Month: March 2017

In the early 1990s, painter Kerry James Marshall created a series of paintings depicting black love ― a subject that, despite being glaringly simple, was largely absent from the annals of art history.

In one 1992 painting, “Slow Dance,” a black couple slow dances together in their living room as music notes swirl around them. Marshall immortalizes this romantic moment, exceptional in its ordinariness, magical because it’s mundane. With his paintbrush, Marshall sought to normalize the banal elements of black life that are nearly always overlooked by art, film, and cultural representation. The basic gesture of depicting black couples hanging out was something revolutionary. 

Artist Leslie Barlow had Marshall on the mind when she embarked on her most recent series “Loving” in 2015. The mixed media paintings depict interracial couples based around the Minnesota area, where Barlow lives and works. The series takes its name from the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. 

Fifty years feels wildly short when considering this is how long interracial marriage has been legal in the United States. And still, prejudice regarding interracial couples endured long past the Loving ruling. “I think a lot of people forget that there is this history of discrimination, and it didn’t just disappear when the Supreme Court banned anti-discrimination laws,” Barlow told The Huffington Post. “I wish that was the case, but racism is totally alive and well in this country.”

This inequity is painfully clear, for example, in the history of art, where oil paint has been used to tell certain kids of stories about certain kinds of people for centuries, leaving whole populations unrepresented and seemingly overlooked. “My work is about having agency over the representation of my story and stories like mine,” Barlow said. “It’s a sharing of experiences we don’t often see.” 

Barlow, who is mixed race, began making work that grappled with themes of race and identity while in graduate school. Her earlier work mainly depicted members of her immediate family, but with “Loving,” Barlow hoped to create equally personal works for a larger community.

In particular, she was interested in the local Minneapolis–Saint Paul population, which still lags behind most other U.S. states in terms of race and representation. “The lack of diversity in Minnesota did have an impact on my racial development and ideas of what was ‘normal,’” Barlow said. She resolved to illustrate interracial couples, still largely erased from the cultural archives, hoping the intimate depictions could steer viewers away from binary methods of thinking about race that operate primarily in terms of black and white. 

For the series, Barlow selected couples and families in the local vicinity, most of whom she knew through personal connections. “I wanted the paintings to meet these families where they are,” she said. She began by photographing her subjects in a space they felt comfortable ― whether at home or roaming the neighborhood. She then rendered the photographic images onto un-stretched canvasses or wooden panels, starting with acrylic underpainting and adding layers of oil paint and pastel. 

Barlow also experimented with sewing and collaging fabric onto the works, subtly alluding to the traditions of quilting and tapestry. “The quilt is a coming together of these disparate materials to make something beautiful, whole, uniquely its own thing,” she said. “It ends up being a metaphor for these people coming together to become one family. Quilts also bring up these ideas of domesticity and family, the warmth of that.”

Although the Loving case is the impetus for the series, the paintings themselves depict couples and families ― hanging out, cuddling, drinking a glass of wine ― just being, together. “I want each painting to be unique, but to also have this thing in common of feeling normal,” she said.The artist communicated with all of her subjects beforehand to agree on an environment and activity that represented their daily lives. “The paintings felt mundane in the best of ways. That’s what I want, to normalize these images.” 

Although race and identity have long been ideas central to Barlow’s artistic project, they are especially necessary right now, when racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric are becoming commonplace under President Trump’s administration. “I don’t shy away from my art being political,” Barlow said. “I do believe in the power of images and social change. I think, as an artist, it’s my duty to reflect the world and what’s going on within it. I feel it’s important I continue to push that.”

Leslie Barlow’s “Loving” is on view until March 25, 2017 at Public Functionary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Got joy?

Sometimes it can feel hard to keep up a happy state of mind. The emotion, like all the others, isn’t always permanent. But there are ways to keep it up or boost it when you need it ― and luckily, they’re simpler than you think.

In honor of the International Day of Happiness, we’ve culled expert tips, research and just a few feel-good suggestions of ways to boost your mood. Take a look below:

1. Log some time with your furry friends.

Play fetch with Fido or sneak in a few cuddles with your kitten. Interacting with your pets can release oxytocin in the brain ― you know, the “warm and fuzzy” hormone ― resulting in that joyous feeling.

