Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

California
Compton rapper Game is the subject of a $250,000 lawsuit resulting from two canceled concerts in Beirut, Lebanon. The Crystal Group filed a lawsuit against Game in Manhattan Federal Court, claiming they wired the rap star $30,000 for a July 2011 performance in which he canceled. According to the lawsuit, the Crystal Group suffered massive damages when Game canceled at the last minute. As a result, the Crystal Group lost money on promotions, hotel and travel expenses, ticket sales and refunds. To make matters worse, the Crystal Group claims they agreed to reschedule the canceled show, only to have Game skip out on a second, makeup date in Dubai. The Crystal Group is suing Game, born Jayceon Taylor, and his touring company, BWS Touring, for breach of contract.
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The International Visitors Council of Los Angeles recently welcomed 20 talented musicians from Africa through the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program. These musicians are in Los Angeles to examine the use of Hip Hop to encourage social responsibility and civic engagement. During their stay they will have a unique opportunity to meet the culturally varied group Ozomatli, also known as “U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors.” Ozomatli is a seven-piece band that formed in Los Angeles and had long been a favorite of international audiences. The main purpose of the meeting with Ozomatli will be to examine the music scene of L.A. and the cultural influences that exist within the city. In addition, the visitors council has also arranged for the group to meet with American music producer Theron Feemster, who worked with such musical talent as Michael Jackson, Nelly, Mary J. Blige and JoJo.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

Arizona
Sisters Network Inc. has joined forces with Solis Women’s Health to provide free mammograms for women nationwide through Sisters’ Breast Cancer Assistance Program. The program provides free mammograms to all women and financial assistance for breast cancer survivors’ health-related expenses, including medical related lodging, co-payments, office visits and prosthesis. As part of the partnership, Solis will provide the mammogram screenings at their clinics located in Texas, Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 26,840 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women by the end of 2012. Sisters’ has provided more than 500 women with free mammogram screenings around the United States through the Breast Cancer Assistance Program.
 

California
The San Diego Music Thing (SDMT) conference is now in its fifth year drawing music industry professionals, talented musicians and aspiring professionals to San Diego. This year’s Music Thing will be held Sept. 14-15, with daytime events, including panels, mentoring, demo review sessions and an acoustic pool stage, held at the historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park. Featured speakers for the event include Chuck D from Public Enemy, Wayne Kramer (MC5) and Martin Atkins (TourSmart). The annual event is presented by the San Diego Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides experiential music programs to San Diego County schools via its Guitars for Schools Program, organizes the San Diego Music Awards show and provides professional development opportunities to the community’s musicians. Proceeds from both the San Diego Music Thing and the San Diego Music Awards benefit the Guitars for Schools Program. For more information, visit www.sandiegomusicthing.com.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

California
Los Angeles recently held its Sparkle Singing Challenge, sponsored by Sony Pictures and Myspace. The national singing competition promised winners $500 in cash and a chance to compete for the national grand prize—a trip to New York, an appearance on BET’s 106 & Park, a recording session with the Punch Monkeys producer and writing team, and a Myspace homepage feature. The challenge also took place in New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, Charlotte, St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Miami, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Philadelphia. Amateur singers between the ages of 13 and 40 were asked to sing a 60-second a capella song in front of judges DJ Swivel, Brély Evans from the original “Sparkle” film and radio personality Mando Fresko. The remake of Sparkle, which stars Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwick and CeeLo Green, opens Aug. 17 in theaters everywhere.
 

Florida
Only 41 percent of Black boys graduate from high school in the United States and more than half of all Black men without a high-school diploma go to prison at some time in their lives. Elder Mathes Guice, director of the Men’s Ministry at South Florida’s Koinonia Worship Center and president of the Practitioners Technical Institute, considers these facts evidence of a “war on our boys.” Koinonia’s Men’s Ministry has developed programs targeted toward mentors who teach men that through self-actualization and purpose fulfillment, they positively impact young lives around them. The training program consists of skill-building, effective parenting techniques, developing positive peer associations and cultivating activities that support responsible social growth. The mentor training seems to have taken positive effect. During the 2010-2011 school year alone, 94 percent of youth participants showed improvement in productive behaviors, including school attendance, grades and participation in pro-social activities.