PAN IN THE GRAMMY AWARDS? ...HUH!

Pan in the Grammy Awards?.... Huh!

 

Someone can verify this… but I have just been told that some guy got an award at the Grammys that is related to pan. It is some music educator award, apparently he had some four steelband ensembles. What I can say is that…. great … it is a start. I have to mention some of the realities and facts though. I was told that it is a white Jewish guy.

I personally have no problem with who gets it to the next level as long as it gets there.

I have written some stuff about a parallel history of Jazz and Pan and sometimes somebody has to be the one to open the door.

The Cotton Club in Harlem in the early 1900’s was one of the most prestigious places to play.

However at a certain time in that history, black people were not allowed to be guests or patrons in that club. They were however the waiters, waitresses, and musicians. The great Duke Ellington performed there but for his group to get hired there he had to go through his white Jewish manager Irving Mills. That was the reality then and it seems a sort of a parallel with the pan…someone else has to open that door.  

I mentioned this because this is a beautiful forum with a lot of brothers and sisters from all races so healthy discussions even if it has to involve race should not be a taboo after all this is 2014….but it still seems that though we have come a long way …we still have a long way to go

America, America you have to lay down that burden that you are still carrying.

Just saying….

Salah

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  • Word! Great commentary, my good man. So happy to see someone that's not cowed by the PC police and is not scared to call a spade a spade. 

    Not one playing field is level, and truth be told, there's a certain group of people who happen to control, just about every segment of every thing,  and therefore will always have an unfair advantage over all others. 

    To mention them by name seems to be a grave offense, so most people who happen to be paying attention, often dare not tell it like it is. 

    Fact is, its good even for pan to be mentioned in the Grammys, and frankly I'm not surprised that it was a jewish guy getting the award.  Nothing new here. As stated before they will always have a head start, so it stands to reason that they would come out ahead of the pack on a consistent basis. 

    How do we close the gap? 

    • 'there's a certain group of people who happen to control, just about every segment of every thing,  and therefore will always have an unfair advantage over all others. "

      -

      OFGS. That is total B.S.  It's pure nonsense, nothing but prejudice and propaganda, promulgated by ignorant crackpots and conspiracy theorists.

      • Catt, when you were told to stay out of our business because of you "race", I came to your defense. Now, I need you to do the same. Take a look at Time Wise's (a White American) YouTube videos on "White Privilege", and then share your views on his research. Keep in mind that "prejudice" means "pre-judging". When Blacks speak of Whites, it is important to also keep in mind that they speak from a relationship that existed for over 400 years; a relationship that makes those who look like you "superior
        ', and those who look like me "inferior". 

        So, the "judgments" of Blacks against Whites, are "post judgments", i.e. judgments after the FACT of MAAFA. Are "Jews" prejudice against Nazis? Granted, not all Germans are guilty of the atrocities against 6 million "Jews", and not ALL White Americans are guilty of the atrocities against 600 million Africans. Are you denying that racism exists, and that Jews and other Whites in America are entitled? The news in the United States, constantly remind us ALL of "White Privilege", and even President Barack Obama is treated differently, although his mother was White, and he grew up with his White family, not his African family. He is still a "N-Word" in America.

        I have lived in the US long enough to know that the above statement is accurate; that JEWS run things!!! PERIOD. In Trinidad, Indo-Trinbagonians run things, and when we observe the both "racial groups", they have MORE in common than you may care to admit. (Both are clannish, both stick to their culture and religion, and both are highly materialistic!) The FACT is, they NEVER had any land, and are occupying lands owned by the Palestinians. Africans are told to forget chattel slavery, but Americans are told to never forget 911, and Jews are told to never forget their Holocaust.. Trust me, sister, you are venturing into unknown territory, and the only "B.S." on WST comes from the one supporting your comment, because he happens to represent racist views of Blacks. (See his comments on crime.) I highly recommend that you seek out the works of Tim Wise and Jane Elliot, among other White researchers on this subject. Don't take Black people's word for it. Anyway, this reply is sent with brotherly love; just don't ask me to be politically-correct to appease the consciences of Whites.

        Are you Privileged? Does your "race" matter?

        :How racist are you? Take this test.

        Ghost. No B.S. No "False Papers".Just B.A. and REAL PAPERS.

      • But, Catt, the "ignorant crackpots and conspiracy theorists" are the MARJORITY VIEW on this topic and its related tangents. Scratch the surface and you will be shocked!!!

  • Very well said Charlene Lusk....especially your PS comment. I hope the readers who need to read between the lines will understand. After all that I have read on this topic, I see it as senseless to continue....on to another.

  • Yes, it was the award for the Grammy Teacher of the Year. The gentleman is like most public school teachers: he must teach vocal and instrumental and grades K-12. He teaches General Music in the lower grades and performance classes in the upper grades, mostly vocal. He also teaches several instrumental classes including 4 steel pan classes. Yes, they did show his pan classes briefly. He also has a Celtic String class and a couple other cultural instrumental groups. Bravo to him on receiving the first Grammy Teacher award and for doing what public school teachers do every day. Cudos for including pan in his curriculum! I taught 33 years and had three pan classes of 34 each in my curriculum when I left. I taught pan 20 of those 33 years. We are out there. We quietly make inroads. Yeah for public school music education!

    PS I have been to TT 6 times, I am a white female, I was mentored by a Trini. Let them do in TT what I have been doing in the schools here instead of having 41 dead in the month of January. I am offended by the comments of someone who knows nothing of this gentleman but is so willing to take away his honor.
    • Charlene thank you for your input.. I too have been teaching pan in the public schools of Montreal and now Toronto since 1991 ( 23 years) and I commend my fellow teachers in this area wherever and whoever they are. It does not matter who opens the door or who takes it to the next level as long as it gets there and the door gets open ... everyone will benefit in the end.... it is all music the universal language ...thanks

      • Thank you Salah. I purchased your book in the early days of my teaching when such treasures were hard to come by. Even spoke to you on the phoe a few times. Not sure if you recall this but my thanks back to you. We are all a product of those who come before us and pay it forward to those who come after us.

    • We thank you Charlene Lusk for the 33 years you taught.

      • Thank you Cecil.
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