Anne
King Lincoln
Login to Send PM
First Annual African American Cultural Arts Festival
Dates: August 4, 2012
Location: Franklin Park
Hours: Saturday
Address: 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 43203
Phone: 614-253-1880
Building on the history and heritage of the King Lincoln District, our festival will give you the favor of and the history of black arts, music and dance. It will also feature a book fair and health screenings.
TomOver
lovecause.org
Login to Send PM
How's this differ from the big fest that used to (or maybe still does) take place in the campus area in the late 90's and early 2000s? That one was in May, and it involved a fest on the South Oval in the morning and afternoon. In the evening it would involve a boisterous traffic jam on High Street with customized autos and blaring hip hop music.
Generally didn't mind this, but some other White folk seemed to be put on edge.
Also, there is (or used to be) the Juneteenth Celebration at FP. In '03 there was gunfire within a hundred yards or so of me and a friend. One teen shot another in the leg. My friend chastised me for some time after that for not fleeing as he and many others did. Instead, I responded by stooping more intently into a tent of artisan crafts.
Right after it, I felt kind of dumb, instead of brave. Now not sure what, if anything, to think.
Anne
King Lincoln
Login to Send PM
Juneteenth is happening June 15, 16 and 17, also in Franklin Park.
http://www.juneteenthohio.net/
Perhaps it will be more like the African Village Arts Festival? Couldn't find any info on that for 2012.
ChrisSunami
King-Lincoln District
Login to Send PM
Anne said:Perhaps it will be more like the African Village Arts Festival? Couldn't find any info on that for 2012.
African Village Arts Festival is
AUGUST 19, 2012
1251 Bryden Road
http://www.galleryinthehood.com/annual-african-village-arts-festival/
I really hope a few more non-black OTE residents make it out to the AVAF this year. Sometimes it seems like the only non-black people who come to the festival are either longtime supporters of the William H Thomas gallery, or people who helped organize the festival --it's very rare to see anyone non-black just show up from the neighborhood.
AVAF is an all-ages cultural festival, not a youth-oriented hip-hop party, so there's no reason anyone should feel intimidated or scared to come.
------
For many years, there also used to be the "Coming Home" festival on Mt Vernon Ave, but I don't know what happened to that one.
people211
Columbus
Login to Send PM
TomOver said:
How's this differ from the big fest that used to (or maybe still does) take place in the campus area in the late 90's and early 2000s? That one was in May, and it involved a fest on the South Oval in the morning and afternoon. In the evening it would involve a boisterous traffic jam on High Street with customized autos and blaring hip hop music.Generally didn't mind this, but some other White folk seemed to be put on edge.
Also, there is (or used to be) the Juneteenth Celebration at FP. In '03 there was gunfire within a hundred yards or so of me and a friend. One teen shot another in the leg. My friend chastised me for some time after that for not fleeing as he and many others did. Instead, I responded by stooping more intently into a tent of artisan crafts.
Right after it, I felt kind of dumb, instead of brave. Now not sure what, if anything, to think.
I think you are referring to Heritage fest.. Which had gotten a horrible reputation and really became about something else. I remember when i was at OSU, during HF, there would be four or five cops on almost every street corner on high street. I thought it was strange because no one was out. It was the gallery hop the same night, and that part of High street had a completely different feel to it. Hopefully this new festival will focus on anything but hip hop and flashy cars. Every event will have its share of issues though, like Comfest.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
Login to Send PM
ChrisSunami said:
Sometimes it seems like the only non-black people who come to the festival are either longtime supporters of the William H Thomas gallery, or people who helped organize the festival --it's very rare to see anyone non-black just show up from the neighborhood.
Got the same vibe the times I went to the outdoor Heritage Concert Series at the King Arts Complex. Could count the number of white people on one hand, myself included. It's definitely a well supported event, but it seems like a lot of people either don't know it exists or want to pass it over as being a "black event". Great music, great food trucks, and a very welcoming "backyard barbecue" atmosphere despite having thousands of people showing up on some nights:
ChrisSunami
King-Lincoln District
Login to Send PM
It's kind of sad. It reminds me of ex-pats who live for years in another country and never bother to learn the language. There's nothing wrong with moving into a majority black neighborhood because of good housing stock and reasonable prices, but do make a baseline effort to act interested in the culture that was there before you arrived.
We have a very strong and diverse neighborhood association on our street, with people of all races, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and number of years in the neighborhood. To me that represents the ideal.
Those who move into a place with the attitude that they are "slumming" it are what give gentrification a bad name. I have a new neighbor like that. He has been here almost a year and yet every time I make an effort to interact with him, he acts very unfriendly.
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus. Click here to visit TheMetropreneur.com.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
