Spotlighting new Saints Fans Documentary "Who Dats" Director Patrick Marrero

NEW ORLEANS -- As the 2013 football season revs up in New Orleans, the traditional media sources have primarily focused on the Saints Football Franchise.  But this will not remain the case for long.

Emmy Award-winning director Patrick Marrero will soon premier and release his documentary film project, Who Dats, which shines the spotlight on the spirit behind of the Saints Football Team: The Fans-- The Who Dats!

With the tv premiere and dvd set for release in October, Who Dats captures the untold heart and spirit of these patron fans whose personal wrenching accounts resemble the same suffering of real-life Saints -- some of whom have turned themselves into human talisman and walking altars in reflection of this faith. 

In all accounts, viewers will be moved by these fans's unwavering belief, faith and resilience -- the spiritual components leading to the Saints 2010 Championship Victory. Their story is the Saints story and is the story of New Orleans.

Who Dats is the ultimate tribute film. Marrero pays dire heart fans the great honor of all in canonizing them. 

To view the trailer, click on to the link below:
frompartsunknownfilms.com

oecommunications.buzzup: Essence Fest Vendors Step Forward & SpeakOut!

oecommunications.buzzup: Essence Fest Vendors Step Forward & SpeakOut!: Taking a stand against the Forces of  Disenfranchisement Owner/Partner Ed Robinson of L&R Security, a 34-year-old  local, award-w...

Essence Fest Vendors Step Forward & SpeakOut!

Taking a stand against the Forces of Disenfranchisement

Owner/Partner Ed Robinson of L&R Security, a 34-year-old local, award-winning business provider.

By Rhodesia Jackson

Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- buzzup continues the probe into the issue surrounding Essence Festival pushing out local African-American vendors.

           

A growing number of former vendors are stepping forward and speaking out about the matter.  Mr. Edward J. Robinson of L&R Security explained his case.

In business since 1979, Robinson's DBE-certified company had been with Essence Fest at its very inception.

"I was right at the table, helping them to formulate the anniversary celebration into an annual event," he recalled.  

For over a span of 15 years, L&R provided services to Essence Fest without incident and through the turnover of Essence ownership from African American to "non" with Time Inc. and of producers from Festival Productions Inc. to Rehage Entertainment Inc.  

Five years, he suspected that he was being "pushed out" when he provided partial services under Rehage.  "The big company they brought in couldn't meet the need," he said. "So they called us back in to provide a multiple layer of security."

That did not happen this year with the new producer, The Solomon Group, which local African-American media hosts criticized for employing one "token" African American. The company's website pictures only one African American on its team.

"It didn't matter that I had the proper insurance coverage, employee background checks, the criteria kept changing," stated Robinson.  "They told me some exorbitant figure and ambitious clause that my insurance company wouldn't cover.  And when I inquired in writing about that, I was told they didn't have to respond to those questions. 

"It was obvious that they wanted us out," he added, throwing up his hands.

Another former vendor, Burnell Scales of Scales Strawberry Lemonade and Caribbean Fruit, experienced a similar fate. He was told that his product would violate the exclusive drink sponsor's agreement.

"I was out just like that," he said.

What Robinson and Scales described bears the unmistakable resemblance of economic disenfranchisement which works by denying "biased groups" access. 

Siddhartha Kara, a Harvard lecturer and human rights expert, explained during an engagement: "There are deliberate, malicious forces working around the clock to keep biased groups (particularly ethnic minorities) in a particular lot in life," he stated.  "It's not by accident; it's modern-day slavery."

"People need to know what's going on. They need to know that Essence is no longer the Essence we believe it to be, so that they can make an informed decision, said Wardell Bourgeois. "It started off being this party with a purpose, celebrating culture, empowerment seminars by day and concerts by night that included African-American-owned businesses. 

"It just doesn't seem right that a corporation that strives on dollars from the African-American community should turn its back on African-American-owned businesses."

Has Essence Become A Minstrel Show: Black face, white operation?

Local African-American Businesses respond.

Inspirational Author/OWN network host  Iyanla Vanzant pictured with Community Book Center
Owner Vera Warren at the store's location 2523 Bayou Road in New Orleans.

Pictured with Ms. Linetta Gilbert r., Author Iyanla Vanzant signed copies of her inspirational books for several hundred devoted followers at Community Book Center during the 2013 Essence Music Festival to support the long-serving cultural institution of 30+ years. Her manager Rodney Scott stated that it was important for her to "support" Community. "This is where she started," he said, "in a room just like this."

By Rhodesia Jackson

NEW ORLEANS -- Essence came to town for its annual music festival in July and it was not without controversy.

Early Friday morning, WBOK hosts, Tracie Washington and Oliver Thomas Jr., went on a rant rage regarding the lack of African-American business participation in the Festival.  

They attacked the DBE arrangement of the "white" marketing contractor who employs no African Americans, but maintains a "pseudo" partnership with an "African American" outside of the city.

"It's a shame," stated Thomas, a former City of New Orleans Councilman-at-large.  "More and more the people here are being squeezed out.

"What happened to 'the party with a purpose?'" insisted Thomas.  "Where is it?"

The trademark slogan represented a founding principle of the Essence Music Festival to ensure African-American businesses inclusion. Since then, the company changed ownership from African American to non-African American.

Thus, more and more longstanding African-American contractors have been forced out from security providers to book store vendors.  The situation is particularly ironic since Essence Magazine was created to serve African-American women.

Case in point:  African-American Owner/2012 Essence Festival Pioneer Award Recipient Vera Warren of Community Book Center was replaced by Garden District Book Store, located in the heart of Uptown New Orleans in a predominately "white" section of town, carrying very few African American books or authors.

"As the city realizes the economic impact of the festival, it is important for that impact to fill out to all corners of the city, " stated Warren.  "What Essence did by pulling the plug on Community Book Center is pull the plug on the "Community" itself, eliminating its access to knowledge, resources and power."

Doug E. Fresh, a Hip Hop entertainer/entrepreneur, performing during the Essence festivities, who was waiting on-line that Friday during the WBOK broadcast, when asked by the hosts his views, responded diplomatically: "It comes down to understanding the infrastructure."

Eugene J. Green Jr., President of Nationwide Real Estate Corporation/former Chief Executive Officer of the City of New Orleans's Division of Economic Development added: 

"What local New Orleans Leaders have to do is organize and demand better of Essence and to hold them accountable, particularly because of the great incentives provided by the city and the state," stated Green.  "This has to be proactive.  I suggest that a private sector entity partner design and conduct a series of workshops to inform the African-American Business Community about these opportunities and how to access these opportunities to do business with Essence."

Call for Food Vendors to 2013 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival

NEW VENDORS WANTED

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation has posted a call for food vendors to the 2013 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, which will be held on the weekend of October 18-20th, 2013.

The Foundation seeks grill masters who can offer a delectable combination of "traditional" Southern barbecue, "nontraditional" grilled and smoked foods, and other options including vegetarian and vegan dishes to represent broad regional (Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kansas City, etc.) and international (Korea, Brazil, Jamaica, etc.) styles of barbecue.

The deadline to apply is August 2nd, 2013. No fee to apply.  The cost of the booth rental fee is $1,250.  For more information and the application form, click the link below:

http://campaigns.line58.com/t/r-l-bvudg-jhkykyuuju-o/

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is produced and presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The Foundation uses proceeds from Jazz Fest -and other raised funds for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment.