Good morning Motley Meese! Hope your weekend was lovely.
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Two creative tippers for you today. The first would be funnier if it weren’t such a light tip…
I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in “Cheers & Jeers”.
OK, you’ve been warned – here is this week’s tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, commonmass (along with Geoffrey the Cat) plus our Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and …… well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend.
ART NOTES – a retrospective on the career of Wassily Kandinsky is at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Art Museum through September 1st.
IN MERGING MARKETS expanded sales of refrigerators has changed the lives of many families, with new models that can work even where the electric supply is haphazard.
TV NOTES – here is a guide to the television schedule that ABC and ESPN will have for the World Cup matches the next few weeks. ESPN (and sister networks ESPN-2, etc.) will broadcast most of these matches (with several weekend games on the ABC broadcast channel, including the final on July 13th). Twenty years ago, few games were shown on US English language TV (other than games involving the US, or the semi-finals and finals) – one had to rely on Spanish language TV. Today, every single match will be shown on either ABC or its ESPN channels.
Here are the U.S.A.’s matches (all are on ESPN): tomorrow vs. Ghana (6:00 PM Eastern), Sunday June 22nd vs. Portugal (6:00 PM Eastern) and Thursday, June 26th vs. Germany (12 Noon Eastern).
THURSDAY’s CHILD is Mia the Cat – a Montana kitteh who survived a building fire and who is staying at an animal hospital until her family becomes re-settled.
IN A WELCOME break with much of west Africa: the nation of Sierra Leone celebrates its religious tolerance, with many professing to be both Christian and Muslim.
HAIL and FAREWELL to one of the last remaining (a dozen or so) silent era film actresses, Carla Laemmle – whose uncle Carl founded Universal Studios – who has died at the age of 104 ……. the noted Top 40 radio host Casey Kasem who has died at the age of 82 ….. and the jazz singer Jimmy Scott – whose soprano voice (which, when you heard it on the radio, led you to believe it was a woman) resulted from a genetic condition called Kallmann’s Syndrome – who has died at the age of 88. Here is ‘Little’ Jimmy Scott’s smoky-nightclub rendition of Holding Back the Years – the 1985 Simply Red hit song.
FRIDAY’s CHILD is Boots the Cat – dropped off at a Denver animal shelter when she was 10 days old, and now getting used to her prosthetic hind limbs.
CHEERS to this account of former Mississippi Secretary of State Dick Molpus – who twenty-five years took a risk by apologizing to the families of the three slain civil rights workers (which took place fifty years ago this summer).
CHEERS to the possibility that – with brothers Ray and Dave Davies talking once again – there may be a Kinks 50th reunion to come.
OLDER-YOUNGER BROTHERS? – TV stars Neil Patrick Harris (now, a recent Tony award winner) and Christopher Masterson (“Malcolm in the Middle”).
…… and finally, for a song of the week ………………………… previously I have looked at the Hammond B-3 organ – and now, a different keyboard. And this would be the Rhodes Electric Piano (or as the Fender Rhodes, for the years that Leo Fender’s company marketed it). Throughout the 1970’s especially, one heard its sound on many famous recordings (some of which will be mentioned later). What many people do not know is its origin, and just how much it filled a need when introduced: Ray Charles said it was like “An atom bomb on the musical landscape. Everything was changed forever.” And he often played the Rhodes Piano’s rival (the Wurlitzer Electric Piano).
Harold Rhodes was born in 1910, and trained to become an architect as a student at USC. But he was drawn to the piano, inspired by the likes of Art Tatum and Fats Waller. He became a piano teacher during the Depression in the greater Los Angeles area in the 1930’s and had celebrity students such as Lana Turner and Harpo Marx, drawn to his methods that taught 1920’s jazz piano as well as classical music. He became so successful that even during the Depression he opened a series of nationwide schools and had a radio program earning him the nickname of “Piano Teacher of the Air”.
During World War II, he was asked by the Army to develop a music therapy for wounded soldiers in hospitals. Forced to improvise, he wound up using … and this should warm-the-heart of liberals … surplus Air Force bomber parts, in order to make miniature keyboards for wounded service members to play. As part of a “Make and Play” program, over 1/4 million GI’s learned piano during the war.
