Black History
Smashed in Memphis, Jimi Hendrix guitar headed for National Museum of African American Music
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Jimi Hendrix is one of the most important figures in American pop culture, not just American music,” said Dr. Steven Lewis, curator at NMAAM. “This guitar provides a physical reminder of the power of his music, his personality and his brand of self-expression that was as influential in the 1960s as it is today.”
By George Tillman, Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Many years ago, I started a project to bring HIV and AIDS awareness to the Memphis community. In 1998, I coordinated a World AIDS Day awareness benefit and that’s where my journey to owning a piece of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar began.
John Tigrett, the owner of Memphis’ Hard Rock Cafe, opened his doors so a community of Stax musicians and singers could put together a fundraiser for World AIDS Day that year.
This is where I met Larry Lee, a guitarist who played with Jimi Hendrix, Al Green and many other great stars. And as fate would have it, we would meet again. This next meeting was happenstance as Larry happened to be living in the same rooming house as my girlfriend at the time.
He called me over and said, “I want to give you something.” I said OK, and when he came out of the back room, he had something wrapped in this black towel, just as you see in this photo. I unwrapped the towel and saw a broken guitar. I asked, “What is this? Is this some kind of joke?”
“No,” he replied. “You know whose guitar this is?” I told him no and then he said it was Jimi Hendrix’s guitar.
I asked him if he played with Jimi Hendrix and when he said yes, I was shocked. Of course, I wanted to know more about how he ended up with the guitar all these years later. He said they were on stage playing and Jimi was breaking up the guitars and breaking up the equipment and doing what he always does at the end of playing.
Larry said the guitar broke and part of it hit him on the leg. After the show, he picked it up and kept it.
I was amazed to hear this history and touched at the same time. To this day, I’ve never really talked about it for fear something would happen to it before I could share this story and precious artifact.
Now it will be placed temporarily in the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville, where visitors can view this smashed guitar – with its neck and fretboard still intact – for themselves.
“Jimi Hendrix is one of the most important figures in American pop culture, not just American music,” said Dr. Steven Lewis, curator at NMAAM. “This guitar provides a physical reminder of the power of his music, his personality and his brand of self-expression that was as influential in the 1960s as it is today.”
NMAAM, set to open this year, is envisioned as the only museum dedicated to educating, preserving and celebrating the influence African-Americans have had on music. I am happy to contribute to this endeavor.
Along with the guitar, NMAAM will feature the guitar in its Crossroads Gallery along with other items of Jimi’s, vintage concert materials.
George Tillman, a screenwriter and filmmaker, has been in the entertainment industry for 40 years.
Activism
S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System
Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.
By Carla Thomas
San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.
“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”
According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.
“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”
Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.
SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.
Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.
Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.
Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.
Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.
“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 1 – 7, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 1 – 7, 2024
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Activism
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