We're here to celebrate the national birthday
of a late character, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
in a musical tribute presented by 300 plus
youth, young adults, and kind-hearted singers
who have experienced years of African American
struggle in this great city of Dallas, Texas.
But before we get into the spirit of music,
please put your hands together and help me
welcome to the stage
our esteemed councilwoman, the Honorable
Barbara Natalie Carraway.
Good evening, and welcome to the 15th Annual
Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters Black
Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert.
It is in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. that we gather to give homage not
only to the legacy that he has,
but to the future and what we can look forward
to ahead.
I want to take this opportunity as a member of
the city council to extend greetings to all of you,
from our Mayor Ron Kirk and the Dallas City
Council, and to also thank all of you who were eligible
and voted in the election yesterday to keep the
Maddox and the Stars in Dallas.
I say that and thank you for that because
yesterday's vote was very significant.
It's something that Martin Luther King, Jr.
would be proud of because the black community
and the black district in Dallas
are significantly apart and also you made that happen.
It was a very close election.
African-Americans came out in big numbers.
The two Hispanic districts did not vote
overwhelmingly in favor of the arena, but for
the black districts, they did.
I want to thank Mr. Luther King, Jr., Ms.
Parnas, Ms.
Kavina Luz, Donna Hicks, Charlotte Mains,
Larran Duncan, myself, and of course, almost
forgot one, Mr. Lindstrom, Miss.
But that is significant today as we celebrate
Dr. Martin Luther King's Jr. birthday.
It is what he was all about.
And thank you once again, Mr. King, and the
Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
and a great program to support you and we look
forward to enjoying.
Once again, thank you and welcome. (applause)
By the way, this is a show of hands. How many
people did vote yesterday?
Give yourselves a round of applause. (applause)
Over the past 14 years, I am pleased that this
15th year concert
represents the emerging and outstanding
qualities of our youth and young adults.
When I see the number of young persons involved
in programs like this, it reminds me
of the Student Nonviolent Organizing Committee,
better known as SMCC or SNCC
because SNCC clearly defined the emerging
values of an expanding social struggle.
It became a gathering point for idealistic
young people who saw it as a unique outlet
for expressing their resentment of racial injustices.
Perhaps what you will see and experience here
tonight is a group of youth and young adults
who are in many ways distant products of the
SNCC generation.
They represent a satisfying and creative
alternative to a prevailing wave of life.
We see it in the way they dress, we hear it in
their music,
we see it in their movement, and we hear it in
their language.
What this world of creativity needs is a place
of creative expression and form
and platform for programs like the Latin Music
and Civil Rights Movement Concert
and an institution like the Black Academy of
Arts and Letters.
The next 60-90 minutes, and I guarantee it will
only be 60-90 minutes,
let's experience the power of creativity and
energy from some 300 plus youth and young adults
from all over the metro class.
So don't change that TV channel from KXAS
Channel 5
and don't lose that dollar from Pick 100.
Enjoy the music.
Excuse us, ladies and gentlemen.
One, two.
You need to pick your Afro daddy
Because it's flat on one side
You need to pick your Afro daddy
Because it's flat on one side
What are you waiting on?
Well, if you don't pick your Afro
You're gonna have one side high
Well, you said you was gonna take me to see Wu
Tang, baby
So I braided my hair
Well, yes you did
You said you was gonna take me to see Wu Tang, baby
So I braided my hair
Yes I did, cornrows and everything, Ma'am
Well, you changed your mind and said we
wouldn't go in
But my mama saw you there
Yes, she did, check this out
Hold on
Well, I be blowing up your page, daddy
But you never call me back
Well, I be putting in that one-one, baby
But you never call me back
No, no
See that you don't gotta use that page, daddy
I'm gonna take that hoe back
Cause I will, you know I do
Oh, God, we stretch our hands to thee
For no other help we know
If thou withdraw thyself from us
Oh, whither shall we go?
We come with our hearts, head and body
For when we look around
There is trouble on every hand
Oh, whither shall we go?
Some children are either selling or using drugs
Consequently our neighborhoods are not safe
Oh, whither shall we go?
There are drive-by shootings Burglary
Car jaykees
And all types of violent crime
Oh, whither shall we go?
We are calling on you, oh God
Because we know you love us too much to forsake us
And are too true to your word
Not to be with us in our time of need
Oh, whither shall we go?