After the war, in addition to his teaching he kept refining his rudimentary electric piano design and released a version called Pre-Piano as a device to help travelling piano teachers teach basic keyboard skills. Then in 1959 Rhodes met up with the legendary Leo Fender – who was eager to branch-out from guitars – and formed a joint venture to build these pianos. But Leo Fender was unhappy with the sound it produced, and at first only agreed to produce the Fender Piano Bass – containing just the bottom 32 keys.
Perhaps its most famous user was from a band that had trouble auditioning for a bass player. Then their keyboard player discovered the Piano Bass: which solved the bottom-end sound problem for Ray Manzarek of The Doors, who simply sat the Piano Bass on top of his own electronic organ.
Due to health reasons, Leo Fender sold his company to CBS in 1965 – and while legions of musicians have lamented that move (with owning a “pre-CBS” instrument or amplifier a mark of distinction) one positive came out of that arrangement: CBS agreed to produce the Rhodes Piano, with the first model a 73-key model. Newer models came out, including a full 88-key model (although some of its more eccentric designs did not pan out) and the sound continually improved as the 1970’s approached.
As the size and volume of guitar and bass amplifiers increased, keyboard players were at something of a disadvantage. The electric piano offered a way to compete: incorporating a Fender amplifier as part of the set-up also made it compact on crowded stages.
A word about the piano’s design: pressing a key resulted in a hammer striking a rod connected to a tonebar that resembles a tuning fork – and even when un-amplified, one can hear a (faint) sound. By contrast, the Wurlitzer electric piano strikes actual metal bars, with a bit more bite.
If there can be said to be one musician who truly helped popularize the Fender Rhodes, it would be the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis – who (largely) abandoned his traditional-sounding modern jazz sound in the mid-1960’s, adopting electric instruments and was even persuaded to play at the Fillmore by Bill Graham.
And he happened to have three keyboard players during the 1960’s – Chick Corea (shown left), Herbie Hancock (center) and Joe Zawinul (right) who adopted the Rhodes Piano wholesale. In fact, an old issue of Downbeat Magazine even contained one of those promotional, ‘extra-soft vinyl’ mini-records in which Hancock explained his skepticism upon seeing the Rhodes … but grew to love it. Pop musicians needed little encouragement to use the Rhodes, but it was Miles Davis’ endorsement – and his three keyboardists (who went onto stardom themselves) – that helped make the Rhodes a fixture during its golden decade of the 1970’s.
However, the CBS cost-cutting measures that negatively affected the rest of the Fender lines came to affect the Rhodes later in the 1970’s. In 1983, the Rhodes line was sold directly to CBS boss William Schultz, who closed the main factory in 1985 and then subsequently sold the line to the Roland keyboard company in 1987. Roland subsequently produced digital versions of these keyboards, which did not meet with Harold Rhodes’ approval (or consultation) – and so he never endorsed the product.
Harold Rhodes eventually re-acquired the commercial rights to his instruments in 1997, and won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. But he was in poor health, and Harold Rhodes died in December, 2000: just eleven days short of his 90th birthday. His Rhodes Music Company continues to this day, making new and improved versions of his classic keyboards.
Technical breakthroughs have made the instrument less used today, as it is no longer the breakthrough instrument it once was (and others have many more functions than the Rhodes did). That impression was confirmed by DK’s resident keyboard stalwart jnhobbs who added that jazzers and R&B players still make frequent use and that “Synth keyboards and samplers are often judged by how good their Rhodes sounds are, ironically enough”. Given its history … it makes sense.
The best way to indicate how vital this instrument was is simply to list a few hit songs that utilized one, as follows. The Beatles (“Let It Be” and “Get Back”, both played by Billy Preston), Marvin Gaye (“Heard It Through the Grapevine”), Stevie Wonder (“You Are the Sunshine of my Life”), Billy Joel (“Just the Way You Are”), Paul Simon (“Still Crazy after All These Years”), Traffic (“Empty Pages”), Elton John (“Daniel”), The Doors (“Riders on the Storm”), Herb Alpert (“This Guy’s In Love with You”) and numerous others. There is also a new book about the instrument – perhaps a fitting way to chronicle its popularity.
While I am one of those who never truly fell for the music of Steely Dan (despite being a jazz fan) I do have one favorite: Dirty Work which sounded unlike anything else they recorded, and largely abandoned after its singer (David Palmer) left the band in 1973. But it features the Fender Rhodes (like many of their other songs) and below you can listen to it.
Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.
The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.
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President Obama delivers remarks at the Cannon Ball Flag Day Celebration at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back!
~snip~
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love Michelle, too!
THE PRESIDENT: Of course you love Michelle. Who doesn’t love Michelle?
Full transcript below …
Transcript
THE PRESIDENT: Hello Dakota Nation! (Applause.) Hello Lakota Nation! Chairman Archambault, tribal leaders, people of Standing Rock, people of Indian Country — Michelle and I are honored to be in this sacred and beautiful place. It’s easy to see why it’s called God’s country. (Applause.) And because I’m among friends, I’m going to try something in Lakota. But I can’t guarantee it’s going to come out perfect. Háu, mitákuyepi! (Applause.) I’m going to practice. I’m going to be even better next time. (Laughter.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back! (Applause.) I want to thank Governor Jack Dalrymple and the members of Congress who are here today: Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Senator John Hoeven, Congressman Kevin Cramer. We’re so grateful that you took the time to be here.
And I know that your annual Flag Day powwow officially begins this evening. So we’re a little early. But thank you for giving us a sneak peek of the celebration. And we are grateful for the chance to pay tribute to all the veterans of America’s armed forces who have joined us here today, as well as those who have walked on, and whose flags are proudly displayed here today. Thank you and to your families for your extraordinary service. We are very, very grateful. (Applause.) I want to acknowledge our outstanding Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewel, who’s here. (Applause.)
This visit holds special meaning for me.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love Michelle, too!
THE PRESIDENT: Of course you love Michelle. Who doesn’t love Michelle? (Laughter and applause.)
When I was first running for President, I had the honor of visiting the Crow Nation in Montana. And today I’m proud to be making my first trip to Indian Country as President of the United States. (Applause.)
I know that throughout history, the United States often didn’t give the nation-to-nation relationship the respect that it deserved. So I promised when I ran to be a President who’d change that — a President who honors our sacred trust, and who respects your sovereignty, and upholds treaty obligations, and who works with you in a spirit of true partnership, in mutual respect, to give our children the future that they deserve.
And today, I’m proud that the government-to-government relationship between Washington and tribal nations is stronger than ever. Sally Jewell has been doing great work. Her predecessor, Ken Salazar, did great work to make sure that we were listening to you. And as head of our new Council on Native American Affairs, she makes sure that the federal government and tribal governments are coordinating with each other at all times. And Kevin Washburn, my Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, is here as well.
You see, my administration is determined to partner with tribes, and it’s not something that just happens once in a while. It takes place every day, on just about every issue that touches your lives. And that’s what real nation-to-nation partnerships look like.
We’ve responded and resolved longstanding disputes. George Keepseagle is here today. (Applause.) A few years ago, my administration reached a historic settlement with George and other American Indian farmers and ranchers. And I signed into law the historic Cobell settlement, leading to the Land Buy-Back Program, a $1.9 billion fund to consolidate individual Indian lands and restore them to tribal trust lands. (Applause.)
We’ve made major investments to help grow tribal economies — investments in job training and tribal colleges; roads and high-speed Internet; energy, including renewable energy. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Native Americans — like all Americans — finally have access to quality, affordable health care. (Applause.)
But I realize that a powwow isn’t just about celebrating the past. It’s also about looking to the future. It’s about keeping sacred traditions alive for the next generation, for these beautiful children. So here today, I want to focus on the work that lies ahead. And I think we can follow the lead of Standing Rock’s most famous resident, Chief Sitting Bull. (Applause.) He said, “Let’s put our minds together to see what we can build for our children.” (Applause.)
So let’s put our minds together to build more economic opportunity in Indian Country — because every American, including every Native American, deserves the chance to work hard and get ahead, everybody. (Applause.) That means creating more jobs and supporting small businesses in places like Standing Rock — because young people should be able to live and work and raise a family right here in the land of your fathers and mothers. (Applause.) Let’s put our minds together to advance justice — because like every American, you deserve to be safe in your communities and treated equally under the law. (Applause.)
