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New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 4

Location:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
4
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

I Till: (XHIIIKII R. IM1 The Artists' circle. Black America count blessings fly EARL CALLOWAY As approach the mid70t it it interesting to not Ih artistic progress of blacks in evrry direction. Acton art steadily working in movies and television, musicians, including condurton art expressing themselves on stage, in concerts, opera, musical theatre, radio, TV, teaching and in placet her they have never taught before. While there it ttiU room for much improvement, it teems to me that Black America ought to be counting hie bleating rather than complaining.

Sure we mutt review our past, but dwelling and lingering in paat hlttory doesn't aid contemporary blacks in their puth toward total etpiality. We should, instead of letting hate alow our progress, prepare the community to that black artists will have places to perform and develop and receive pay for their services. In several continued articles I shall endeavor to briefly trace the progress and development of our music and dance styles. The recent push toward complete integration and total equality has produced a significant social change in the minds and lives of all Americans. This change has come as the result of the Afro American's determination to be completely free and as a result, his ultimate desire within immediate view and racial barriers are rapidly disappearing.

Fine arts have and are still playing an important role in helping to change mental concepts of prejudices by paving the way for social revolution in this area. Within the artistic circle of the world we can perceive the fulfillment of the Afro American vision as he is integrated, culturally, socially, economically and spiritually into the realm of creativity. These desires, in this generation are mirrored in the philosophical themes of drama, the movements of dance and the pulse of his music, that constantly hammer at the problem of race hatred and prejudices. Through music and dance, a candid view of the thought and folk ways of blacks may be revealed better than through any other means of his artistic expressions and have served as the core for his cultural development Because of the dynamic rhythms, colorful harmonies, exciting dances, blacks maintained their mental and emotional balance. Music and dance became a vehicle whereby their dignity could be maintained while suffering.

They also portray the conversion of Afro American art in mood and tone from sombre refactions of despair to lucid visions of a more loftier existence. These dances, the songs, the instrumental music and his poetry blend together in serving as an impelling sociological and psychological human travelogue, spanning nearly three centuries and beyond. They are indeed a revelation of "The Black Soul" through the visual motion of his body and the audible expression of his music. In this generation two Afro Americans who have distinguished themselves as towering giants in the area of dance are Alvin Ailey and Arthur Mitchell. Both began their careers as dancers and have emerged as internationally famous choreographers and have lifted their ethnic cultural folk expression to permanent places in art Ailey and his American Dance Theatre has become noteworthy for their profound expression of black experiences in modern dance and continues to reap accolades of praise internationally.

Currently, the company is preparing a television special that will be produced by "Soul." This summer their tour of Russia brought fantastic rave reviews and prolonged standing ovations. Last season Ailey choreographed the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Bizet's "Carmen" and which will again be featured this weekend with black conductors Henry Lewis conducting and his wife Marilyn Home appearing in the title role. Booked for national and international appearances, the company is in residence at City Center creating new dance programs. "The River," a modern ballet that combined the opulence of Duke Ellington's sophisticated jazz style and the choreographic genius of Ailey, had its official world premiere at the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Produced and presented by the American Ballet Theatre, "The River" sequences culminated in a fantastic work of classical elegance and enhanced with penetrating tem perments of contemporary dance romanticism. The famed jazz composer simply explains the concept of his ballet music in these terms, "The River," birth. the well spring of the heavenly anticipation of In essence, the fame orchestral leader was repeating the ideas of his forefathers and in expressing these concepts reached new dimensions as he collaborated with Ailey in accomplishing his desire in ten episodes. Ailey's ballet "Mingus Dances" set to music by another Jazz composer Charles Mingus and premiered by the City Center Joffrey Ballet is another example of the fusion of black music and choreography. The company also programs his "Feast of Ashes" which Ailey created to the music of Carlos Surinach.

Reaching into other areas of music, Ailey's "Streams" had its premiere April 15, 1970 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Another example of his versality can be seen in "Flowers" which was choreographed to the music of Pink Floyd, Blind Faith and Janice Joplin. When one views Ailey's choreography of "Revelations" set to traditional spirituals, the moving image of individuals responding to the rhythmic motions and the music evokes great spontaneous communication between audiences and dancers. In a sense one is able to feel the very fibers of his own body stimulated as if he too were in action on stage. Through these beautiful songs, he captures the emotions and delivers effectively a visual mood.

