ASNEAA Community Legacy Project (CLP) is on the way to a record breaking year for programming throughout NYC! CLP x America 250th Anniversary is going with four pop-up activations to date @ Fort Greene Park (FGP), Commodore Barry Park (CBP), Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays, and Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP)! The recognition for America been evident, just check out the global mapping and s/o to National Park Service (stewards of the nation’s cultural heritage). The ASNEAA global lens expands the social justice scope to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and human rights worldwide- hence the United Nations (UN) as a north star. Also s/o to Frederick Douglass for the compass!
My current read is an example as to why everyone isn’t as enthusiastic about the America 250th commemorations. Similar to the legalization of weed, there’s too much unaddressed racism to be celebratory. Black August is the perfect time to PAUSE, recalibrate where we at and figure out exactly what heritage were celebrating: democracy or white supremacy. Though ASNEAA centers BIPOC communities, the organization doesn’t identify as Black Nationalist or radical. Revolutionary, yes, because to see the humanity in BIPOC narratives is the real state of the art perspective AKA racism antidote.
August also celebrates the “Birth of Hip-Hop”; when DJ Kool Herc hosted a “Back to School” Jam in the Bronx. The music genre is a blend of predecessors like jazz, blues, funk, reggae, rock, gospel, etc. into an undeniable sound and energy. I’ve acknowledged the music genre / culture at ASNEAA with annual themes like the “All Eyez On Me” year (concurrent with #HipHop50) + social media posts: a s/o for Hip-Hop History Month (November), a Rick Ross “The Perfect Day to Boss Up” book review, and a reflection on the Jay-Z exhibit at Brooklyn Public Library. I also added geotags to the ASNEAA global mapping centering hip-hop and pop culture icons- in dedication to legacy. This includes The Hip-Hop Museum (THHM); nearby the latest ASNEAA CLP pop-up activation for Hip-Hop Celebration Day @ Mill Pond Park (MPP):
And like the nation, the music genre that was birthed here is also figuring out maturization and commercialization of art. Hip-Hop is no longer ONLY relegated to urban communities and has transformed into an international phenomena- like the Notorious B.I.G. quote outside THHM says, “It was all a dream… you never thought that hip-hop would take it this far”. As a fan of the music genre since my coming of age in NYC, standing in the front the museum is a truly a testament to the power of community. At CLP x Hip-Hop Celebration Day, ASNEAA invited programming participants to share their name and BIPOC heritage:
CLP x Hip-Hop Celebration Day participants were also invited to explore BIPOC heritage geotags on the website and arts as advocacy creative expression project: social justice painting / coloring sheets (though the neighborhood had plenty of art on theme with the event- legacy):
And as hip-hip / BIPOC heritage teaches us, the hustle don’t stop. s/o to all the pedestrians at Bronx Terminal Market (including satellite THHM location- The Culture Lab) for checking in:
Due to CLP programming rescheduling, ASNEAA didn’t capture the weekend crowd as planned to scale the business of social justice. One goal for this event was to bring awareness to THHM One Dollar, One Mic, One Movement fundraiser. Similar to the growth of the music genre, this is an opportunity to teach hip-hop fans how the business and community legacy is established with brick and mortar institutions like THHM. Capitalism is real and even the business of social justice requires funding and financial literacy- hence the ASNEAA reparations lens. Because “cut the check” can be interpreted as “control the culture” if there is no clarity on what is being repaired (and built). At ASNEAA, the baseline is human rights for people of ALL AGES and BACKGROUNDS. s/o to Public Enemy (Chuck D + Flavor Flav) for giving the culture permission to FIGHT THE POWER with art + activism because the revolution is in the recognition of our shared humanity and intellectual property.
Plus #legendhasit: #HipHop50 was on the world stage and THHM got paid! Never give them [ALL THE] credit for that, the community made it that.
ASNEAA CLP x Hip-Hop Celebration Day is on the map in none other than the boogie down Bronx! And because we are achieving business goals (UPTOWN BABY- check!), a portion of this weekend’s programming donations will be shared with THHM. Make sure to also do your part or don’t be out here claiming hip-hop anything. here’s to legacy (and staying REAL) for life!
Thank you to the CLP x Hip-Hop Celebration Day host, participants, and donors:
