Lighting The Road To The Future Data Zone Page 6 CONGO SQUARE “The People’s Paper” February 11 - February 17, 2012 46th Year Volume 37 www.ladatanews.com Experience New Orleans Black History Page 2 Newsmaker Commentary Champion of RIP Don Change Cornelius Page 4 Page 8 Page 2 February 11 - February 17, 2012 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Experience New Orleans Black History New Orleans African-American Museum enriching . So we have compiled a list of places we Diaspora . The Museum is housed in the beautiful Written and Edited by Edwin Buggage would like to suggest as we encourage you to be a Treme Villa, considered by some to be one of the tourist in your own City . Experience this cultural finest examples of a Creole Villa in the City . Built jewel we call New Orleans . A City that is truly the in 1828-29, the home retains many of its original New Orleans: A Cultural Jewel most African influenced City in America . decorative details . The grounds also house five New Orleans is a City with a rich cultural heri- restored buildings to visit . A centerpiece of the ex- tage . At Data News Weekly for over 45 years we New Orleans African-American Museum hibits at the African-American Museum is the Lou- continue to chronicle the living history of this Located in the heart of Treme, the oldest surviv- isiana-Congo: The Bertrand Donation, a collection amazing City . In the month of February we not ing Black community in the United States, the New of exquisite African beadwork, costumes, masks, only want you to encourage you to observe and Orleans African-American Museum is dedicated to textiles, musical instruments and divination objects celebrate Black History Month, we want you to go protecting, preserving, and promoting through is a major part of the museum¹s permanent collec- out and experience some of the wonderful things education the history, art, and communities of tion . This 70-piece assortment of original African there are to do in New Orleans that are culturally African-Americans in New Orleans and the African artwork from the Democratic Republic of Congo Cover Story, Continued on next page. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Danny Bakewell Jr. Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 8 Glenn Jones Brandon Brooks VP Advertising Edwin Buggage & Marketing Kichea S. Burt Newsmaker . 4 Opinions . 9 Cheryl Mainor NNPA Newswire Managing Editor Edwin Buggage Art Direction & Production State & Local News . 5 National News . 11 Editor MainorMedia.com Lynesia Carson Editorial Submissions Executive Assistant [email protected] Data Zone . 6 June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story February 11 - February 17, 2012 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from previous page. illuminates parallels between ev- eryday life in the Congo and Loui- siana folk culture . Backstreet Museum Also located in Treme, is the Backstreet Cultural Museum which is where visitors find an amazing assortment of memora- bilia indigenous to Mardi Gras, jazz funerals and other traditions found only in New Orleans . The Backstreet Museum, once the home of the Blandin Funeral Home, houses the City’s largest collection of Mardi Gras Indian costumes . These brilliantly col- ored and elaborately designed costumes are hand-made by local artists who belong to the various Mardi Gras Indian groups and The George & Leah McKenna Museum of African-American Art Backstreet Cultural Museum are part of the continuation of this amazing tradition . Each costume marriage ceremonies and a host also features storytelling, poetry, seum presents works by local and leans, welcoming both free and boasts thousands of beads, shells, of other events . Today it is still music, dance and photography . internationally-renowned artists slave as worshippers . It continues rhinestones, sequins and feathers a place that is significant to the Other events have included plays such as Henry Ossawa Tanner, today as a beacon of humanity and and takes a year to make . These cultural contribution of African- about racism, film screenings of William Edouard Scott, Clemen- spirituality, both a history lesson costumes are artistic treasures . Americans to New Orleans . African-American documentaries tine Hunter, Ernie Barnes and Ul- and an example of 21st Century Over several generations, the and weekly samba, drumming rich Jean Pierre . Located in New Christianity in action . Mardi Gras Indians have been Ashé Cultural Center and wellness clinics . Orleans, the McKenna Museum an integral part of Mardi Gras Ashe Cultural Center has been is committed to the preservation Amistad Research Center history . The Mardi Gras Indians at the forefront of a revival on McKenna Museum of the distinct culture found