Topic: Black August Concert for HIV/AIDs Awareness Mos Def others
- Jul 13, 2005 06:36pm by NRG - livin the art that is life !
www.64111clinic.com fam
www.nrginmotion.com massage
www.myspace.com/nrginmotion world community Location: havenhouse KCK/ 64111 Clinic 4 Life
Mos Def, Black Moon, & More Hit Black August Concert For HIV/AIDS Awareness
Monday - July 11, 2005
by Jesse Gissen
The 8th Annual Black August benefit concert, taking place August 7th, will feature performances by Mos Def, Black Moon and Smif-N-Wessun and promote HIV/AIDS prevention awareness.
With performances by rapper/actor Mos Def and Boot Camp Clique's all-stars Black Moon and Smif-N-Wessun, the show is dedicated to the late activist, Kuwasi Balagoon. As HIV/AIDS prevention awareness the theme of this year's event, concert-goers will receive information packets and view segments of the "Knowing is Beautiful" public service announcement (PSA) throughout the show.
Black August concert co-coordinator, Meron Wondwosen, spoke about the concert's theme, "With the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the US recently hitting the one million mark for the first time since the 1980's and the overwhelmingly rapid spread of HIV/AIDS-related deaths among youth in Africa, it's imperative that we assist in reaching out to as many young people as possible --especially in the Hip-Hop community; to make them aware of HIV/AIDS and the necessity of prevention. We are happy to have the KNOW HIV/AIDS Initiative on board with our efforts this year."
Viacom and the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation's Know HIV/AIDS Initiative recently signed on as sponsors. The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation is best known for its "Knowing is Beautiful" PSAs featuring Common. In the commercials, Common uses the spoken word to convey the importance of getting tested.
The Black August concert series will also go to Africa, having shows in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania on August 18th and the 20th. Black August is a political project of The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement that celebrates Hip-Hop culture and pays tribute to black freedom fighters.
In the past Black August has addressed such social and political issues as police brutality, education reform, political prisoners, and the voting rights of parolees. Past performers have included Fat Joe, Talib Kweli, dead prez, David Banner, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Common, and even comedian Dave Chappelle. All of these artists offered their services for free.
The 8th Annual Black August concert takes place in NYC on August 7th. Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster. For more information call the Black August Hotline at 718-254-8800.
