# data[].attributes.body
BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL is a multi-day, multi-venue festival in celebration of the Black Arts Movement Business District, Black Arts & Culture, and economics in Oakland, CA. Founded in February 2019, produced by the Lower Bottom Playaz, Inc. in collaboration with BAMBD, CDC, funded by a Creative California Communities grant from the California Arts Council the festival was an annual event through August of 2021.

BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL will be a hybrid international multi-media festival consisting of virtual and  public performances with a concentration in Theater, Film, and Literature.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AUGUST 1, - AUGUST 31, 2023

I Love You - Prosperity Movement Music - BAMBDFEST 2021.mp3

BAMBD F e s t

BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL 2023 INTERNATIONAL is a multi-day, multi-venue festival in celebration of the Black Arts Movement Business District, Black Arts & Culture, and economics in Oakland, CA. Founded in February 2019, produced by the Lower Bottom Playaz, Inc. in collaboration with BAMBD, CDC, funded by a Creative California Communities grant from the California Arts Council the festival was an annual event through August of 2021.

BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL 2023 INTERNATIONAL will be a hybrid international multi-media festival consisting of virtual and public performances with a concentration in Theater, Film, and Literature.

The events will include local and guest performances, readings, a book fair, a publication, film screenings, panel discussions, intellectual exchanges, lectures, installations, local history teach-ins, family and youth activities that animate public spaces.

Highlighting the best of Oakland's vibrant artistry with robust offerings of free and paid events activating public spaces, arts venues, and increasing foot traffic for small businesses BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL 2023 INTERNATIONAL will engage Oakland artist, the Black Arts Movement District, and diverse communities in an international celebration of Oakland, and its rich contributions to the internationally recognized Black Arts Movement, the State of California, and the world beyond.

This work has previously been funded by California Arts Council, The Zellerbach Foundation, Akonadi Foundation.

The Festival

This festival consist of live & virtual participation/performances by theater artists, musicians, poets, visual artists, culture makers and public intellectuals . It features an eclectic mix of free and paid events that include theater, literary events, gallery installations, vendors, panels, interviews, lectures, exhibitions of skill and content that showcases the best of creative Oakland in conversation with the world. The festival is a massive celebration of Oakland, and the history and importance of its rich contributions to the internationally recognized Black Arts Movement in America .

This festival will always celebrate Oakland's history of being at the progressive forefront nationally and internationally in matters of justice & equality for all.

BAMBDFEST 2023 BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL -- FROM OAKLAND TO THE WORLD WITH LOVE.

BLACK BIRD PRESS NEWS
& REVIEW MAGAZINE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AUGUST 1, - AUGUST 31, 2023 I Love You - Prosperity Movement Music - BAMBDFEST 2021.mp3 BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL 2023 INTERNATIONAL is a multi-day, multi-venue festival in celebration of the Black Arts Movement Business District, Black Arts & Culture, and economics in Oakland, CA. Founded in February 2019, produced by the Lower Bottom Playaz, Inc.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sending health and power to all our Black Educators! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Sending health and power to all our Black Educators! 

# data[].attributes.body
we got us! ✊🏽

# data[].attributes.headline
What is Watch Night and why Black Americans celebrate it on New Year’s Eve

# data[].attributes.subject
What is Watch Night and why Black Americans celebrate it on New Year’s Eve

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Many of us are waiting to ring in the new year, but for some Black Americans, this is a reminder of when their ancestors ushered in freedom.

It's a tradition that's not commonly talked about: Watch Night.

UW-Eau Claire history professor Selika Ducksworth-Lawton said Watch Night, or a Watch Night service, dates back to December 31, 1862 when slaves were waiting for soldiers to deliver the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, and that it was supposed to take effect on New Year's Day.

Ducksworth-Lawton said today, it's common for places with large black communities like New Orleans, Atlanta or Houston to have watch night services at churches.

The professor said she actually grew up going to Watch Night in Louisiana and even celebrates with her own family in Eau Claire now by praying together at midnight.

"It links me to my culture. It links me to my heritage. And it links me to this idea of freedom," Ducksworth-Lawton said. "We celebrate it to remember what our ancestors went through, what our ancestors have overcome and to affirm that we will not stop until our descendants are all treated without discrimination."

