Obfoiy Jacquette Tells Plans

Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Co.) Watts Times (Cir. W. 25,000) c..lllle,a's P. C. B. Es t. / 888 obfoiyJacquette Tells Plans for Future Watts Summer Festivals BY DONALD JAMES Tommy Jacquette, the long ti me executive director of the Watts Summer Festival, would be the first to tell you that he is not the founding father of the annual event. "People are always saying that I am the founder of the Watts Summer Festival," said Jacquette. "But I'm not. I've been with the festival since its inception in 1966, but the festival was actually started by a group of community activists, Photo By DONALD JAMES which included people like Stan Tommy Jacquette Sanders, Baltimore Scott, Cecil to make it clear, because as time Ferguson and Billy and Wanda passes, people have the tendency Tidwell, just to name a few. I to rewrite history or forget certain became the festival's executive See PLANS, page 18 director in 1968. However, I want • grand marshals for the event, tim. And, there were those for PLAINS including Stevie Wonder, Sammy political reasons that wanted to see Continued from front page Davis, Jr. Richard Pryor, the demise of the festival. But, we parts of it. I don't want people to Muhammad Ali, T'Keyah Crystal have been able to survive. forget the people responsible for Keymah and Isaac Hayes. Attendance continues to climb and starting the festival, because one · Raised in Watts, Jacquette the festival is not going any person should not take credit." attended Fremont High School where." While the executive director before going to Cal Poly Pomona, Looking forward to where the should to be commended for his where he majored in political sci festival is going in the new millen modesty, the truth of the matter is ence and public administration. nium, he said, "We are working in Heavily influenced by Malcolm X that the Watts Summer Festival conjunction with WLCAC to and other black activists of the and Jacquette are synonymous. rebuild the Watts Summer 1960s, Jacquette was a major force Through his dedication, efforts and Festival's name and reputation, in pushing for the rights of blacks guidance, the event has become the bigger and better than in the past. in Los Angeles. By many oldest African American cultural We want to broaden our economic festival in California, and one of accounts, he and others with the base through the use of the latest the oldest (if not the oldest), festi same mindset, were called black technologies in order to be self val of its kind in the country. militants. supporting and not depend so Now in its 34th year, the festi "We were called black mili much on contributions. We want val, which will be held Aug. 4-6 tants because we were exercising to engage in economic develop on the grounds of Watts_ I abot. our rights to self-determination as ment to accomplish our goals." Community..-A-€tion Committee on a people, to speak our cultural Jacquette also said that in Central Avenue, will feature art truths" said Jacquette. "The ne 2002, the festival would like to exhibits, carnival rides, a chil black liberation movement that present WattStax II, a repeat of a dren's village, community forums was born in the country was concert that in 1972 drew more and lots of entertainment. (See sparked in Watts. So, beginning in than 82,000 attendees to the Los related article for more details.) the mid-l 960s, I was a part of pret Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The "A major characteristic of this ty much everything that was hap concert became a top grossing film festival is that it has stayed cultur pening in Watts to advance the sta and successful soundtrack. Some al specific throughout the changing tus of black people, which includ of the acts 30 years ago included demographics of not only Watts, ed the Black Panther Party, the Stax artists such as Isaac Hayes, but the entire city," Jacquette said. Community Alert Patrol and The the Staple Singers, Carla Thomas, "And, like any and all multi-cultur Sons of Watts. I've always had the Rufus Thomas, the Barkays and al societies, we must be recognized best interest of the community in Albert King. for our cultural contributions as mind." ''The concert was a joint effort well as a cultural entity in this city, Although he has always loved between Stax Records and the just like the other cultural groups the community of Watts, he admits Watts Summer Festival," Jacquette in Los Angeles. So, we are cultur there have been forces in the com explained. "It was, and still may ally specific in celebrating our her munity with other agendas. itage, but we invite all ethnic be, the largest crowd of mostly ''The festival, in the past, has African Americans, to attend a groups to come and share." had problems with the establish Rising out of the ashes of the concert event in America. So, yes, ·ment and gang activities in the 1965 Watts revolt, the festival has we are beginning to talk with some community," Jacquette said. ''The become an event of pride for of the producers of WattStax I festival fell victim to these forces, African Americans throughout Los about another concert featuring just like the community and the Angeles. Over the years, numer some of today's top musical artists. ous celebrities have served as people in the community fell vie- I feel it's going to happen." .

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