The next BMI Community Event will be on Wednesday November 17, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Nyumburu Multipurpose Room (www.theblackmaleinitiative.org). This Exclusive Event will be featuring the Internationally Renowned Street Poet and social activist, Monte Smith! This promises to be one of our most dynamic, educational and entertaining events ever. You absolutely will not want to miss the performance and lecture, if you don’t have to. This Event is Free and Open to the Public!

 This is a Free Event, however donation buckets will be set-up throughout the room for our  Books for Northern Uganda Campaign

Monte Smith is an internationally acclaimed Street Poet, Rap Journalist, Community Based Educator and Anti-Racist Activist from Winston Salem NC. He has been described as "a fire-brand… a true revolutionary, I mean raw!” by Bruce George, co-creator of HBO’S Def Poetry Jam. Chuck D of Public Enemy picked Monte’s poem‘The Deal is Done’ to record for the audio version of The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates. (Soft Skull Press) Monte began his writing and activism career in the late 80’s and early 90’s working and writing anti-racist literature for revolutionary groups such as S.H.A.R.P and A.R.A.

For directions to campus and the Nyumburu Cultural Center please visit;

www.umd.edu and www.nyumburu.umd.edu

Clap (One Day) from W.A.R. Media on Vimeo

Pharoahe Monch Releases Live Footage of "Clap (One Day)"
To Honor October 22nd: National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality

Last month Pharoahe Monch premiered his anti-police brutality anthem "Clap (One Day)", to a sold out crowd at the Jazz Cafe in London. "Clap (One Day)" is the new single from his upcoming album, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), to be released through W.A.R. Media and Duck Down in February 2011. This never seen before footage features Pharoahe's passionate and intricate delivery, alongside vocalists Showtyme and Mela Machinko, and DJ Boogie Blind.

Pharoahe explains the inspiration for the song; "Instead of protect and serve, police often escalate situations, as with the cases of Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, or Aiyana Stanley Jones, and hundreds more who fell victim to police violence. I wrote this song to express my frustration, as well as raise the question of how our communities can create safety and prevent violence, with out relying on police."

The release of this footage coincides with the October 22nd- National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality. This year is the 15th annual October 22nd, organized by communities around the country who commit to participating in local actions and events against police brutality, and work towards building community safety alternatives. People who want to stand in solidarity with October 22nd can wear all black, in memory of thousands of lives stolen by law enforcement killings.

Despite the song title's multiple meanings, "Clap (One Day)" does not advocate violence against police. Pharoahe adds a personal perspective; "My brother is a police officer so I know there are some well intentioned people wearing blue uniforms. But the issue of police violence is much bigger than good cops and bad cops, it comes down to a broken system which criminalizes our communities, and must be completely transformed."

The video can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/16061503.