My administration has gone further than any in history to strengthen the sovereignty of tribal courts, particularly when it comes to criminal sentencing and prosecuting people who commit violence against women. And Standing Rock has done a terrific job at building a court system that is open and efficient, and delivers justice to your people. (Applause.) So we want to support more tribes as they follow your lead and strengthen justice in our communities. And that includes protecting important rights like the right to vote, because every Native American deserves a voice in our democracy. (Applause.)
Let’s put our minds together to improve our schools — because our children deserve a world-class education, too, that prepares them for college and careers. (Applause.) And that means returning control of Indian education to tribal nations with additional resources and support so that you can direct your children’s education and reform schools here in Indian Country. And even as they prepare for a global economy, we want children, like these wonderful young children here, learning about their language and learning about their culture, just like the boys and girls do at Lakota Language Nest here at Standing Rock. We want to make sure that continues and we build on that success. (Applause.)
Before we came here, Michelle and I sat with an amazing group of young people. I love these young people. I only spent an hour with them. They feel like my own. And you should be proud of them — because they’ve overcome a lot, but they’re strong and they’re still standing, and they’re moving forward. (Applause.) And they’re proud of their culture. But they talked about the challenges of living in two worlds and being both “Native” and “American.” And some bright young people like the ones we met today might look around and sometimes wonder if the United States really is thinking about them and caring about them, and has a place for them, too.
And when we were talking, I said, you know, Michelle and I know what it feels like sometimes to go through tough times. We grew up at times feeling like we were on the outside looking in. But thanks to family and friends, and teachers and coaches and neighbors that didn’t give up on us, we didn’t give up on ourselves. Just like these young people are not giving up on themselves. And we want every young person in America to have the same chance that we had — and that includes the boys and girls here in Indian Country. (Applause.)
There’s no denying that for some Americans the deck has been stacked against them, sometimes for generations. And that’s been the case for many Native Americans. But if we’re working together, we can make things better. We’ve got a long way to go. But if we do our part, I believe that we can turn the corner. We can break old cycles. We can give our children a better future. I know because I’ve talked to these young people. I know they can succeed. I know they’ll be leaders not just in Indian Country, but across America. And we’ve got to invest in them and believe in them and love them, and that starts from the White House all the way down here. (Applause.)
I understand that the Lakota word for “children” — “wakanyeja” — comes from the word “wakan” — “sacred.” That’s what young people are — they’re sacred. They’re sacred to your families and they’re sacred to your tribe, and they’re sacred to this nation. And every day that I have the honor of serving as your President, I will do everything I can to make sure that you see that our country has a place for everyone, including every single young person here — and all across the Dakotas and all across America, and that you’re getting the support and encouragement you need to go as far as your hard work and your talent will take you. That is my commitment to you — to every single young person here. (Applause.)
This community has made extraordinary contributions to the United States. Just look at all these flags. So many Native Americans have served our country with honor and with courage. And now it’s up to us to keep strong what they have built — to keep America the place where no matter who you are and what you look like, or where you come from, you can make it. And that you don’t have to give up your culture to also be part of the American family. That’s what I believe. And coming here today makes me believe it that much more.
Hechetu welo. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
~
This post is in lieu of the President’s Weekly Address and will serve as the Weekend Open News Thread. Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.
Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.
The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.
On weekends (and holidays), you may find the check-in thread earlier or later than normal because … it is the weekend! Moosies need their beauty rest:
For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.
The important stuff to get you started:
– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.
– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)
– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).
– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”
– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”
(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)
A look at a memorable May, 1968 night in Boston – and the three men whose actions forty-six years ago helped that city avert a night of violence that afflicted many other US cities, after the jump ………….
Those of-a-certain-age may well recall the night of April 4th, 1968 …. when Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed in Memphis. Indeed, last year I visited the site of the Lorraine Motel, which is now the National Civil Rights Museum – and standing on the balcony outside Room #306 was a moving experience (which I noted in a previous essay).
Though as a twelve year-old, it couldn’t register on me the way it could had I been an adult: I certainly recall seeing TV images of riots and burning in major cities across the USA. It began that same night (when Bobby Kennedy made his plea for calm in Indianapolis) and Boston was no different than many other cities, as its African-American neighborhoods saw violence that night, as word of the killing began to emerge.
The next night (April 5th) promised to be even worse: as news of the assassination (in those pre-social media days) spread much more widely than the night it happened … and so even more areas fell under siege. The same fate may well have befallen the city of Boston, as a scheduled concert by James Brown that evening at the Boston Garden was initially threatened with cancellation by arena officials, worried about violence spreading to downtown.
