Black artists sponsor Katrina forum

To commemorate Black Solidarity Day, a “Black Aid” forum and fund raiser was held here on Nov. 1 with a major emphasis on Hurricane Katrina and continuing support for the survivors of this disaster.

The forum participants, from left to right, were: Bob Law, “Night Talk” radio host and New York State chair of the Millions More Movement; Nana Soul, Black Waxx artist and activist; New York City Councilperson Charles Barron; Dr. Carlos Russell, a founder of Black Solidarity Day; Monica Moorehead, International Action Center organizer; and Milton Allimadi, editor-in-chief of The Black Star News. At podium is Black Waxx filmmaker Usavior. All spoke on the plight of Black people, especially in the aftermath of Katrina, and the need for broader unity to fight for self-determination.

Usavior, the program’s moderator, previewed a documentary he is producing on the gathering of material aid in Brooklyn in September for Katrina survivors on the Gulf Coast. Latisha Devine, also with Black Waxx, read a poem.

Black Solidarity Day, which falls every November on the Monday before the elections, was founded in 1969 by Black political activists to encourage people not to go to school or work as a protest against racist oppression in the U.S. The meeting was sponsored by Black Waxx Recordings and Filmworks and the Black Star News. Larry Holmes, a leader of Workers World Party, officially welcomed everyone to the party’s office, where the meeting was held.