To ache achieve his desired effects, Ailey utilizes the waving or trembling of hands, the swift swirl of the body, the shuffling feet, leaping forms, and jerking motions which are elements found in early native black dances. Ailey became interested in dance at a very early age after moving from Rogers, Texas where he was born in 1931 to Los Angeles. After receiving a firm foundation in classical ballet, he say Lester Horton's company dance and knew from that moment that he wanted to express the emotions of his people through dance. After studying with Horton, Ailey joined the company and remained with it until Horton died. His New York debut came in 1957 and shortly after a successful reception formed his own company, dancing often with Carmen De Lavallade.

Along with other black dancers such as the Arthur Hall's Afro American Dance Ensemble in Philadelphia who last summer featured Miss Carmen De Lavallade in six exciting performances at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and this past season featured the first full length Black Ballet "Orpheus" at the Schubert Theater in Philadelphia Rod Rodgers Dance Company, is establishing itself as a major dance company moving yet into a different style that is even more complex and Abstract; the Darlene Blackburn Afro American Dancers, Julian Swain Inner City Dance Company, and the Leo Polmore Inner City Dance Theater of Los Angeles and others, Ailey is keeping alive the African tradition as it is reflected in contemporary society. VI At Pentagon 1 ireceiive 0coe Alilleir cawcoirdl WASHINGTON. D.C. Admiral Eft. Zumwatt.

chief of Naval Operationa. hat been selected by the Don Miller Foundation at the recipient of the Jrxh annual Don Miller Award because of hit progmslv equal opportunity programs within the S. Navy. The presentation will take place at the Pentagon Friday, allOXam. Navyman Doris "Doric" Miller, for whom the Chicago based foundation is named, was the Black naval hero who performed so valiantly during the Dec.

7. 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Miller assisted in moving his mortally wounded commanding officer to a sheltered area while enemy bombs were falling, torpedoes exploding and aircraft gunfire was strafing the decks. He then manned a machine gun and directed gunfire at the attacking plans. Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions, and later during the war, he was killed when the aircraft carrier USS USCOMBE BAY was sunk by an enemy submarine attack off the Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific on November 24, 1943.

The Dorie Miller Foundation was organized in December, 1943 to pay homage to Miller and to give American black youth a source of inspiration and direction toward lasting achievements. In 1947, when the foundation began giving the award, Jackie Robinson was selected as the first recipient The rnterta for winning the award is for Ih person, or organization, to make an outstanding contribution to the welfare, progress and prestige of black American citizens. More than 50 persons have received the award during the past at years, among whom are Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, S. Rep.

Ralph Metcalfe, track star Jett Owens, publisher John It. Johnson. Sen. Charles Percy. Dr.

WHILE INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING CARRIED ON YOU'RE RELIEVED FROM DUTY NOW IF YOUR NAME WAS AGNEW bronze plaque reads; "This statue was erected in 1972, by a group of people with the same determination as the one it honors. The Hilldale TalcoU Kutitan Club chose this memorial to make a page of history, 100 years after the completion of the Big Bend Tunnel in 1872. John Henry Martin Luther King. the late Illinois Sen. Everett Dirkten, Ih president emeritus of Morehout College, Dr.

Benjamin E. Mays, and soul singer Aretha Franklin. Presenting the award to Admiral Zumwalt will be the Rev. Robert House never met Martin Luther King but he it so inspired by the life and works of the late civil rights leader that he has dedicated himself to carrying out the intent of King's "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington. House bears a slight physical resemblance to the slain martyr, although he is taller, slimmer and younger.

He is 29 years old, with compelling eyes in a smooth, brown face, has a neatly trimmed moustache and wears his hair in a conservative close cropped cut Even in casual conversation. Bob House unconsciously carries some of the tonal inflections and gestures of King. It comes from avid study of films, particularly "Montgomery to Memphis," and from reading everything he can lay his hands on about King. He is married and his two small sons have already captured King's legend from their father. Born in Shelby, Miss, in 1944, into a family of six boys and six girls, young Robert was brought to Chicago when his mother died in 1957, when she was only 38.

