HBCU Battle of the Bands becomes ‘more than a performance’
BY JADA CAMILLE
Marching bands, DJs,
members of Divine 9 fraternities
and sororities, and
more descended upon Central
Brooklyn’s Restoration Plaza
on Sept. 26 to showcase their
talents and celebrate their
culture at the second annual
HBCU Battle of the Bands.
“In the Historically Black
Colleges and Universities
world, band battles are a cultural
event where people from
past and present and alumni
all come together. This event
was kind of that for us,” said
Ty Brown, founder and director
of Brooklyn United Drumline.
Brooklyn Union Drumline
was one of dozens of participating
groups from as far
as Alabama, Louisiana and
as close as right here in New
York City. The event, Brown
said, was a chance to “come
together” with other borough
drum lines and band programs
to “show off what our
kids work on.”
But, Brown and other band
leaders hope their members
will learn more than just the
art of performance.
Locals gather at Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy for the second annual HBCU Battle of the Bands on Saturday,
Sept. 25, 2021. Photo by Caroline Ourso
COURIER L 32 IFE, OCTOBER 1-7, 2021
“From young to old we
teach them confi dence,”
Brown told Brooklyn Paper.
“We teach them that the confi
dence that they display in
marching band and in show
is the same confi dence that
they’re gonna do in school …
our young people in Brooklyn
United go to school with a confi
dence that, ‘I can learn,’ ‘I
can be the best.’”
As a member of Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, events like this
are vital to Bedford-Stuyvesant
Councilmember Robert
Cornegy, who served as the
face-off’s main sponsor.
“There’s a great relationship
with all these HBCUs. It’s
a very important part of Cornegy’s
identity,” said the pol’s
spokesperson, Raul Rothblatt.
“It’s a very strong network.”
“The time for silence is
over,” Cornegy said ahead of
the event. “It is time for a joyful
noise. If you haven’t gone
to an HBCU, then you have
not experienced the energy
of being on the Yard. Since
Brooklyn is such a huge African
American hub, it’s time to
bring the Yard here.”
Jada John, executive director
of the Big Apple Leadership
Academy for the Arts,
uses Empire Marching Elite
— a community-based marching
band — to help students
advance in their academic career.
“Our goal with that band
is to not only introduce and
sort of normalize show style
marching bands in New York
City but to also provide opportunities
for young people
to train and pursue marching
band scholarships to different
HBCUs,” said John.
Brown appreciates that
members of the community
were able to see the plethora of
music programs available to
Brooklyn residents live and in
action Saturday afternoon.
“It’s one thing to talk about
it and it’s another thing to see
and experience it,” he said.
BY BEN VERDE
Brooklynites desperate
for open space can now board
the ferry to Governors Island
year-round, as the greenspace
oasis will remain open
365 days per-year, according
to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“The COVID-19 pandemic
has created an unprecedented
opportunity to reimagine
public space in this city – and
now, we’re proud to keep the
crown jewel of our harbor
open to New Yorkers all year
round,” said de Blasio Tuesday.
The island, located in New
York Harbor roughly 400
yards from Brooklyn, and 700
yards from Manhattan, will
have ferry service from both
boroughs throughout all four
seasons — marking a change
from the usual operational
season from May-to-October.
The mayor announced that
New York City ferry service
will be expanded to stop at
Governor’s Island daily, with
the island staying open from
7 am to 6:15 pm. The park
will also expand its cultural
offerings when the mercury
drops, according to City Hall
offi cials.
The NYC Ferry will provide
access from DUMBO, Red
Hook, and Brooklyn Bridge
Park in Brooklyn, and the
Lower East Side in Manhattan
— with one-way tickets
priced at $2.75, the same cost
as a swipe from a MetroCard.
The fi rst spot of land in
New York to be occupied by
Dutch settlers, Governors Island
was used for military operations
starting around the
Revolutionary War and ending
in 2003 when the federal
government transferred the
land to New York for use as a
public space.
Since then, it’s earned
a reputation as one of New
York’s most dynamic green
spaces, unique in its status as
a full island dedicated parkland,
with art galleries, food
trucks, a high school, and an
in-the-works climate center.
“This announcement is
an exciting moment in realizing
our vision to increase
equitable access to this remarkable
resource and is
an important step in realizing
Governors Island’s full
potential,” said Clare Newman,
president of the Trust
for Governors Island.
Game of musical fairs
Governors Island to remain open year
round, with ferry service from Brooklyn
BROOKLYN
Land to see
Governors Island will remain open year round.
Julienne Schaer/Governors Island Trust