You promise never to leave us alone
So we are asking you to do something
To help us in our time of turmoil
Do something, do something, oh God
Do something to help us to be better young adults
Better neighbors and better citizens
That we may be able to realize
That we are our brother's and sister's keepers
And we will be very careful to give you all the praise
All the glory
And all the honor
All we want is the planet to be able to live in
a peaceful community
A peaceful community
Over my head
I hear music in the air
Over my head
I hear music in the air
Over my head
I hear music in the air
There must be a God somewhere
Over my head
I hear music in the air
Over my head
I hear music in the air
Over my head
I hear music in the air
There must be a God somewhere
For my God is so high
You can't get over him
He's so low
You can't get over him
He's so wide
You can't get over him
You must come in by and through the land
I'll trade my gospel for that
And I'll give it to you
And if my God is with me
I'll blow wherever I go
Over my head
I sing of music in the air
Over my head
I sing of music in the air
Over my head
I sing of music in the air
There must be a God Somewhere
in the air
Somewhere in the air
Stay back, I'll take your crap
Stay loud, I'm black and I'm proud.
It doesn't matter what you're going through.
When it starts, other girls reach out.
Remember my team, that's true, for sure.
We got all the way, we got any crowd.
If everybody would just face it.
The world should smile and laugh.
We can never grab our back, no it's not a fight.
Stay loud, I'm black and I'm proud.
When it starts, other girls reach out.
Remember my team, that's true, for sure.
We got all the way, we got any crowd.
If everybody would just face it.
The world should smile and laugh.
We can never grab our back, no it's not a fight.
Stay loud, I'm black and I'm proud.
You say that, I'm right and I'm proud.
I'm proud of you.
I'm still here I'm playing through
I made you.
So have you.
I'm tired.
And I'm here.
And you know.
I'm still here.
I made it through.
And so have you.
And I've gone through the fire.
And I've been through the flood.
I'm still here.
I've been kept by his blood.
The enemy tried to drown me.
He tried to flood my life with misery.
But the Lord said he said he wasn't going to
have it.
But he said he was going to deliver me.
He was going to deliver me.
And I'm still here.
I'm still here.
I made it through.
Made it through.
So have you.
I'm through the fire.
And I've been through the flood.
I'm still here.
I've made it through.
And so have you.
I've gone through the fire.
And I've been through the flood.
I'm still here.
I've been kept by his blood.
I'm still here.
Are you still here?
Have you made it through?
So have you.
I'm through the fire.
And I've been through the flood.
I'm still here.
I've been kept by his blood.
I'm still here.
I've made it through.
Have you made it through?
So have you.
I've been through the fire.
And I've been kept by his blood.
I'm still here.
Are you still here?
I'm still here.
Sometimes up, sometimes down.
But it doesn't matter.
I'm still here.
No matter what's going on.
The Lord's got me through.
I'm still here.
My friends may turn their backs on me.
I'm still here.
But I know that I'm still here.
I'm still here. Yeah.
I'm still here.
Oh, you're still here.
I'm still here.
Oh, you're still here.
I'm still here.
I've been, I've been caught by his blood.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'.
Don't need no baggage, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'.
Don't need no baggage, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'.
Don't need no baggage, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'.
Don't need no baggage, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
All you need is faith to hear the days of our men.
Don't need no ticket, you just get on board.
Hang on to the world as it spins around.
Just don't let the spin get you down.
Things are moving fast.
Hold on tight, here you will last.
Keep yourself respect, your manly pride.
Get yourself in gear, keep your stride.
Never mind your fears.
Brighter days will soon be here.
Take it from me, someday we'll all be free.
Oh, just wait and see, someday we'll all be free.
It won't be long, just wait and see,
someday we'll all be free.
It won't be long, just wait and see,
someday we'll all be free.
Oh, just wait and see, someday we'll all be free.
Let's give our young people another round of applause.
Now we'll move forward to the importance of the
NCHC staff and management here at Myers Center.
Dr. Kingwell said that leading the O.C. would
learn that Banksworth is not measured by his
bank accounts or the size of the wheelbase of
his car.
It is measured by his commitments, commitments
as action, that is what we've seen as the O.C. singers.
It's not a commitment demonstrated by the work
that they've given to this concert.
People like Dr. King also demonstrated his
commitment to the non-violent movement, in
spite of being but and sport.
Since Dr. King's death as young
African-Americans, we believe the teachings of
Dr. King's philosophy
and are committed to continue his legacy by
singing songs like,
I want Jesus to walk with me and Lord I know I can.
