KEEP HOPE ALIVE with REV. JESSE JACKSON

Sunday, January 29, 2012

 

We have got two great topics to discuss today, so let’s get right to them…

First hour, let us look at the public dressing down---the publicly disrespectful confrontation of the President by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer…

Some are calling it a publicity stunt; others are seeing it for what it is: a link in a pattern of disrespect leveled at this President, the likes of which we have never seen in the history of our Republic…

What is going on?

How is this distressing pattern of personal disrespect impacting policy-making? And, as we, his supporters, correctly assume a posture or protection and defense, how do we, at the same time advocate for the policies that we need?

Now that we have who we want, in this increasingly hostile environment, how do we fight for what we need?

And, in the second hour we will look at the Grammy’s decision to eliminate 31 categories---going from 109 to 78, the largest drawdown in their history…Most disturbingly these cuts occurred in mostly “ethnic categories” which are at the heart of the American experience, such as…

Latin Jazz, Traditional R&B, Traditional and Contemporary Jazz, World Music, Native American, Cajun/Zydeco, Hawaiian, Polka, Instrumental   Rock, Traditional and Contemporary Blues, Gospel, Mexican and other ethnic and instrumental categories. 

This decision has broad and devastating consequences, making it much harder for many talented artists to get attention for their work and the recognition they deserve.

Why were these categories cut? What were the criteria? Before we have a confrontation, let’s have a conversation….

Joining us will be, among others in the first hour:           

  • ATTY. BARBARA  ARNWINE, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law…
  • Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, DON TERRY…
  • JONATHAN JACKSON, National Spokesman for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition…
  • DANNY SCHECHTER, “The News Dissector”---Emmy-Award winning producer, author, and documentarian…
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Joining us in the second hour will be:

  • ATTORNEY ROGER MALDONADO,  the lawyer for the lead plaintiff in the GRAMMY case, legendary percussionist/producer and multiple-GRAMMY nominee BOBBY SANABRIA, who also joins us today…and,
  • SANDY CRESSMAN, musician and former NARAS Governor, San Francisco Chapter…