songstress on growing up in a church, making it in New York and her latest project Masterpiece .

One on One with Raheem DeVaughn

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn tells huevoicesdotcom his views on the music business,the youth and politics.

One on One with Marshall "Eddie" Conway

Former Black Panther leader Marshall "Eddie" Conway led the Baltimore Chapter until he was convicted and sentenced to life for the murder of a police officer in 1970. Now he speaks with huevoicesdotcom on his case and new memoir Marshall Law.

One-on-One with Marshall "Eddie" Conway PART II

Conway speaks on the current state of Black America.

HBCU's: The Foundation We Need! (COMMENTARY)

I have often heard fierce criticism of HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Some go on and on about how the institutions are ineffective and poorly managed. Once I heard a parent, who is a graduate of a HBCU, say that he would rather send he would rather his children atten traditionally white institutions. Clearly, he was implying black schools are inferior to their white counterparts.

This type of thinking pains me because it is indicative of how we see ourselves in society. It is not just a case of not knowing our history, but shunning the lessons that we're taught. HBCU is not an acronym for lack of better words or a brand for marketing campaigns. It is our four letter thesis statement telling the world how we changed our stifling conditions and redefined our destiny.

They say if you teach a man how to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. Good people, we we established our own institutions not only for scholarly recognition, but to construct stronger and sustainable communities. Our predecessors knew education would make the difference in having a loaf of bread as opposed to just a slice.

Last week we celebrated HBCU's, TODAY we must continue the fight to keep them alive. As homicide and incarceration paralyzes our communities we must embrace our HBCU's as the pressure needed to convert coal into diamonds. Whether it is business, communications or health care, the potential for black wealth is present on black college campuses.

And wherever I may go I will let it be known, I am not a victim but a victor. I am a product of a HBCU.

huevoicesdotcom @ 4th Annual Recovery Rally & Walk

Dozens came out to Druid Hill Park to participate in the 4th Annual Recovery Rally and Walk, a platform to celebrate and encourage recovering drug and alcohol abusers and provide services for drug treatment.

The event coincides with National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in America and was sponsored by the Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems Inc. The Maryland Chapter- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD-MD), Project Garrison Incorporated, and Gaudenzia.

State Senator Lisa Gladden and Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler were present to show their support. Festivities included a talent show, free food and fun for the kids.

One on One with Larry Lancaster

Comedian Larry Lancaster talks about comedy, Reality Shows and making it in the entertainment business.

huevoicesdotcom @ YahZarah's "Cry Over You" video shoot

huevoicesdotcom's Bobby Marvin interviews independent artist YahZarah on site of her new video for "Cry Over You", the latest single off her fourth album The Ballad of Purple Saint James.

One-on-One with Taalam Acey

Spoken Word artist and author Taalam Acey has risen to become a prominent figure on the Spoken Word circuit nationally and internationally. His work has appeared on TV One and in the pages of Essence Magazine.

He has penned four books and released over a dozen Spoken Word albums, along with appearances in several documentaries including the critically acclaim What Black Men Think?
I had the opportunity to chat with Taalam about his new album The Birth of Spoken Soul and the state of Spoken Word.

One-on-One with Ky-Mani Marley

Grammy-nominated recording artist and film actor Ky-Mani Marley talks about memoir Dear Dear and growing up in the Jamaican royal family of reggae.

huevoicesdotcom @ the Reclaim the Dream March

*huevoicesdotcom was ONLY present for the rally*

National Action Network hosted the Reclaim the Dream rally and march to commemorate the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historical March on Washington, D.C.

A swarm of people flooded the football field at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in northwest Washington, DC. Some folks came from across the country in caravans of coach buses and cars with family, friends, and in some cases strangers to march.

The event featured a wide variety of prominent civil rights figures including Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, Ben Jealous, president of the NAACP and Dr. Barbara L. Shaw, Chair of the National Council of Negro Women.
U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan and Washington, D.C. City Council Chair Vincent Gray were also present to speak to the massive crowd.

huevoicesdotcom interviewed members from Youth in Action, a small youth organized group, traveled from Stone Mountain, Georgia to honor Dr. King's legacy in solidarity.

One-on-One with Rosalyn Branson of Turn Around, Inc.

In June, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and police commissioner Fred Bealfeld III announced a new hot line for survivors of rape/sexual assault through a partnership with Turn Around, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This hot line was implemented following a story released by the Baltimore Sun detailing the Baltimore City Police Department's high record of rape cases deemed unfounded. Cases were considered unfounded when police officers concluded the victim was lying and/or the information given was baseless.
huevoicesdotcom interviewed Rosalyn Branson, executive director of Turn Around, Inc. to discuss the advocacy group and its work with the Baltimore Police Department.

huevoicesdotcom @ the Baltimore City State's Attorney Debate

The Vanguard Justice Society,Inc.,a non-profit group that works to assure inequality for minority officers within the Baltimore City Police Department, hosted a debate between incumbent Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy and challenger defense attorney Greg Bernstein. Violent crime in Baltimore City and the strained relationship between the Baltimore City State's Attorney office and the Baltimore City Police Department.

One-on-One with Green Tea (Ear Candy performance included)

Gypsy Soul,a multi-faceted company specializing in arts & entertainment, recently hosted Ear Candy, their special artist showcase featuring Washington, DC native Green Tea. The soulful songstress made her debut in 2005 with Have A Cup of Green Tea Dosage 1: Shades of Green followed by her sophomore album Dosage II: Choices in 2008. During that time she has opened up for Go-Go legend Chuck Brown, Fertile Ground and Kindred the Family Soul.

In this sit down interview Green Tea talks about her upcoming album, Bare Essentials and life as an independent artist.

One-on-One with Gabriel "Asheru" Benn

Educator and hip-hop artist Gabriel "Asheru" Benn talks about his work with H.E.L.P. (Hip-Hop Educational, Literacy, Program), District of Columbia Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the state of Washington, DC school system.