However, the fact that not only was the violence that afflicted other cities averted – but wound up being a night of less crime than normal in Boston – was a testament to the actions of three men. Not undeservedly, a VH-1 documentary film of the event was entitled The Night James Brown Saved Boston – but this could not have happened without two elected officials: a thirty-eight year-old rookie mayor, and a twenty-nine year old city councilman, whose story is not well-known and deserves to be told …………
The day after the assassination – who had gotten wind that the Garden was eager to cancel the concert – both the show’s promoter and the city’s lone African-American city councilman prevailed upon the city’s mayor not to cancel the concert … but add a novel twist. By cancelling the concert, ticket-goers would travel to a non-existent concert …. and possibly take out their anger downtown, rather than in their own neighborhoods (which the city’s white establishment feared most). Instead, why not prevail upon the city’s public TV station (WGBH) to televise the concert live – and then re-run it (twice) afterwards, for the benefit of those who learned of it late – as a way of keeping people indoors, where they could (it was hoped) hear a message of peace from the stage?
The mayor agreed and – with some arm-twisting and promises of restitution (both for lost ticket sales and for a broken contractual agreement not to appear on TV), James Brown agreed. WGBH is today a flagship public television station – with many locally-produced programs for national PBS viewers, including music – but back then, they were rather awkward at presenting music programs (especially with only a few hours notice). Indeed, they announced the show as “Negro singer Jimmy Brown and his band” – but they sensed the urgency, and agreed to carry the show.
James Brown is legendary, whose story will only be told in brief – but it might do well to look now at the other two figures who figured in this epic event.
—————————————————————————————
Twenty-nine year-old city councilman Thomas Atkins was not a native New Englander; instead being born (appropriately enough for a musical story) in Elkhart, Indiana – the home of several musical instrument manufacturers. He overcame a bout of childhood polio to become the first African-American student president at both Elkhart High School and at Indiana University. Seven years before the US Supreme Court decided Loving vs. Virginia, he had to marry his college sweetheart in Michigan (as Indiana forbade interracial marriage). Atkins then pursued both a master’s (as well as his law degree) at Harvard, becoming the executive secretary of the NAACP as a law student.
Continuing his pioneering role, in 1967 he was the first black elected to Boston’s city council at-large – forthrightly campaigning in white neighborhood barrooms as well as in black districts. The busing crisis in the city saw threats against he and his family; his Roxbury home needed fortifications as a precaution. In 1971 he ran for the office of mayor (finishing in fourth place) and later that year was named to the cabinet of GOP governor Frank Sargent – the first African-American in a Massachusetts cabinet post (are you detecting a pattern here)?
During his time in public office, Atkins had risen to the rank of president of the Boston chapter of the NAACP and after leaving politics in 1975: eventually rose to be general council of the national NAACP. Following the suspension of executive director Benjamin Hooks, Thomas Atkins was named to replace him by NAACP chair Margaret Wilson. However, the organization’s board of directors voted to reinstate Hooks, so Atkins’ time in the top spot was limited. Atkins left the NAACP a year later, returning to private law practice.
Thomas Atkins died six years ago (June, 2008) of ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease – at the age of sixty-nine. He once said that power was colorless. “It’s like water: you can drink it, or drown in it”. The Boston Globe concluded its editorial on his passing with, “Boston has seen more fiery civil rights leaders than Atkins – but none smarter or more strategic”.
While it was Thomas Atkins’ plan, and James Brown’s fulfillment that saved the night: someone still had to approve and help make the event happen.
And this was Boston’s mayor Kevin White – who had only been elected to office four months earlier (after a six-year stint as the Massachusetts secretary of state). Although coming in second to her in the city’s non-partisan primary, he was able to (narrowly) defeat desegregation opponent Louise Day Hicks in the runoff/general election, which enabled White to have some credibility with the city’s growing black population. In fact, one of White’s first-term aides – named Barney Frank – said he was dubbed ‘Mayor Black’ because he was the first mayor to acknowledge the city’s racial problems.
Kevin White went on to serve four terms as the city’s mayor, losing a campaign for governor in 1970 (to the aforementioned Frank Sargent) and was briefly the top choice of George McGovern to be his 1972 running mate: but was persuaded against by Ted Kennedy (as White had supported Edmund Muskie in the primaries). George McGovern said later he wished he had overruled Kennedy, after the Thomas Eagleton situation damaged his candidacy.
Although never charged with any crime, White did not seek a fifth term in 1983, as corruption charges involving municipal contracts swirled around his administration. He was credited with helping to revive the city’s waterfront, downtown and financial districts, and the Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market district that opened during his tenure (in 1976) has been widely copied by other cities. Interestingly, his appearance onstage with James Brown would not be his last with a major musical act at the Boston Garden.
Four years later in 1972: he persuaded the Rhode Island state police to release – into his own custody – a rock band (and members of their entourage) who had been involved in an altercation with a photographer and were subsequently arrested and put in jail. Mayor White realized the potential for violence to break out if the show did not go on and even helped arrange a police escort up Interstate 95.
The recently (and sadly) defunct Boston Phoenix cited as #3 of the 40 Greatest Concerts in the city’s history …. this show by the Rolling Stones – as the mayor boasted on-stage, “The Stones have been busted … but I have sprung them!”
Kevin White died in January, 2012 at the age of 82 – and there is a statue of the four-term mayor outside Faneuil Hall today.
One of the interesting aspects of that concert was that James Brown was not a natural ally of Dr. King. Cultural differences abounded, as Brown was not inclined to believe in a mass movement based upon shared beliefs. And as the Rev. Al Sharpton has noted, “He respected Dr. King, and knew that King had given his life. But he did not believe in nonviolence, he always told me. And he felt that Dr. King was not the grassroots guy he was”. This would not be the only time James Brown went against-the-grain: as he was later questioned about his entertaining the troops in Vietnam, making friends with VP Hubert Humphrey and eventually endorsing Richard Nixon’s re-election.
Ultimately, James Brown decided to put himself into honoring King, as he felt King was sincere, practiced what he preached and risked his life doing so. Still, he had some trepidation – would people criticize him for advocating non-violence now? And cast in the role of pacemaker, would he be blamed should violence break-out? Finally, would he and his band members risk being the victims of violence, as trombonist Fred Wesley later admitted? All of this lay beneath the surface as concert preparations were made.
Beforehand, he had given statements to black-owned radio stations, urging non-violence in the wake of the assassination. Then, due to a non-compete agreement (relating to a taped television show, not yet scheduled to air), Brown stood to lose $60,000 as a result of this last-minute decision. Finally, as word of the television show began to spread, ticket-holders began to appear at the Boston Garden box office, seeking refunds for a show they could watch at home for free (in the end, only 2,000 people attended the show, vs. a capacity of 14,000).
James Brown was hesitant – as he had dealt with unscrupulous promoters early in his career and was reluctant to forgo so much. “James, James,” pleaded Atkins. “We’ll work this out! But right now you have an opportunity to help save this city.” The mayor agreed, promising the city would make-him-whole (which seems a matter of dispute today, as to just how much actually was made-up) and the time came for the show itself.
Thomas Atkins first spoke, before Kevin White did. This had to be awkward for him: he had never heard of James Brown before (as was probably true for most white men older than age 35 in 1968) and backstage, he had addressed Brown as “Jim” (no doubt thinking of the famed NFL player). The mayor stumbled through words about honoring Dr. King, but beforehand James Brown had said it all:
“Just let me say, I had the pleasure of meeting him and I said, ‘Honorable Mayor,’ … and he said, ‘Look man, just call me Kevin.’
And look, this is a swingin’ cat. Okay, yeah, give him a big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. The man is together!”
This helped set a tone of harmony for the show (and for the television audience).
One flashpoint that could have been a disruption was when several youths jumped on stage, grabbing the singer. And when the police forced them back, here was the worst possibility: white cops aggressively confronting (mostly) black youths on live TV. Here again, Brown stepped-in – asking the police to step-back, and then advising the audience of that request.
“I think I can get some respect from my own people”, and “Let’s respect ourselves. Are we together or are we ain’t?”
The response (and cooperation) he received set the tone for the rest of the show, which triumphantly achieved its objectives.
