Lighting The Road To The Future “Downtown Injun Culture” Data Zone Film Premiere Page 6 “The People’s Paper” December 7 - December 13, 2019 54th Year Volume 32 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive New Orleans Black Chorale Annual Christmas Concert “We Have Heard the Angels Sing” Page 2 Newsmaker State & Local Saving Celebrating St. Augustine “SaintsGiving” Catholic Church Page 4 Page 5 Page 2 December 7 - December 13, 2019 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com New Orleans Black Chorale Annual Christmas Concert “We Have Heard the Angels Sing” Chorale members were African prints for the Annual Black History Concert. By Carol Dotson Orleans . mas Lighting of Canal Street, and its own annual con- Originally under the direction of the late Edwin B . certs and various music series concerts . The New Orleans Black Chorale grew out of an en- Hogan, it was comprised of soloists, people from orga- Throughout its history, the Chorale has not only semble that sang with the New Orleans Philharmonic nized church choirs, college choirs, and others with an given the New Orleans community access to music Symphony when it presented the first “Symphony in interest in preserving American Negro Spirituals . not usually heard but has also provided scholarships Black” in 1980, a concert that highlighted the contri- The Chorale has sung throughout the region, per- to music students at Xavier, Dillard, and Southern Uni- butions of Black artists to the cultural wealth of New forming for Pope John Paul’s 1987 visit, for the Christ- versities . Cover Story, Continued on page 3. 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 Art Direction & E. Benjamin Production Glenn Summers CEO/Publisher Pubinator.com Data News Weekly Cover Story . 2 Dollars & Sense . 8. Edwin Buggage Staff Writers Editorial Submissions Carol Dotson datanewseditor@ Editor Felice Leon bellsouth.net Newsmaker . 4 Health News . 9. Darcie Ortique Sharonda Green City of New Orleans Advertising Inquiries Cora Lester datanewsad@ State & Local News . 5 National News . 11. Executive Assistant John Amis bellsouth.net Associated Press June Hazeur N.O. File Photo Distribution Data Zone . 6 . Mickey Welsh/Advertiser On The Run Accounting Shawn Colin Courier Services 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 December 7 - December 13, 2019 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. “Christmas is my favorite time of year,” Chorale member Kathy Celestine places NOBC Medallion The group will perform an assortment of seasonal selections includ- said Chorale member Kathy Celestine.“I on 2019 Honoree Damon Smothers, Founder, and CEO of ing Ralph Manuel’s Alleluia, Andre Thomas’ “Rock in Jerusalem,” Rogie know that it is for a lot of people and it’s Smother Academy. Clark’s “Angels Ring Them Bells” and “The Work of Christmas” by Dan a time to spread goodwill. Forrest, based on Howard Thurman’s Iconic Poem. The New Orleans Black Cho- at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 for a lot of people and it’s a time “Angels Ring Them Bells” and Voice, Conducting, Vocal Diction rale will once again bring beautiful Jackson Avenue at 6:30 pm . The to spread goodwill . The music “The Work of Christmas” by Dan and Pedagogy, and is the Conduc- music to the City of New Orleans theme is “We Have Heard the An- the New Orleans Black Chorale Forrest, based on Howard Thur- tor of the Xavier Concert Choir this Christmas season . The group gels Sing .” The concert is free and performs is what makes it spe- man’s Iconic Poem . and University Chorus . He is pas- which will celebrate its 40th Year open to the public . cial . The music you’ll hear at the The Chorale is mourning the sionate about keeping the Ameri- in the Spring will perform at their “Christmas is my favorite time Christmas Concert is not your recent loss of longtime President can Negro Spiritual alive . Annual Christmas Concert sched- of year,” said Chorale member typical Christmas Carols that Harold Boucree . Boucree served “The New Orleans Black Cho- uled for Saturday, December 7th Kathy Celestine . “I know that it is people always sing . Of course, as president of the chorale for rale has had a tradition of sharing we do those, but we take it to many years and was also the un- Christmas with the community another level, and it is definitely official historian of the group . He through song and reminding ev- New Orleans Black Chorale 2019-2020 an experience that shouldn’t be will be recognized at the Christ- eryone of the meaning of Christ- missed .” mas Concert and at the Black His- mas . Our theme this year focuses