I'm in youth and I'm in sport.
Yes, I'm in youth and I'm in sport.
I'm in youth and I'm in sport.
I've been talked about, showed you more.
There is trouble all over this world.
Yes, there is trouble all over this world.
There is trouble all over this world.
Pain, Wally, my vision, damn.
Oh, pain, Wally, my vision, damn. Children.
Pain, Wally, my vision, damn.
My love, all my love.
dot dot dot dot like
dot dot dot dot dot
dot dot dot dot
dot dot dot dot dot
dot dot dot. Umaya.
Oh, uh, umaya. Umaya.
Uh, Umaya Umaya. Jibanyan.
Come Bayah.
come bayah.
Come Bayah.
Everybody, come bayah.
Come bayah.
Come on, come bayah.
Come bayah.
Hey, come bayah.
Come bayah.
Oh, come bayah.
Come bayah.
Somebody need to go.
Come bayah.
Somebody, God.
Hey, somebody, isn't you, man?
Somebody, isn't you, Lord?
Somebody, God.
Lord, somebody, isn't you?
Somebody, is crazy, Lord.
Somebody, God.
Hey, somebody, ain't you?
Somebody, God.
Oh, Lord.
Boom, boom, boom, bye bye.
And now it's time for the
I ain't my buddy for no more. Three-four!
Na-Pa Ri-wa-na-Pa, Na-Pa Ri-wa-na-Pa
I ain't a-I want no more.
I ain't a-I
ain't a-I ain't a-I want no more.
I ain't a-I won't no more.
I ain't a-I want no more.
Chalala, bing bong bong, bong bong bong!
I ain't got nothing for the poor, poor.
Some go with the flow, some go with the flow.
Can I cut a rope and pull by myself?
La, La, La, La.
La, La, let it rain.
La, La, La, La.
Yeah yeah!
I want people to walk with me.
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
Walk with me, walk with me.
I want people to walk with me.
See, y'all didn't believe it, but I told you we
were going to have some church up in here tonight.
In just a few minutes, we will turn off the air
condition and Cedar Crest Funeral Home will
pass out some fans.
So, we're going to turn it out tonight, folks.
I want people to walk with me.
In the book, the Wisdom of Martin Luther King,
Jr. author Alex Ayers said,
Martin Luther King's leadership in the civil
rights movement and his tragic death
are perhaps better known than his eloquent
words that moved an entire nation to change.
In the dream speech to his letter from the
Birmingham Jail, an inspiring statement of
belief and courage,
Dr. King's message of racial justice,
non-violence, and the power of love needs to be
heard today.
His message can be heard and practiced in many ways.
Dr. King said, I want young men and young women
who are not alive today,
but who will come into this world with new
privileges and new opportunities.
I want them to know and to see that these new
privileges and new opportunities did not come
without somebody suffering and sacrificing for them.
Believing in Dr. King's words, this is why we
can sing songs like,
Peaceful Place, we've come this far by faith.
I've decided to make Jesus my choice.
Lord, keep me day by day.
I'll fly away, move on up a little higher, and
from the preacher's wife, I love the Lord.
What we need is more love, what we need is more peace.
We need to love each other, in a world that we
believe in.
We need to be as one and as one.
We can fall without a mission.
We need to get together and make this land a
peaceful place.
What we need is more love, what we need is more peace.
We need to love each other, in a world that we
believe in.
We need to be as one and as one.
We can fall without a mission.
We need to get together and make this land a
peaceful place.
We need to love each other, in a world that we
believe in.
If we must lead each other, we needn't come to
want another.
If we must beg for peace, we'll come and walk
with peace.
We can get together and make this land a
peaceful place.
Trust in the people we love.
We never met in L.A.
We can get together and make this land a
peaceful place.
Some folks would rather have houses and land.
And some folks choose to build their own.
Oh, these things that they treasure and they
care about.
They're the same.
And I have decided to make the earth my choice.
Oh, glory.
When, when I die, hallelujah.
When I.
Come away.
Come, my life, my work, my glory.
Come, my life, my work, my joy.
Let our young be happy.
Oh, ooh.
I love you.
This morning, soon in the morning, I'm going to
lay down my head, and I'm going to watch
I'm going to lay down my cross and get real proud.
One evening, no evening, I'm going home to Liam.
Oh, hi, oh, as soon as my feet strike Zion,
I'm going to lay down my hair, baby.