2. Count your blessings.

There’s nothing like a little thankfulness to boost your mood. Research shows expressing gratitude can make you happier. Try writing down three things you’re thankful for at the end of each night.

3. Remind yourself how great you are.

PSA: You are awesome — you just gotta believe it for yourself. Studies show self-acceptance is crucial to a happier life, but it’s a habit we barely practice. 

4. Call your mom.

Pick up that phone. Research suggests hearing your mom’s voice can help reduce stress. And less stress means a happier you.

5. Meditate, meditate, meditate.

The list of meditation benefits seems endless, but perhaps one of the more positive perks is what the practice can do for your mood. Research shows that allowing yourself a few moments of zen-like escape each day may make you happier.

6. Listen to music.

Admit it: There’s nothing quite like a solo jam session, and apparently science agrees. Research shows that trying to boost your mood while listening to music actually can help lift you to a more positive state. Press play ASAP.

7. While you’re at it, listen to sad music.

No, really. Studies also suggest listening to sad music can help boost positive feelings. (We just see this as another excuse to listen to Adele on repeat.)

8. Give back.

We didn’t get to where we are without a little help, so why not extend that same generosity to someone else? Not only will your kindness influence others, studies show it’ll also make you happier, too.

9. Hang out with someone who is happy.

Joy really is contagious. Research shows the more you surround yourself with positive people, the happier you’ll feel. Time to go catch up with your BFF?

10. Watch a funny video.

Find something that tickles you, watch and let the giggles ensue. Laughter can reduce stress, after all.

11. Plan a vacation.

The anticipation for a trip is almost as good as the trip itself. Prepping for a vacation has been shown to increase our happiness levels, the New York Times reported. The warm sun or exciting slopes are just an added bonus.

12. Whip up a good meal.

Feeling blue? Tap into your inner chef and hit the kitchen. Researchers say people who employ creative process in small ways ― like coming up with a new pasta recipe for dinner ― feel happier overall.

13. Get in a good workout.

Consider this our love letter to exercise. Not only is it good for your body, but it’s equally as beneficial to your brain. When you work up a sweat, you release endorphins, immediately upping your happiness levels. Go ahead, get moving.

14. Spend money on experiences.
A fulfilling life doesn’t lie in our possessions, it’s found in the experiences we have and the people we share them with. If you’re going to spend a little moolah, spend it on a trip, a concert or any other experience that will bring you joy. Science says you’ll be happier in the long run.

15. Challenge yourself.

Work for that promotion or take on that marathon. It’s a lovely treat for your mind, according to Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. “Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness,” Rubin wrote in Real Simple. “The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction.”

16. Fake a smile.

We get it — smiling may be the last thing you want to do when you’re in a sour mood, but it could help to turn that frown upside-down. Research shows faking a smile can help elevate our mood, even if we’re not genuinely into it right away. Talk about the power of suggestion.

17. Go outside.

Take advantage of your backyard or stroll a park you’ve never been to before and thank yourself later. One study found that going for a brief walk in nature can help improve your mood and alleviate stress.

18. Make some new friends.

Research shows making friends increases our happiness and well-being. Join a club, talk to your coworker or strike up a conversation in the grocery line — you never know what kinds of new connections you can make.

19. Drink a glass of milk.
Dairy contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps create serotonin, the “happy” chemical in the brain. Milk: It not only does the body good, it does the brain good too.

20. Take a cozy bath (like Barry the dog).

If that isn’t the look of happiness, we don’t know what is. Plus, research suggests that warm baths make us feel warm on the inside, too.

21. Get enough sleep.

More sleep = A happier you. Too little shuteye slows down our cognitive processes and increases the risk of depression. Try hitting the pillow 30 minutes earlier each night or taking a nap in the middle of the day.

22. Embrace the aging process.

Most people wish they could avoid aging, but studies show that we’re happier as we get older. Experts theorize this could be because the older we get, the more we reflect on positive experiences. Sounds like a great reason to love those birthdays.

23. Have a good cry.

It sounds counterintuitive, but it may actually work. Research has found that crying can lead to positive increase in mood following the flow of tears. Those in the study reported feeling better than they did before they had a reason to cry.

24. Follow the “golden ratio.”

This theory, developed by positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, holds that for every one negative experience you have, you should have three positive ones in order to achieve happiness. Makes sense to us!