She added Watch Night is also linked to Juneteenth, a day in 1865 when U.S. Major General Gordon Granger informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free.

Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Eau Claire has its own watch service on New Year's Eve, which focuses on the spiritual aspect of the night.

It starts Thursday at 10:30 p.m.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is Watch Night and why Black Americans celebrate it on New Year's Eve

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Many of us are waiting to ring in the new year, but for some Black Americans, this is a reminder of when their ancestors ushered in freedom. It's a tradition that's not commonly talked about: Watch Night.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The church, at its best, stood vigil, making a case for a better way to be human than a utilitarian ethic that used our shared trauma to justify exploiting other suffering Black people. It argued that the same God who opposes institutional racism travels all the way down to personal evil, resisting the ways that we harm one another. By arguing for both societal change and personal transformation, Watch Night suggests that justice and righteousness are not so easily separated.

Juneteenth, which recently became a federal holiday, remembers that news of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach all of the enslaved right away. There were some who knew that freedom was on the horizon and those who had no idea of the momentous changes shaking American society. It was the work of those who knew about the newfound freedom to contend for those who could not fend for themselves. We are not free until everyone is.

Each New Year's Eve reminds us that the work is never finished. Douglass knew that. He said, "The slave having ceased to be the abject slave of a single master, his enemies will endeavor to make him the slave of society at large." Because of his prophetic imagination and the painful lessons of history, he saw that something like Jim Crow was on the horizon. He knew that law and custom would endeavor to return us again and again to servitude.

What is the solution to that ever-present threat? Douglass said, "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." Each generation of Black folks has taken up this watch keeping, guided by a moral compass that transcends the limited imagination of the powerful. We have done so out of respect to the generations whose vigils - filled with prayer, thanksgiving and sanctified dissatisfaction - won us the freedoms we now enjoy.

It's been years since I attended a Watch Night service. I miss them. A largely white university experience, my wife's military service in Japan and graduate studies in Britain took me far from the Black churches that kept watch. I spent too many years with those who do not remember the deadly slave ship, the dehumanizing auction block or the daring midnight escapes to the North with God as the only hope.

Now that I am back in a Black church in the United States, I'm looking forward to introducing my children to the practice of keeping watch, after the Covid pandemic allows our local church to resume its full schedule of services. Hopefully, Watch Night will connect them to a heritage too precious to lose.

On the edge of those New Year's Eves at church, time felt thin. We seemingly stepped inside history, if only for a moment, to join with the great cloud of witnesses that lauded Black freedom and mourned those slaves who died before freedom came. Too many New Year's Eve gatherings know only celebration. They do not know how to lament the lives lost or how to inspire the commitment that comes from honoring their legacies. Those parties are too free of our histories.

There are a number of New Year's resolutions on the horizon. I am sure we will fail at most of them. But I hope that we do not fail to take up the responsibilities handed to us by our ancestors. We must in 2022 take up the watch so that the coming generation might inherit a more free and just society.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We'd like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some . And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Opinion | Why Generations of Black Americans Have Celebrated the New Year at Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The church, at its best, stood vigil, making a case for a better way to be human than a utilitarian ethic that used our shared trauma to justify exploiting other suffering Black people. It argued that the same God who opposes institutional racism travels all the way down to personal evil, resisting the ways that we harm one another.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8rv2trlmtY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
When Will We B Paid? [ Rare Prince B-Side ]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Janelle Monáe - Turntables [Emotion Picture]

# data[].attributes.headline
I pray you catch a wave that doesn't subside 

# data[].attributes.subject
I pray you catch a wave that doesn't subside 

# data[].attributes.headline
May 2022 be a year of Black Power, Black Joy, Black Justice

# data[].attributes.subject
May 2022 be a year of Black Power, Black Joy, Black Justice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
OVERWHELMING the streets with PEACE through the power of art!

# data[].attributes.body
2022 calls us to craft visions they move us forward while honoring our past. For me, right now that means using photos from the past that allow us to reflect as we look to the future.

This is my friend Darnell. At 17, she claimed her identity as a Black woman in a time where more often than not she was shamed and shunned for being her. I use this photo to build my intention to be more inclusive of Black Trans women in my work as an artist, creator, and leader.