Film maker David Leaf (who already had The US vs. John Lennon to his credit) produced the aforementioned documentary entitled The Night James Brown Saved Boston – which was narrated by Dennis Haysbert, interspersing concert footage with commentary from Cornel West and Al Sharpton, recollections from journalists and band members who were present at the show.
Afterwards, praise began to drift in from different quarters after James Brown brought calm to a simmering city. “I remember going through the South End and every window seemed to be watching James Brown,” said Peter Wolf – the lead singer of the (Boston-based) J. Geils Band.
Barney Frank noted that “You never know what might have happened” otherwise, and the next month, James Brown was invited to a Washington state dinner for the prime minister of Thailand. When he took his seat, the singer found a note at the table saying, “Thanks much for what you are doing for your country, Lyndon Johnson.”
Despite the money dispute, the show became a major achievement of Brown’s illustrious career, right up to his death in 2006. And I gotta confess: when learning of the awful news that partly spoiled that Christmas Day – the thought crossed my mind that the Dutch techno band L.A. Style had their 1991 song’s famous chorus (in that nasally voice) finally come true, fifteen years later: “James Brown …….. is dead”.
In the aforementioned Boston Phoenix essay on the 40 Greatest Concerts in the city’s history: this show was voted #1 …. to no one’s surprise. Here is a partial set list from the show, and let’s close with the song that James Brown opened with … which was not one of his original compositions (although one he had recorded and often featured in his act).
That’s Life was written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon, and made famous two years earlier by Frank Sinatra. And below you can hear that night’s version.
But how did Maliki come to be prime minister of Iraq? He was the product of a series of momentous decisions made by the Bush administration. Having invaded Iraq with a small force – what the expert Tom Ricks called “the worst war plan in American history” – the administration needed to find local allies. It quickly decided to destroy Iraq’s Sunni ruling establishment and empower the hard-line Shiite religious parties that had opposed Saddam Hussein. This meant that a structure of Sunni power that had been in the area for centuries collapsed. These moves – to disband the army, dismantle the bureaucracy and purge Sunnis in general – might have been more consequential than the invasion itself.
And what happened to The Future Of Iraq Project which, whatever you might think of its ambition and the assumptions on which it was built, one of which is the now self-evident proposition that we pretty much suck at nation-building, at least was an attempt to construct a future beyond candy-and-flowers, and which at least had as its fundamental principle that, having wrecked Iraq, we had something of an obligation to fix it for the Iraqis? Donald Rumsfeld happened to it. Dick Cheney happened to it. The utter incompetence of the administration of C-Plus Augustus happened to it.[…]
Who-Lost-Iraq? sadly will become an issue in the midterm elections that are upcoming in the fall, and that it will do so before the country has been honest with itself in answering the question, “Why Iraq At All?”
A sunk cost is a cost that an entity has incurred, and which it can no longer recover by any means. Sunk costs should not be considered when making the decision to continue investing in an ongoing project, since you cannot recover the cost.
Sweep up the shards, shed some tears … and move on.
Missouri is one of more than 20 states that have refused to accept generous federal funding to expand their Medicaid programs, one of the key policies that the health reform law implemented to help increase the number of insured Americans. The states that have accepted the optional expansion are seeing historic drops in their uninsurance rates, as well as a host of other benefits like stable funding for hospitals in rural areas. Meanwhile, the states that have refused are preventing millions of impoverished Americans from accessing affordable insurance.
… struggling Americans who are living in poverty simply don’t have the resources to uproot their lives and try their luck in another state. “It’s impossible to understand what it is to move when you have nothing,” Jennifer Laurent, the executive director of a homeless shelter in Texarkana, on the border of Texas and Arkansas, explained in a recent interview with the New York Times. “To risk everything – losing your bed, your sense of community – for an uncertain benefit? There’s no way you want to risk that.”
Iowa’s Republican Senate nominee Joni Ernst told a local news outlet she’s “appalled” that her husband once called former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano a “traitorous skank” on Facebook.
As reported by the Des Moines Register, Democrats took a screenshot of Gail Ernst’s written comments, which had been up since April 2013, and seized on them. That prompted him to delete that and other inflammatory posts and apologize for them before Ernst denounced them.
[Her husband] also called Hillary Clinton a “hag” in a May 2013 post on Facebook.
Ernst: “I am shocked … shocked … that there is misogyny in the Republican Party!!!”
