VIDEO of DUST + DIGNITY: THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE IN BLACK MUSIC

Newark Public Library - James Brown African American Room - August 10, 2022

Join us for a rich discussion revolving around Black music’s sonic and visual response to social injustice throughout the years. Our invited panel guests include Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr., Ph.D Arcadia University, Dr. Lacey Hunter, Ph. D, Rutgers University, and global DJ Skeme Richards of Nostalgia King.

Bruce Campbell Jr. created the Dust + Dignity project, an educational experience promoting dialogue and advancing social justice through the exploration of the relationship between music, visual art, and our society.

Lacey Hunter received her PhD from Drew University. Her dissertation focused on the role of African American religious ideologies on racial constructions. She holds an MA in American History from Rutgers University-Newark and is currently teaching courses on African American Studies and Afro-American History, including History of Hip Hop. She is actively involved in organizations that help urban students transition into college, as well as collaborative programs for “at-risk” college freshman. She is also deeply committed to restructuring historical teaching and encouraging greater literacy rates among students of color.

Skeme Richards is a global DJ, cultural ambassador, foodie, pop culture preserver and creator of Nostalgia King. Nostalgia King spotlights and reviews musical releases from record labels and artists that continue to produce music from an analog aesthetic, on vinyl and in the areas of Funk, Soul, Jazz, international Soundtracks and independent Hip Hop while presenting it from a tastemakers viewpoint to the reader and listening audience.

Skeme Richards - New Library Sounds - Release Party Recap

Saturday, July 15, 2017 down at Brewerytown Beats we had a release party for Skeme Richards latest mixpate, New Library Sounds on Record Breakin' Music. It is an ALL VINYL 60 minute mix of new sound library vibes. Limited Edition cassette only 200 copies. 

"My latest project, New Library Sounds is a collection of works from many of today’s artists who are creating cinematic masterpieces without a script or featured actors but doing so by imagination and what feels right. What you are about to hear is just that, a cinematic expression that feels as though it should be a score to a film, one that’s filled with action and adventure, love and drama, hope and despair yet genre less at the same time. It’s a journey into the unknown but charting into familiar territory that places you in the center screen."

 - Skeme Richards (The Nostalgia King) #NewLibrarySounds

...peep the recap below

Still photos from Jen Strickland Photography

Dust N Dignity

Dust + Dignity is an educational experience promoting dialogue + advancing social justice through the exploration of the relationship between music and visual art. In March 2016, we will curate an exhibit featuring an audio tour with over 100 vinyl albums covers -- hand-selected by five of Philadelphia’s most prominent DJ-Vinyl Collectors: Cosmo BakerKing BrittRich MedinaSkeme Richards, and DJ Junior.

Today, we are experiencing an outing of the racial ignorance that has long existed in our city, country, and surrounding world. Born out this injustice and in response to the ignorance is art. In art, we find sound. Music keeps us together; it heals and connects -- it motivates and celebrates. Lyrics give life to our souls, the melodies align our hearts, and the rhythms stoke the fire our movements. Often-overlooked is the powerful connection between an album’s music and the accompanying album visual artwork that binds it all together. From Gil Scott Heron's "Moving Target" to Kendrick Lamar’s highly-acclaimed 2015 release, "To Pimp a Butterfly", the evolution of album artwork has transmitted the dynamism of music and social injustices. Curators: Bruce “DJ Junior” Campbell Jr. - recordbreakin.com, Angie Asombrosa- Cuurlzzz.com, Sarah Mueller - cineSPEAK.org, King Britt - kingbritt.com, Cosmo Baker - cosmobaker.com, Rich Medina - richmedina.com, Skeme Richards - hotpeasandbutta.com 

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