1/18/21 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Jennifer Hudson Performs Someday We’ll All be Free at the Obama White House

In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement is a concert hosted by President and Mrs. Obama featuring songs from the Civil Rights Movement as well as readings from famous Civil Rights speeches and writings with participants including Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and more. Continue reading

1/19/21 O&A NYC LOCKDOWN LEARNING: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: American History for Kids

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was a famous Civil Rights leader, pastor, and humanitarian. Continue reading

1/5/21 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Jennifer Lewis- Georgia, let’s flip the Senate!

Jennifer Lewis the mother of Black Hollywood share some mother wit- Georgia, let’s flip the Senate! Continue reading

12/28/20 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: The Kwanzaa Song – NGUZO SABA The Seven Principles

“Brothers & Sisters we have been blessed with a new day. Smiled upon with another opportunity to better ourselves. To strengthen our Families and support our community. Recite if you will”. -Clinton Sockwell II. Continue reading

12/19/20 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Trump Is Gone – The Comedy Quartet

Lets all sing along with the Comedy Quartet “Trump is gone.” Continue reading

11/24/20 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Why We Fight – Bravery Comes By Answering The Call

John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American civil rights leader and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and was the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death. Continue reading

11/3/20 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Martin Luther King, Jr. Urges People To Vote (KTLA News 1964)

Black and white footage of Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering a speech in front of The Boys Market in Los Angeles. This was one of many stops King made in Los Angeles as he traveled around the country encouraging people to vote in the upcoming election. Continue reading

10/31/20 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: Kamala by Jon Batiste

Late Show musical director Jon Batiste was moved to write a theme song for the person he thinks is The MVP (Most Vice Presidential), Senator Kamala Harris. 

Continue reading

10/11/20 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Aretha Franklin – Never Gonna Break My Faith (Official Video) ft. The Boys Choir of Harlem

 

Aretha Franklin – Never Gonna Break My Faith ft. The Boys Choir of Harlem

8/28/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Creative Outlet Offers Free Outdoor Classes

By Walter Rutledge

The bright late morning sun was still drying the dew off the grass, but Fort Green Park was already bustling with energy. As I climbed the white marble stairs the sound of music greeted me halfway up. Patiently waiting at the base of the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument was Jamel Gaines, a tall man sporting a retro curly “fro”.

Soon the large plaza in front of the monument begin to fill with dancers of all ages, shapes and sizes. Gaines, the founder of Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, has spent the more than 25 years building and cultivating the performing arts in Brooklyn. Long before Starbucks, trendy bars and little ugly dogs found Brooklyn’s urban landscape; Gaines had established an artistic foothold in the Fort Green section at 138 S Oxford Street.

If you have ever visited the Creative Outlet school, it has a feeling of a community/village. Parents monitor classes and assist with moving younger students between classrooms, there is a lunch concession that offers affordable hot meals and healthy snacks to the participants and family members. The focused classes resembled the most disciplined arts academy; the biggest difference of was the amount of melanin.

The pandemic put an end to the communal learning approach, and the use of traditional performing venues. Creative Outlet was forced to close its studios, but not suspend activities. Staying true to form Gaines began teaching free classes outdoors at Fort Green Park three days a week.

 
Creative Outlet Free Dance Class

On Thursday and Friday at 6pm and on Saturday at 11am Creative Outlet offers free classes dubbed as, “Culturally Healing and Movement Classes”. There are classes for all ages including a fun jazz-based movement class for children on Saturday morning. One of the most reassuring elements about these classes is that Gaines has brought Creative Outlet’s feeling of community with him. The first outdoor class had only six attendees; now there are over forty artists of all ages.

In addition to dance classes the Creative Outlet Queens, an interdisciplinary and multi-generational performing ensemble that also rehearses at Fort Green Park. The “Queens” will perform at Peace One Love a Black Lives Matter celebration on Saturday August 29th from 2-5pm at the Black Lives Matter Mural at Restoration Plaza (Fulton Street between New York Ave. and Brooklyn Ave). Although this is an outdoor event please practice social distancing whenever possible and please wear a mask.