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 On
the Fly—Places We've Been, Things We've Seen
By the Red-Eye Crew
SeeingBlack.com Contributing Writers
Music: Earth Wind & Fire
Thanks to the soul revival of the past decade, Earth, Wind & Fire
is celebrating 30 years in the business with tour dates, new studio
work and an album released in April, That's the Way of the World:
Alive in '75 (Sony/Legacy), which includes previously unreleased
concert recordings.
Few groups have the concert mystique of Earth, Wind & Fire among
their long-time fans, who carry memories of hokey but exciting magic
acts, fireworks and crazy outfits unrivaled by any couture catwalk
in Paris. Though reduced in the number of original members, lacking
pyrotechnics and clad in more sedate costumes, a repackaged EWF
created new century magic on June 3 at Wolf Trap in Virginia. Three
original members—Phillip Bailey, still a four-octave marvel; bassist
Verdine White, still a marvel with the energy of a sugar-dosed two-year-old;
and vocalist Ralph Johnson, still a marvel for looking exactly the
same after all these years—fronted the confident troupe of back-up
musicians, vocalists and dancers.
With selections of classics like "Let's Groove," "and "Boogie
Wonderland," the group focused more on its material from the late
70's, rather than on earlier years. Bailey's signature songs, like
"Reasons" and "After the Love Has Gone" were given new twists for
the live performance. Some parts formerly sung by leader Maurice
White, who is unable to tour, were filled in ably by Robert Brookins,
but, all in all, the performances missed the holy ghost roots of
White's delivery (and missed White's kalimba.) It is no easy feat
to fill the void created by his absent voice, talent and spirit,
though, through sheer will and talent, this touring ensemble came
close.
Maurice White's brother, Verdine, is the only one who rocked a
70's costume with white fringed pants and long straightened hair
that accentuate his non-stop movement, even on slow songs. White,
Bailey and Johnson frequently yielded to the back-up band members,
allowing for EWF's traditional emphasis on musicianship-blaring
horns, thumping drum and guitar lines and funky percussion. Thirty
years and counting, EWF still gives good energy. —June 2002
Family and Youth: Going Aboard the Amistad
It was a sunny and windy spring day in Washington, D.C. when we
went aboard Freedom Schooner Amistad, a recreation of the famous
ship overtaken by Africans in hopes of returning to Africa.
Docked at the city's Southwest Waterfront, the ship attracted thousands
of African Americans, some of whom stood in long lines, eager to
be a witness to history. Tour guides explained that, contrary to
popular to belief, the Amistad was not a trans-Atlantic slave ship
but, was, rather, a small schooner, used in 1839 to transport 53
African men and children from plantations in Cuba to the United
States.
Because by that time it was illegal to import more Africans into
the United States, Spanish slave traders tried to pass off the kidnapped
Africans as native-born Cubans. Three days into the journey, a 25-year-old
named Sengbe Pieh, or "Cinque," led a revolt and forced a surviving
White crewmember to steer in the direction of Africa.
But while the crewmember followed Cinque's directions during the
day, he foiled the African's plans at night, by steering in a direction
intended to land the ship in the Southern United States. Instead,
63 days later, the ship and "cargo" was seized by the U.S. Navy
off the coast of present-day Long Island. Though the Africans were
held and tried on charges of murder, the cause of the Africans became
a national cause when former president John Quincy Adams defended
the captives before the United States Supreme Court and won their
freedom. In 1841, 35 surviving Africans were returned to Africa.
The recreated ship has tall masts for sailing, samples of shackles
like those that could have been used on the journey and, below deck,
copies of actual drawings of men and children on the ship, as well
as a handwritten list of those on board.
The permanent home of Amistad is Long Wharf Pier in New Haven,
Connecticut and is operated by Amistad America, Inc. More information
about the ship and its current and future trips to various ports
can be found by calling 1-866-AMISTAD or by visiting the organization's
web site: www.amistadamerica.org.
—June 2002
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2001-05 Seeing Black, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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