# data[].attributes.headline
Wishing us all health and peace in 2022!!

# data[].attributes.subject
Wishing us all health and peace in 2022!!

# data[].attributes.headline
Wishing us all REST and REPLENISHMENT in 2022

# data[].attributes.subject
Wishing us all REST and REPLENISHMENT in 2022

# data[].attributes.headline
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: s.si.edu/314cccy #APeoplesJourney

# data[].attributes.subject
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: s.si.edu/314cccy #APeoplesJourney

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.text
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.entities.urls[].description
It is a day for poetry and song, a new song. These cloudless skies, this balmy air, this brilliant sunshine . . . are in harmony with the glorious morning of liberty about to dawn up on us. Frederick Douglass December 31, 1862 On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney https://t.co/zEhyClrRvp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Don’t miss what’s happening

People on Twitter are the first to know.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney pic.twitter.com/zEhyClrRvp
— Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) December 31, 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.entities.urls[].description
It is a day for poetry and song, a new song. These cloudless skies, this balmy air, this brilliant sunshine . . . are in harmony with the glorious morning of liberty about to dawn up on us. Frederick Douglass December 31, 1862 On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney https://t.co/zEhyClrRvp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney https://t.co/zEhyClrRvp

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Learn more about Watch Night, or Freedom's Eve: https://t.co/4bhT3Vjbef #APeoplesJourney

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.entities.urls[].description
It is a day for poetry and song, a new song. These cloudless skies, this balmy air, this brilliant sunshine . . . are in harmony with the glorious morning of liberty about to dawn up on us. Frederick Douglass December 31, 1862 On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the

# data[].attributes.headline
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. “Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967.

# data[].attributes.subject
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. “Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967.

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.text
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. 

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967.

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. 

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967. https://t.co/NVofz7bfk2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Don’t miss what’s happening

People on Twitter are the first to know.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time.

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967. pic.twitter.com/NVofz7bfk2
— 🟪Secular-Sanctified🟪 (@JoeyVee12) December 31, 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. 

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967. https://t.co/NVofz7bfk2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. 

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967. https://t.co/NVofz7bfk2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
New Year’s Eve services or “Watch Night” services often had a “watch man” who would keep track of the time throughout the service until midnight. Periodically, the watch man would be asked to report the time. 

“Ask The Watch Man How Long”, Moving Star Hall Singers. 1967.

# data[].attributes.headline
Join online this Friday 12/31 at 5pm ET for a @UniteThePoor National Watch Night service bringing in 2022 declaring that we will not stop organizing, mobilizing, and standing for love and justice. Not now. Not ever.Watch: breachrepairers.org/livestream

# data[].attributes.subject
Join online this Friday 12/31 at 5pm ET for a @UniteThePoor National Watch Night service bringing in 2022 declaring that we will not stop organizing, mobilizing, and standing for love and justice. Not now. Not ever.Watch: breachrepairers.org/livestream

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WATCH: The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival holds news conference to discuss how Sen. Joe Manchin's inaction and lies about scarcity are a form of political violence against 140 million poor and low-wealth people in America and his delay on voting rights is allowing a political coup to sweep through state legislatures, threatening our democracy.

TAKE ACTION: Add your name to the open letter to Sen. Manchin from the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
WATCH: The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival holds news conference to discuss how Sen. Joe Manchin's inaction and lies about scarcity are a form of political violence against 140 million poor and low-wealth people in America and his delay on voting rights is allowing a political coup to sweep through state legislatures, threatening our democracy.

# data[].attributes.headline
Black is all colors, it is abundance. May the world be Black.

# data[].attributes.subject
Black is all colors, it is abundance. May the world be Black.

# data[].attributes.headline
May we switch to community services and defund the police.

# data[].attributes.subject
May we switch to community services and defund the police.

# data[].attributes.headline
May Black boys and girls learn that they are worth the stars, they are supernovas.

# data[].attributes.subject
May Black boys and girls learn that they are worth the stars, they are supernovas.

# data[].attributes.body
We are the bridge.
We are the way.
We are salvation &
renewal. We are the
shore- the ones we
have been waiting for.