Born Ruby Ann Wallace in the early 1920s in Cleveland, actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee most identified with the part of New York City where she was raised.
“I don’t know who I would be if I weren’t this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It’s in me so deep,” Dee told NPR’s Tell Me More in 2007.[…]
It was during her time at the American Negro Theater that she also met Ossie Davis, the man who would become her husband.
She and Davis would become lifelong partners on screen and off. During the civil rights era in the 1960s, they marched for the rights of African-Americans, alongside Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Both were emcees for the March on Washington in 1963 and were associated with nearly every civil rights group, from the NAACP to the Black Panthers.
“I never thought about myself as an activist when we were coming along,” she said. “I love the people I love. I didn’t care whether they could be a Democrat, Republican, communist … anything but a racist.”
~
Deeply saddened to hear of Ruby Dee's passing. I'll never forget seeing her in "Do the Right Thing" on my first date with Barack. -mo
Recs on the weather jar comment are still welcome.
Friday Coffee Hour and check-in is an open thread and general social hour.
It’s traditional but not obligatory to give us a weather check where you are and let us know what’s new, interesting, challenging or even routine in your life lately. Nothing is particularly obligatory here except:
Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.
The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.
For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.
The important stuff to get you started:
– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.
– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)
– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, … or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).
– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”
– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”
(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)
Now she clutched him to her bosom, “You’re so beautiful,” she cried
“But if I hadn’t brought you in by now you might have died”
Now she stroked his pretty skin and then she kissed and held him tight
But instead of saying thanks, that snake gave her a vicious bite
[chorus]
“I saved you,” cried that woman
“And you’ve bit me even, why?
You know your bite is poisonous and now I’m going to die”
“Oh shut up, silly woman,” said the reptile with a grin
“You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in
Tweets …
@imillhiser: “The Tea Party’s been a tremendously positive input, I think… certainly for our party, you see the benefit.” -Eric Cantor, Nov. 10, 2010
@JuddLegum: Lesson GOP will take from Cantor’s loss: Kill immigration reform. Real lesson: No matter how much you pander to Tea Party, it’s never enough
@DanaHoule: This shows a resurgence of the Republican establ…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
@lizzwinstead: ERIC CANTOR IS TOO LIBERAL FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN VIRGINIA! #murica #YourPartyIsCurdled
The Republicans made a deal with the devil and released the hounds of hell … who are biting them in the hinder.
So, does this scare Republicans further right or back to the center? Will moderate Republicans unfurl their own banners, like the Tuesday Group tried to do?
Brookings Institution Congressional expert Thomas Mann told the Daily Beast the moderates were now powerless: “None, absolutely zero, zippo. … It’s sad but it’s true. The handful that remain lie low and change positions as needed. The party is much more homogenous, and the center of gravity has moved sharply to the right.” While the [“moderate”] Tuesday Group’s members, in theory, could have blocked any of the GOP’s agenda items by uniting with the Democratic minority, in practice they didn’t do so.
As a Republican watching a handful of conservative extremists push to either defund Obamacare or shut down the government, it was obvious from the start it wouldn’t end well. To make such a prominent and painful mistake makes Republicans like me worry for the survival of our party as a national force. […]
We are told Romney lost because he wasn’t conservative enough, despite the fact that he adopted every single ultra-conservative position suggested to him during the primaries. He signed every tax and women’s health pledge, filled out every right-wing questionnaire and promised to do anything and everything he was asked to by the people who now claim he wasn’t “one of theirs.”
The first thing congressional Republicans need to recognize is that we have an obligation to govern, not just sit on the sidelines saying no.
Methinks it is too late. Once you lay down with pigs, it is difficult to get the stench off. And by the time you do, it is often too late to convince people to give you another sniff.
The American people should take notice. Tonight, the Tea Party defeated Republican Leader Eric Cantor who is one of the most extreme Members of Congress.
Eric Cantor has long been the face of House Republicans’ extreme policies, debilitating dysfunction and manufactured crises. Tonight, is a major victory for the Tea Party as they yet again pull the Republican Party further to the radical right.
As far as the midterms elections are concerned, it’s a whole new ballgame.
It is too early to tell if it is a whole new ballgame or just one bad inning. But what it does do is change the narrative. Anyone can win if they outhustle the opposition and there is no guarantee that money will win elections.