I'm going to put on my robe and go.
I'm going home one day to tell my story.
I've been climbing over hills and mountains.
I'm going to drink from your Christian mountain.
So all of my sons and daughters, hey,
we're going to drink from that old healing
wine, hey.
Oh, will you meet me there?
Oh, boy, I'm leaving in the ancient.
Yeah, baby.
Oh, I'm going to be out there, it's like seeing you.
Hey, I'm going to walk and never get tired.
I never walk and never walk.
I'm going to hear you, Lord.
Yeah, I'm going to move on up to the Ohio.
I'm going to move on up to the Ohio.
I'm going to be an old man, baby.
I'm going to move on up to the Ohio.
I'm going to be my pretty little one.
And I love you, Ohio.
You're going to be, hey, I love you, Ohio.
And I'm going to move on up to the Ohio.
I'm going to meet the new man.
And I'm going to seek out the rose of Heaven.
And you'll all be out there, Ohio.
And you'll be my love.
I'm going to move on up a little higher.
Up a little higher.
Move on up a little higher.
A little higher.
Don't you want to move on up a little higher?
Move on up a little higher.
And do you wanna move up a little higher?
And do you wanna tell me you wanna move up a
little higher?
Don't you want to be your loving mother?
Don't you want to be your loving father?
Come on now, a little higher.
A little higher.
I wanna meet that Galileo of the valley.
Oh, I'm gonna sing out the rose bullshit.
Oh, will you always be high and high?
Will you always be high, high, high?
And never do cry.
I love her, the Lord.
He heard my cry and fits it every groan.
Long as I live and troubles rise, I'll hasten
to him.
He hears my cry and fits it every groan.
I love the Lord.
He heard my cry and fits it every groan.
Long as I live and troubles rise, I'll hasten
to him.
He hears my cry and fits it every groan.
He hears me every groan.
Long as I live and troubles rise, I'll hasten
to him.
He hears my cry and fits it every groan.
He hears me every groan.
Long as I live and troubles rise, I'll hasten
to him.
I'm gonna hate you, son.
You'll hate, you'll hate.
I'm gonna hate you.
I'm gonna hate my mother.
When they say I won't grow up to be.
Will you hate me too?
Will you hate me too and grow up?
I'm gonna hate my mother.
And I'm gonna hate my mother.
Do it all the time.
Grow up.
I told you that last set was going to be powerful.
Let's give it up for our young people once again.
During the darkest days of the Montgomery Bus
Boycott, Dr. Martin Luther King, who was
himself a young man in his 20s, called out to
the generations of young people who would
come in the future.
He wanted future generations of young people,
like the ones who are performing tonight,
to know that it was the youth of his own time
who made the great change.
Dr. King's non-violent message is as important
today as it was during the time of his life
and his work.
If the youth and young adults are to continue
Dr. King's legacy, and I believe they will,
they must do it nonviolently.
They must remember these words written by Dr. King.
Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon.
It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts
without wounding, which ennobles the man or
woman who wills it.
It is a sword that heals.
When this statement was made to several youths
performing this concert, they talked about
their belief in God and their aspirations to
make the world a better place which to live.
Understanding their struggles and peer
pressures, they can now sing songs in their own time.
And this is going to be good.
Like he knows, let everything that have breath
and stand.
Let all the world know.
said to never forsake me.
Said to never leave me.
Said to never forsake me.
Jesus knows my name, stand by me.
Through red and gold we die, through the night.
We know, we know.
We know.
Said to never leave me.
Said to never forsake me.
Said to never leave me.
Said to never forsake me.
Jesus knows my name, stand by me.
Through red and gold we die, through the night.
We know, we know.
Jesus knows, comes my fears, stand by me.
All my tears, rolls me tight, through the night.
For he knows, he knows.
Said to never leave me.
Said to never forsake me.
Said to never leave me.
Said to never forsake me.
She knows my plans.
She stands by me.
You will never run out of me.
Close me tight.
In the night.
She just knows.
In the night.
Jesus, no. No.
Jesus, no. Jesus.
Jesus, no.
love. Jesus knows. Oh NOTANY....
Oh we know LOVE
She was not my thing, my thing.
Still I remember me through the rain.
Oh, it made me cry, La, La, La.
Going through the night, going through the night,
going through the night.
La, La, La, La.
He gives it honor.
Oh, Lord, we give the honor.
He gives it honor.
