OurStage

The Radio Show Show I want to thank all of the people who came out in support of my new radio show The Alternative Soul Breakfast Club (on 96.1 WTTH The Touch, Sundays at 7am) last Monday at Planet Rose. Station owner Gary Fisher and I organized and hosted a party for the listeners and some of the performers whose music is played on the show. The highlight for me was meeting the show’s listeners, some of whom came out and had never been to a live music/arts showcase here at the Jersey shore. Grammy winner Terry Steele dropped by and brought actress Barbara Montgomery with him. Readers may remember Montgomery from her role as Casseita Hetebrink on the hit sitcom Amen. Montgomery and Steele were both inspiring to the performers at Planet Rose. Miss Atlantic City Sasha Stevenson did an outstanding job co-hosting the event with me. Stevenson also pleased the crowd, performing her new single “Watch Me” to kick off the party. Brooklyn’s Robin Adams and Michael Helman screened clips from their new Web cartoon series Cowch Potatoes. The series can currently be seen at www.cowchpotatoes.com — but don’t be surprised if you see the series on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim soon. Everyone at Planet Rose was roaring with laughter from the clips we saw. As soon as Atlantic City’s Pattie Harris walked in, several guests, including Barbara Montgomery, grabbed the microphone from me in order to explain why Miss Pattie was the reason why they were successful in the arts. I always count myself among those people who directly benefit from Pattie Harris. I also have to thank WTTH’s program director Rob Garcia for the 150 gift bags and great door prizes. Special guest Shanelle Gabriel from HBO’s Def Poetry Jam thrilled the crowd and encouraged all of the artists to keep on. For those of you who missed The Alternative Soul Breakfast Club Kick-Off Party, we’ll have a similar event called Alternative Soul Live at Dante Hall on Saturday Oct. 25 at 8pm.

CITY BEAT A Brief Look Back Obama, the bailout and ‘what happened to the money?’ by Raymond Tyler This year, I learned that I did not hold the patent on faith. There were millions of Americans who believed that Barack Obama could and would be the nation’s first African-American president. I never doubted that Obama should be president. However, I had serious doubts about whether or not America had matured enough. I’m grateful that I called this one wrong. My heart still swells with pride when I think about the young people who got it right. America was ready. I am not so Obama-struck to think that, as a black man, I won’t ever be racially profiled again, but I am glad that I have lived to see a black man become president. I spoke recently at Pleasantville Middle School and while addressing the 8th grade class there, I brought up Obama. It seems that, at the same time, the 2008 election changes everything and changes nothing. Obama changes everything because I can go to a school and now talk about the many sacrifices it took in order for Obama to become the next president. Nothing, however, will have changed if the world just goes back to business as usual. If people of color do not appear at school board meetings with the same dedication that they showed up at the polls back in November nothing will change. The change voted for is not magic. We the people cannot merely say the word “Obama” and expect that magically we will all gain the strength of Hercules and the wisdom of Solomon. Everyone will have to pitch in to get things right again. To me, one of the most disappointing things about this year was the government “bailout” of the banks. Like most Americans, I was upset about the economic downturn. However, what still bothers me is that the solution was to give more money to the banks. I laughed when I heard congress asking: “What happened to the money?” I laughed when senators looked puzzled that none of the billions of dollars given out actually made it to the people at large. I think that congress should have a) first given the money straight to homeowners to pay off debts and get a new start, b) then given money to the rest of America to clear basic debt (school, car loans, credit cards etc.), and c) tax the hell out of any company/industry whose operators decided to raise prices following the release of this money. Greed has all but crippled America and as long as “the foxes are in charge of this hen house” it will remain so. On a personal note, I gained a new radio show. In addition to my Friday show on Stockton Colleges WLFR, I am now also on Sunday mornings on 96.1 WTTH. The “Alternative Soul Breakfast Club” show on WTTH allows me to do what I think I do best: find and present new talent. On WTTH I have interviewed up-and-coming talents like Sasha Stevenson and writer Morgan Simone as well as international artists like music producer Rodney Jerkins, writer Zane, DJ Red Alert and rapper DMC. Next week I will reflect upon the past year of “The City Beat” coverage. For now, let me say I am looking forward with great excitement to year number five writing for Atlantic City Weekly. I am also excited to hear more of what Gov. Jon Corzine has planned in his package to help small businesses here in New Jersey. I am also hoping to sit down with new Pleasantville Mayor Jesse Tweedle to see what direction he plans to take that city in. So as we close the book on 2008, I hope we have learned a little and grown a little; we have definitely all cried a little. I thank you all for the good times and look forward to more in the next year.