Music
1. Went out tonight to see Left of Center’s presentation of Julian Bond speaking on “Crossing the Color Line: From Rhythm and Blues to Rock and Roll”. It was an interesting and thoughtful speech. Bond’s premise is that R & B music’s influence on rock and roll made it “safe” for whites to be more open to African-American music, culture, and people in general.
I’ve always thought this was true in my own life (though in a completely different decade from Bond’s well-presented history lesson). Seventies artists like Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and Sly and the Family Stone opened my eyes to people and cultures and ideas that were completely foreign to my sheltered little experience.
2. Have a chair.
by Andrew Hersey