He gives the honor.
Oh, Lord, we give the honor.
He gives the honor. Oh-oh.
Ga Ga Ga Ga
What do you say when your friends turn away
from you all alone?
Tell me what do you say when you've given your
all and it seems like you can't make it through
Well you just stand when there's nothing left
to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
After you've done all you can, you just stand
Tell me how do you handle the guilt of your past
Tell me how do you deal with the shame
And how can you smile when your heart has been
broken and you're with pain
You're with pain
Tell me what do you say when you've given your
all and it seems like you can't make it through
Child you just stand when there's nothing left
to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
After you've done all you can, you just stand
Tell me how do you handle the guilt of your past
Tell me how do you deal with the shame
And how can you smile when your heart has been
broken and you're with pain
You're with pain
Tell me how do you handle the guilt of your past
Tell me how do you deal with the shame
And how can you smile when your heart has been
broken and you're with pain
You're with pain
Tell me how do you handle the guilt of your past
After you've done all you can
After you've gone through the storm
And after you've gone through the rain
After you've gone through the storm
And after you've gone through the rain
Rain is crying
After you go through the storm
And after you've gone through the rain
After you've gone through the storm
You will smile
You think we're gonna make it through, but no,
right now.
Give me love.
Don't give up.
Don't give in.
Don't you give up.
You're not here.
You just stand.
Oh, yeah.
You, you just stand.
You, you, you just stand.
After you've done all you can.
Y'all don't know what I'm talking about up in here.
Have you had a good time this evening?
Please give our young people, let's give them
some love, come on.
And to quote Kirk Franklin, it ain't over, but
we are gonna take a short pause and I
want to introduce to you the board chair of the
Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
Please give a warm round of applause to Ms.
Ella Good Johnson.
Thank you, Mrs. Solis.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
We hope that you have truly enjoyed yourselves
thus far, but stay tuned, there's still more
to come.
We would like to thank the sponsors for
tonight's production, Channel 5, KXAS, and Al's Florist.
We would be remiss in not mentioning our season
sponsors, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural
Affairs, the Texas Commission of the Arts,
American Airlines, Wiseway Printing, Genesis
Graphics, KKDA, K104, V100, KHVM, the Dallas
Weekly, Al's Florist, Emerge Magazine, Heaven
1580 AM, and Evans Engraving.
Please support our supporters.
We would thank you for that.
We have a story to tell about the Academy and
it's about our legacy.
As you have heard earlier, the Junior Black
Academy of Arts and Letters has experienced
a name change.
Our new name is the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
You might say, why has there been a name change?
Quite frankly, the Academy has experienced a
paradigm shift.
We have changed our thinking patterns in the
way we do business in order to move to the
next millennium.
We need your support as we grow, as we mature,
and as we experience new things.
This is one of the highlights of our season,
tonight's production, and we have given to
you our young audience and our young artists
who will be the leaders and the artists of
the next generation.
We hope you've been enjoying tonight's production.
Tonight we are pleased to announce the
institutionalizing of a new concept for the
Black Academy of
Arts and Letters.
It is the Junior Black Academy of Arts and
Letters Cumbineer Young Adult Council.
Cumbineer meaning creative purpose.
And it is my pleasure to introduce the
inaugural members of that council.
Present with us tonight, we have Ms. Raquel Washington.
Ms. Washington is a University of North Texas
graduate, elementary education major.
Mr. Tobian Johnson, University of Houston
graduate, management information systems and
finance major.
Ms. Angela Hawkins, University of North Texas
graduate, Spanish education major.
In absentia, we will mention the other council
members, Ms. Shalon Brown, University of North
Texas graduate, English major.
Mr. James Forth III, University of North Texas
doctoral candidate.
And Mr. Art Hooker, senior University of North
Texas Radio, TV, and Film major.
Let's give them a hand.
Now the purpose of this council will be to
interface with the board of directors to ensure
that a strategic plan is put in place to ensure
that the academy is here for many, many years
to come.
And we need your support in doing that.
Also tonight, we have present several of the
board of directors from our nine member panel
of board.
I would like to introduce those that are here.
Ms. Oscar Faye Williams, board secretary.
Board member Mr. Henry Johnson.
Board member Ms. Jocelyn Johnson.
Now if you want to know what you can do to help
us, first of all, you've assisted us
with our mission in coming tonight, and you
have duly made us proud in coming.
This is a banner attendance year, and we are
very fortunate to have you here.