Christmas Concert – The group will perform an tory Concert . on the carols and songs that tell “We Have Heard the Angels Sing” assortment of seasonal selec- The Conductor and Musical the story from the Angel’s . Wheth- tions including Ralph Manuel’s Director is John E . Ware –D .M .A . er African American or European, Alleluia, Andre Thomas’ “Rock he is a Professor of Music at Xavi- each selection has mention of the Saturday, December 7th in Jerusalem,” Rogie Clark’s er University where he teaches angels,” says Ware . Trinity Episcopal Church 6:30 pm 1329 Jackson Ave . FREE Black History Concert Sunday, March 8th 5:00 pm Xavier University’s Administration Auditorium FREE Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Wednesday, March 11th 7:30 pm By admission Christ Church Third Sunday Series – Covington Sunday, March 15, 2020 5:00 pm Christ Episcopal Church 120 New Hampshire St ., Covington FREE For more information visit www.neworleansblackchorale.com Page 4 December 7 - December 13, 2019 Newsmaker www.ladatanews.com Celebrating “SaintsGiving” The Black and Gold Clinch NFC South for 3rd Straight Season E. Benjamin ticked down and Atlanta driving to Data News Weekly attempt to tie the game . Contributor All-Pro Cameron Jordan, who had 4 sacks on the day, put the nail It was a “SaintsGiving” Spec- in the coffin sacking Matt Ryan on tacular as the New Orleans Saints a fourth-down play from the New clinched the NFC South winning Orleans 44 with 38 seconds remain- the Division Title for the third ing . straight year beating their bitter ri- The Saints (10-2) and prepar- vals the Atlanta Falcons by a score ing for what is perhaps the biggest of 26-18 . game of their season where they The teams Swiss Army Knife will face the (10-2) San Francisco and Jack-of-All-Trades Taysom Hill 49ers; a contest that could deter- got things going early blocking a mine who will be the number one punt to set up his 3-yard touchdown seed with home-field advantage catch . Then later he scored on a 30- throughout the playoffs . yard run . This was truly his night The game is on Sunday, Decem- as he along with the Saints shined, ber 8th at the New Orleans Super- barring and giving the Falcons dome . The Who Dat Nation will be three consecutive on-side kick re- there in the Dome and all the Black coveries . and Gold fans from across the na- The Saints defense showed up in tion will be cheering them on to this game with nine sacks including New Orleans Saints Jack-Of-All-Trades Taysom Hill is getting it done in many different ways contributing to what is hopefully a victory . the team. He could be the X-Factor that may help them get to this year’s Super Bowl. (Photo Credit: John during a crucial time as the clock Amis Associated Press) IN THE WAKE OF Mayor Cantrell Releases Statement on Public Safety A HURRICANE Readiness, Canal Street Shooting Investigation YOUR DOLLARS ARE City of New Orleans NEW ORLEANS (12/2/19) — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today HARD AT WORK released the following statement regarding the City’s public safety preparedness and the ongoing in- vestigation into the Canal Street shooting incident: “The outbreak of gun violence early this Sunday was an ugly aberration and a tragedy for the innocent victims impacted, but it was also a stark reminder of the preparedness and the respon- siveness of our public safety teams,” said Mayor Cantrell . New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell with Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. (File Photo) “Our NOPD officers worked seamlessly with partners from stand proudly behind the men and and our visitors . We will continue the Louisiana State Police, the women of our law enforcement to build on the tremendous suc- FBI, the DEA and the ATF to re- agencies, and we stand together cess the NOPD and our partners spond immediately and effective- with a strong network of partners have achieved in reducing gun ly . Our close collaboration with all committed to keeping New Or- violence and safeguarding our local, state and federal agencies leans safe . major events . We stand ready for a is a critical asset in such a cri- “In the last two days, my fel- safe and successful season ahead, Even a small donation can make a big difference sis, and we are grateful for their low elected leaders on every level and we will continue to prove ev- SupportHurricaneRelief.org friendship and ready assistance . have reached out to express their ery day that no force in the world “As we look ahead to a busy support and commitment — in- can match the NOPD and our winter season full of major sport- cluding Gov .