within The Amistad Research Center tradition or “Masking Indian” is Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard The George & Leah McKenna the African-American community is the nation’s oldest, largest and a paying of homage to the Native formerly Dryades Street . Once a Museum of African-American of Louisiana . The McKenna’s also most comprehensive indepen- American from a bond beginning center of African-American com- Art is an institution that collects, have another museum dedicated dent archive specializing in the shared in the 18th and 19th Centu- merce, today there space is a interprets and preserves the vi- to free people of color and their History of African-Americans and ries, when runaway slaves sought multi-purpose facility used to pres- sual aesthetic of people of African contributions to America called other Ethnic Minorities . The Cen- safety among the various tribes ent the work of emerging artist in descent in North America and Le Musée de f .p .c . ter is housed in Tulane Univer- living in the area . Today more than 20 tribes are found in Louisi- ana—White Cloud Hunters, Wild Apache, Flaming Arrows and Yellow Pocahontas, and the Wild Magnolias to name a few . These tribes design and create elabo- rately beaded and feathered cos- tumes worn only on Mardi Gras day and the Sunday preceding or following St . Joseph’s Day . These costumes can be worn only in the year in which they are created . Congo Square Considered the heartbeat of the African-American culture and cradles that gave birth to Black life in New Orleans, located in the southern corner of Arm- strong Park is Congo Square, an open space where slaves and free Blacks and some Whites gath- ered throughout the 19th Cen- St. Augustine Catholic Church of New Orleans Congo Square tury meetings, open markets con- sisting of food, and other items addition to being used as a space beyond . Through innovative pro- St. Augustine Catholic sity’s Tilton Memorial Hall . From for sale accompanied by African for community meetings and grams and exhibits that engage Church of New Orleans its beginnings as the first archives dance and drumming celebra- events . Ashé comes from a Yo- versatile audiences, the McKenna St Augustine Catholic Church documenting the modern Civil tions . This is arguably the begin- ruban word that closely translates Museum seeks to make African is the Oldest African-American Rights Movement, the Amistad ning of the second-line tradition to “amen ”. Ashé not only attracts Diasporan Fine Art accessible to Catholic Church in the U .S . dating Research Center has experienced and it also played a substantial role and inspires artists but activates visitors of all ages . The institution back into the antebellum period . considerable expansion and its in the development of jazz . For the artistic, creative and entrepre- also actively identifies and pres- Located in the Treme neighbor- mission continues to evolve . The some Congo Square continues to neurial possibilities available in ents emerging artists alongside hood of New Orleans, Louisiana, history of slavery, race relations, be a spiritual base and people use the community . From children to well-established fine arts masters . and since its dedication in 1842, the Square for rituals and events seniors, the organization works to Featuring the private collection of St . Augustine started as a church Cover Story, including religious ceremonies, involve the entire community and Dr . Dwight McKenna, the Mu- of the Black citizens of New Or- Continued on page 10. Page 4 February 11 - February 17, 2012 Newsmaker www.ladatanews.com Local Business Leader Selected as a “Champion of Change” As Part of President Obama’s Winning the Future Initiative Justin T . Augustine, III, Vice lighted each week ranging from est cities . This award in- President of Veolia Transporta- educators to entrepreneurs to spires me to continue to tion Services and General Man- community activists . The Office innovate, improve, and ager of the Regional Transit Au- of Public Engagement will host impact positive change thority in New Orleans has been an event at the White House to for the community,” con- selected by President Barack honor Augustine for “Winning cluded Augustine . Obama’s Administration as a the Future” and further empower- As a part of the Cham- ”Champion of Change”, which is ing and inspiring other members pions of Change events, part of the President’s Winning of the community . Mr . Augustine will meet the Future initiative . On Febru- “I am truly honored that the with fellow innovators ary 15th, the White House will be work I have done in New Orleans and participate in a featuring leaders who are innova- is being recognized by President discussion with other tors in infrastructure .