The children were distributed among relatives. Bob grew up on the Westside, where he soon took up with tough street gangs. The competition to achieve the respect of his peers landed him first in reform school, and then in Pontiac prison from 1961 to 1967. He was naturally bright 1 i f' J. td3 mmM i Hammer in hand.

Chicagoans Erno Bryant (left) and Oshun Mugwana admire a statue of John Henry, erected on a hill along Rt. 3, outside Beckley. West Va. Behind them can be seen the tracks of the Railroad before they enter Big Bend Tunnel, where John Henry, legendary steel driver, was to have died. The died from a race with the steam drill, during construction of the tunnel for the Railway Co.

May God grant that we always respect the great and the strong and be of service to others." That infernal flying v. Mm. Umo Zmmall OLD AAOSE if, foundrr of the Doris Miller Twe persona were killed this week when their experimental aircraft, a Ford Pint fitted with wing Foundation, the Rev. Elmer (show in this I' PI file photo), crashed takeoff from Ventura County Airport It was only Ike Fowler, pastor of Third Bap second night of the craft bring tested to try la produce a ear that ran be driven on the street and list Church of Chicago. ak fly.

The plane Is show air borne during Ms Initial flight last June. Inspired by Dr. King ij mm pfomim 1 I I Reverent reverend. Rev. Robert L.

House was so inspired by the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King that he is successfully pursuing a career as a Christian minister. This fact Is not so unusual in itself what is unusual is that Rev. House got off to a bad start in life, ending up in prison for a while, before making his committment (Daily Defender photos by Brent Jones) aggressive and ambitious. Says he, "I began to discover myself and decided to stand up on my own as an individual." Religion entered his life very strongly while he was in prison.

A white former teacher of his at Marshall Elementary School encouraged him to finish grammar school and high school. He mastered short hand and typing and enrolled in a prison program sponsored by W. Clement Stone, the Chicago financier, which was called "Positive Mental Attitude" (PMA). Pontiac is a place for young offenders average ages are 15 to 25. House says that while his prison experience was not painful, no guard brutality, homosexuality or drugs, it was lonely and frustrating.

He knew that in order to make it in the outside world when he came out he would need as much knowledge as he could cram into himself. Freedom became a cherished thing. Martin Luther King, as a figure, affected him more than any other mortal on earth. When he was paroled, he went to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, where he came under the influence of Rev.

Maceo Pembroke, the pastor. He gave House a job as secretary of the church, which he held for three years. Meanwhile, Robert was attending Chicago State University and serving as assistant probation officer part time with ths U.S. Courts of Northern Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the college this year.

This month, he will enter Garrett Institute on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University to work towards a Master's degree in Divinity. St. Mark's Church made him assistant pastor in 1972, after he received his license to preach from the United Methodist; Church denomination. He is currently pastor of the Wesley United Pensive. A young daughter of a church member pensively eyes the photographer during a Sunday service.

Methodist Church at 212 E. 95th st. It is a small congregation. The members, some of whom are prominent Chicagoans, know about his prison experience, but have never made an issue of it. His mentor and confidante remains Reverend Pembroke.

Robert's busy schedule includes numerous speaking engagements and radio and television appearances. He believes passionately that there is a potential for rehabilitation of even the most hardened criminals. When he visits the jails, he is received in hushed silence as he talks with his spell binding fervor about the inward spiritual person. He gets a steady flow of letters from prisoners and ex offenders who seek his counsel. His own dream includes a vision of preaching to vast audiences, of traveling to far places, learning from the great theologians and spreading the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Published By NtW PITTSBURGH COURH PUBLISHING COMPANY 315 t. Cursor) Street Phone (412) 481 8302 Pittsburgh. 15219 Second Class Postage Paid At Pittsburgh. Pa. and al additional mailing offices.

a no jonn it. President Publisher James I). Lewis General Ma nager SUBSCRIPTION RATtS In Continental United States. Hawaii. Alaska.

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Koreign: Six months $6.25: one vear SI 1.00: two vears 16.00! The Pittsburgh Courier does not guarantee the use of return of unsolicited Manu scripts. and photographs..

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About New Pittsburgh Courier Archive

Pages Available:
64,064
Years Available:
1911-1977