REGGAE CULTURE SALUTE PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE WAILERS
A memo for women of color New outlet for music
careers are launched. No, your
place at the table is close to the
head and with “The Memo” by
Minda Harts you’ll see how to
get there.
Several years ago, a book circulated
among businesswomen
that advised them to “lean in,”
speak up, and coalesce. Harts
says she eagerly read the book
but, once finished, she was confused.
Like most women of color
in business, she’d always “leaned
in” because she had to. That
book spurred her to come up
with “The Memo.”
“The Ugly Truth,” she says,
is that few organizations teach
women of color how to deal with
mostly-white workplaces. It’s not
just a matter of showing up and
doing the work; you need to survive
and build “your squad.”
In business-speak, that’s networking,
and it’s top of the list
in importance. You may not feel
like going to Happy Hour with
coworkers who’ve irritated you
all day but go anyhow. By joining
in, even for a minute, you
give people a chance to get to
know you. You might find an
office friend.
For women of color, office
politics are two-pronged: you
must learn “respectability politics”
Members of the Jamaica’s musical group The Wailers pose for pictures with students during
a visit to a school as part of a World Food Programme event in of Bogota, Friday, Sept
11, 2009. Associated Press / Fernando Vergara, File
in addition to the other
kind. Having a mentor will help;
in the meantime, don’t burn
bridges, don’t gossip, and watch
your emotions at work.
It sounds like just another
platitude, but know your worth.
Invest in yourself and stand out,
then get the self-confidence you
need to ask for what you want.
Just remember, salary isn’t the
only thing to request: more
vacation, a company car, and
flex-time are all nice bargaining
chips.
Finally, if you’re white and
reading this book, pay attention
.Says Harts, “… women of
color will be the majority of the
workforce by… 2060; if I were a
white woman, I would do better.
”There is no denying the usefulness
of this book, nor its
truth. “The Memo” offers helpful
words for those who are the lone
women of color at their workplaces.
It teaches strength in the
face of racism, on hair issues,
self-confidence, and for anyone
who needs to school coworkers
while keeping her job. It gives
young women of color a sisterhood,
albeit one made of paper.
And yet, there’s discord in this
book that a deeper look exposes.
Caribbean L 38 ife, October 4 - 10, 2019 BQ
At two particular points
here, author Minda Harts chastises
white women for making
assumptions and “sweeping
generalizations about ‘women’”
without addressing any of the
unique challenges that women
of color face at work. This creates
a paradox, since readers
may notice overgeneralizations
about white women that don’t
allow room for those who are
not clueless. That sets up further
conundrums, to be sure.
Overall, go into “The Memo”
looking for help and you’ll absolutely
find it, just as you’ll find
that you’re not alone. Go in eyeswide
open when you take on
this book.
And then, take a seat…
first ever New York performance
of the official Wailers
Trio Tribute Group and the
presentation of the CPR Pinnacle
Award for Excellence
to The Wailers, with Neville
“Bunny Wailer” Livingston,
O.M. on hand to participate
in a pre-event VIP reception
and accept the award during
the event.
McKetty said the tribute
trio comprises contemporary
artists, Asadenaki Livingston,
son of Bunny Wailer; Jason
Wright and Hervin Bailey.
They will perform The Wailers’s
music that dates back to
the 1960s and 70s, “introducing
to some and remind others
what the foundation of
the music was like,” McKetty
said.
To round out the evening,
he said the CPR Allstars with
vocalist Shango Trex and
contributions from various
guests, including dub poet Ras
Takura, will pay further tribute
to The Wailers — Robert
“Bob” Marley, O.M.; Hubert
“Peter Tosh” McIntosh, O.M.;
and Bunny Wailer, with classics
from their solo careers.
McKetty said dancers
from the Asoso International
Ensemble will also perform.
He said the event also
marks the lunch of The Legacy
Project, a new CPR initiative
to curate and digitally
present information about
reggae pioneers.
“Arguably, the combination
of the decade and a half of
The Wailers added to the solo
careers of Bob Marley, Peter
Tosh, and Bunny Wailer make
the trio the premier contributor
to the development and
spread of reggae music, and
we are honored to pay this
tribute to The Wailers as we
launch our Legacy Project
initiative,” said McKetty, who
is also CPR’s co-founder.
“Each year, Reggae Culture
Salute attracts a diverse intergeneration
audience of reggae
lovers who welcome the
opportunity to celebrate roots
reggae music in an atmosphere
of authenticity,” he
said. “Adults are encouraged
to bring children to experience
this special moment in
New York reggae history.”
He said doors open at 7:00
pm for networking and a VIP
reception, where VIP ticket
holders have the opportunity
to meet and greet the honoree
and other artists. The performances
start at 8:00 pm.
For tickets, visit the Kumble
Theater box office http://
kumbletheater.org/ or call
(718) 421-6927.
Continued from Page 37
Book cover of “The Memo”
by Minda Harts.
Continued from Page 37
ers in an exciting new format
in coordination with project
releases,” Driven said.
Nathaniel Wright, label
manager for 21st Hapilos,
hosted the segments that featured
guests from the entertainment
industry.
Driven said the first live
feature spotlighted Jamaicanbased
producer Chevaughn
Davis “sharing his experiences
with teamwork, building
the riddim and finding the
right vibe.”
“He has a new project coming
out called ‘Lifetime,’ an
extended play record from
the label, ‘One Time Music,’”
Driven said. “It features tracks
from various talent including
Jahvillani, Dexta Daps and
Squash, the artist behind the
hit song ‘Trending’ that helped
bring visibility to Chevaughn’s
work.
“As a producer, Chevaughn’s
approach is to listen
for is a sound that his team
knows will work, a catchy
phrase or hook that will help
to steer the direction of the
project,” she added. “Without
a particular artist in mind,
the team is able to create
something and then link up
with someone that makes a
good fit for the vocals.
“Bottom line, this is what
we think people are gonna
like,” Driven continued. “We
try to find a sound that we
know is gonna be a hit. Having
a message or creating
something that people can
sing along plays an integral
role in popularity and also
longevity.”
Continued from Page 37
Skubz (left) and Sonovich
of One Time Music.
Marie Driven
/
/
/kumbletheater.org