Secondly, memberships.
They have with them, some of them are holding
our season brochures, which you can receive
in the fall if you don't have one.
In that brochure is a membership form.
Memberships are what make the legacy stay alive.
Memberships are $10 to $5,000.
If you want to pledge to a higher level of a
membership, see one of these persons or
a staff person tonight after the concert or
immediately following at the reception, which
will be held at the Academy, 650 South Griffin
and Ackerd.
Now the next person you will meet is someone
that's very special to the Academy.
When I think about him, what comes to mind is
my favorite African proverb, and it is
jump to the sun.
You may not land on the sun, but at least you
will land among the stars.
It is my pleasure to introduce to you the
founder, executive director, and artistic
director for the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
Ladies and gentlemen, receive Mr. Curtis L. King.
First of all, I want to give an honor to God
who is the center of my life and my universe.
I want to give him a round of applause.
They want to be stars so bad, 318 strong.
For the past 15 years, this may take just a
little time, but you know after 15 years,
we can take a little time to do this, right?
I hope you read the history in here, started
out with $3, so it's been quite a challenge.
For the past 15 years, we've had people like
musicians that work with us, Anthony Robinson
on keyboard.
Bring me a plate for Anthony.
Stay standing, Mr. Anthony.
We have Mr. Scott Knight on bass, 15 years.
Gordon Polk drums, not quite 15 years, but good.
Cheryl Jackson on drums.
Mr. Lee Kazee on lead guitar.
Mr. Jerry Mitchell on organ.
Mr. Patrick Thomas on trumpet, I got saxophone,
I'm sorry.
Gerald on trumpet.
Thank you very much.
These musicians have been working with us for
the past 15 years.
The conductors that we have been... It's been a
great experience to work with these
conductors, these artists.
Most of them have been with us 15 years or have
worked with us between 15, 10, five,
so forth.
One of the conductors is Billy Roberts.
Mr. Wanda Jordan, 15 years.
Mr. John Mark Tatum, 10 years.
We have your plan here, they gave it to the
wrong person.
Mr. Audra Jones, five years.
And Ms. Patricia Kazee, 10 years.
15 years.
This is his first year working with us, but
he's a very, very brilliant and a very talented
young man.
He's a graduate from one of the high schools
here in Dallas, Texas, and I met him on the
East Coast in DC about three years ago, and
actually had an opportunity to work with him.
He is so talented.
And so we had to find somebody to identify with
these young people because they said
we are all old folks, you know.
And you should've seen that groove when they
got Eugene.
So we want Eugene Young to come in.
This is his first year.
And so we had to find somebody to identify with
these young people because they said
we are all old folks, you know.
You see what keeps us alive, right?
But the reality is, excuse me, but you know
what, I am so glad that these young people
can applaud like this and not be on the streets.
They could be somewhere else.
I don't know how to introduce her.
She's a wonderful artist and I remember back in
the days when this artist, young just like
these young people are, and it's so good to
know that a person who's been out there for
a year, but before I introduce her, I think her
parents are here too.
I want Gwen Hargrove to come on stage.
Gwen, come on stage.
She's always working.
Colleen Wright, is she here?
Come on Gwen.
Colleen Wright.
And I think the artist that I'm going to
introduce, I think this is Gwen, godmother
Gwen, and
this is mama Colleen.
I think Gannon.
Gannon are you here?
Where's Gannon?
Come on down Gannon. Gannon.
She's upstairs.
Wave your hand, Gannon.
The other person I'm going to introduce to you,
and we are so pleased that she took the
time to come to Dallas from Atlanta tonight
just to show her support for a project like this.
She's the artist that has been here the 15th
year to come and say, yes, I want to be here.
It's important for me to be here.
And what is so phenomenal is that this artist
has been out there one year and nominated
for four Grammys.
And not only is she nominated for four Grammys,
we have Kirk Franklin nominated for a Grammy,
Thomas Property nominated for two Grammys,
Bishop T.D.
Jakes nominated for a Grammy.
That is phenomenal in this city.
So now please put your hands together and help
me to welcome to Dallas your own, our
own, our love, Erica Badoo.
Erica Badoo. Erica.
Now we have something.
Y'all like that, right?
When she said, did y'all hear that?
Some of y'all ain't heard the song, right?
Yeah, you did.
But I want to introduce to you, isn't this
wonderful here?
Look at these.
Isn't this wonderful?
