Celebrate Brooklyn knows how to throw an amazing free party with a serious message; Vote, it ain’t illegal yet!
Marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the message was simple but powerful, VOTE! The event was a flurry of powerful information on why we must not forget the struggles of our nations past and to move forward with one of the only tools we have that matters, and that is our votes. Fifty years ago, African-Americans weren’t allowed to use the same restrooms nor were they able to drink out of the same water fountains as whites never mind having a voice in important matters. As messed up as that seems it’s our history and we must not forget the struggles of the many.
For 3.5 hours the stage at Prospect Park was a celebration of our victory against oppression including spoken word from Ramya Ramana and Carl Hancock Rux, comedy from Hari Kondabolu and music from respected artists Maya Azucena, Vernon Reid, D-Nice, Burning Spear, Fredericks Brown and a beautiful teen choir. It was powerful, it was funny, it was sad knowing what so many people endured to get this far and that we aren’t done yet, we as a nation, still have some work to do.
Article by: Shayne Hanley