We have a special presentation to Ms. Badoo and
I'm going to ask esteemed Councilwoman
Barbara Mallory to come back and make this presentation.
Thank you.
One good thing about being a City
Councilperson, you have the opportunity to meet
other esteemed
people such as Erica Badoo.
So I'm very pleased.
I told her I just had the opportunity to read
the Essence Magazine article that was done
on her and she is really bigger than life.
I was really surprised how petite she is, but
she's a very beautiful girl.
I have a presentation to present to you, Ms.
Badoo is from our Mayor and it's a proclamation
and it reads, whereas Erica Badoo has
established herself as a contemporary
trailblazer and
icon in the music industry and whereas Erica
Badoo has created a renaissance in soul music
in the manner that literary greats like Zora
Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes created
a rebirth in African American literature and
whereas Erica Badoo, a native of Dallas, Texas
is a 1989 graduate of the Booker T. Washington
High School for the visual and performing
arts and has received her educational training
from Gramley State University who is a member
of the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Basketball Tournament and is a product of the
Black Academy
of Arts and Letters and whereas the debut album
Badooism on KETO Records has made an
international and national impact on the music
industry, garnering Eric Badoo five NAACP
Image Award nominations, four Grammy Award
nominations, and two Blockbuster Award nominations
and whereas the initial single On and On and
her second single Next Lifetime sold more
than a million copies and Badooism album has
also been certified double platinum.
Thank you. See isn't she gracious? And whereas
Erica Badoo in 1997 was the winner of the
four Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, the North
Texas Music Festival Topaz Award, the Billboard
Music Video Award, and the Texas R&B Music
Association Award of Excellence and whereas
Erica Badoo continues to put Dallas in the
forefront of mega audiences nationally and
internationally, broadening minds, uplifting
spirits, and entertaining souls with her creativity
rooted in the African-American artistic
experience, now therefore I, Ronald Kirk, Mayor
of the
City of Dallas and on behalf of the Dallas City
Council do hereby proclaim January the
18th as Erica Badoo Day in Dallas, Texas and
the council and the mayor urge all citizens
to join me in extending greetings to this
rising young star in the music industry.
And this is presented by Councilwoman Barbara
Mallory-Caraway. So we're going to put this
to the side. And Miss Badoo, I have a personal
gift that I'd like to give to you and this
has the City of Dallas seal on it and it's a
beautiful bow with my card in the middle
so you remember who I am. Thank you.
Peace and blessing. Hey Gigi. Peace and love. I
really appreciate it. I thank y'all. All
of y'all, especially. All right. Let me put
this down. Y'all ready?
Oh my my my. I'm feelin' high. My money's gone.
I'm all alone. Too bad to see. The world
keeps turning. Oh what a day. What a day. Peace
and blessings manifest with
with every lesson learned.
If your knowledge were your wealth,
then it would be well earned.
And we were made in his image, then call us by
our names.
Most intellects do not believe in God, but they
fear you.
Ow, ow, nah, no.
The title keeps going on like a rolling stone.
Ow, ow, nah, no.
All night till the break of dawn.
I go on and on, and on and on.
The title keeps going on like a rolling stone.
Oh Lord, on and on, and on and on.
God damn it, I'm missing my soul.
I'm a born underwater with $3 and six times.
Yeah, you may laugh, why?
Because you did not do your best.
Like one, two, three.
Damn, y'all feel that?
Like one, two, three.
Y'all feel it over there? Yeah.
Like one, two.
Y'all feel it over there? Yeah.
Like one, two.
You feel it over there? Yeah.
Like one, two, three.
The work keeps turning.
Oh, what a day.
What a day, what a day.
The man that knows something knows
that he knows nothing at all.
Does it seem colder in your summertime
and hotter in your fall?
Now we were made in his image, then called us
by our names.
Most intellects do not believe in God,
but they'll hear you just the same.
How, how, and on must I keep
Oh, Lord, on and on, and on.
I go on and on, and on.
I said on and on, and on.
I am feeling kind of hungry, cause my heart is
coming down.
Don't feed me yours, cause your food does not endure.
I think I need a cup of tea.
The world keeps burning.
Oh, what a day.
What a day, what a day, yeah.
Rush into destruction, cause you don't have
nothing left.
Mothership can't save you, so you're fucking dead.
Now we were made in his image, so called us by
our names.
Most intellects do not believe in God,
but they'll hear us just the same.
One more time, y'all.