25. Show your appreciation for someone else over email.

Technology isn’t all bad. Take a break from your overflowing inbox and switch gears to a different kind of email. “We fight so hard against the negative and we forget to tell people how powerful a two-minute positive e-mail could be,” Harvard-trained researcher and Before Happiness author Shawn Achor told Oprah in 2014.

26. Give someone else a compliment.

Your generosity will make your day and their’s. Looking for a way to give praise that isn’t superficial? Here are some ideas.

27. Find the perfect temperature.

The weather outside has a direct influence on how we feel on the inside. One study found that happiness is maximized at an approximate 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

28. Keep a one-sentence journal.

Sometimes the most mundane moments turn out to be the loveliest source of happiness. Research shows recording these everyday events may make us happier later on because we appreciate them a lot more when they’re revisited. In other words, if you ate a scrumptious chocolate brownie on Wednesday, write it down.

30. Stop to smell the flowers, literally.

Eau de Happiness? One study on how scent affects joy found that participants who were in a floral-scented room selected three times as many happiness-related terms than negative terms.

31. Have sex.

Here’s a good excuse (not that you need one) to hit the sheets: Research suggests having sex can reduce stress. Of course, how much is up to you. But worth a try, eh?

32. Just TRY being happy.

Can you think yourself to joy? Some researchers believe so. According to two experimental studies, taking happiness into your own hands can boost your well-being.

33. Try to cut back on work.

Residents of Denmark, one of the happiest countries in the world, spend less time than most Americans in the office. Only 2 percent of Danes work long hours, which is categorized as 50 hours per week. And full-time workers still devote 66 percent of their day to self-care, like eating and sleeping. Maybe do as the Danes do?

34. Get spiritual.

Spirituality and religion have been linked to higher happiness and well-being, according to a review of studies on spirituality and health. Sometimes it helps to know you’re connected to something greater than yourself.

35. Celebrate little victories.

There’s power in small moments. Whether it’s getting an answer correct at trivia or catching your favorite song on the radio, indulge in the little “wins” of your day. “I think when we take time to notice the things that go right — it means we’re getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day,” Susan Weinschenk, author of How to Get People to Do Stuff, previously told HuffPost. “That can help with our moods.”

36. Think of happy memories.

Research shows nostalgia makes us happier and more optimistic. Time to dig out those old yearbooks?

37. Skip the small talk and go deep.

Anyone can talk about the weather. Let yourself get a little more connected and have a substantial conversation with someone — research shows it will boost happiness and well-being.

38. Recite a positive mantra.

You can either create your own or find one online (personally, we like these encouraging words). Search for a phrase that’s going to bring meaning to you. Research shows having a mantra can help with bad feelings. Find yours!

39. Spend money on someone else.

Investing in other people really does pay off — for them and for you. According to one 2008 study, spending money on others promotes your own happiness.

40. Become a better listener.

How much do your really pay attention to your conversations? Researchers theorize the more we listen, the happier and more meaningful our lives are — particularly within our relationships. As Epictetus once said, “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

41. Take a selfie.

The next time someone judges you for taking one of those infamous front-facing photos, show them this: A 2016 study found that selfies actually increase confidence and make you happier. Boom.

42. Talk to someone IRL.
Put down that phone and log some real FaceTime. Human beings are social creatures (and not just on the internet), so it’s time we tap into those resources. Research shows we simply feel better when we’re around other people.

43. Lower your expectations.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a lackluster New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day. It’s no secret that expectation can lead to disappointment if the bar is set too high (in fact, research backs this up). We’re not implying that you should set the bar low, but sometimes realistic ideas make you happier in the long run. 

44. Look on the bright side.

There are perks to seeing life through a glass half full. Try looking for a silver lining in any situation. Optimists are not only more joyful, they also may live longer. That’s a lot of extra time to be happy.

45. Finally, just look at this smiling face.

Give one (or several) of these a try the next time you’re feeling low. Happiness looks good on you.

A previous version of this article appeared in March 2015.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Source: HuffPost Black Voices

A Confederate flag was hoisted up a flagpole attached to a car near two NCAA tournament games in South Carolina on Sunday, just two years after the state was permitted to host the sporting events thanks to the flag’s removal from state grounds.

The controversial red and blue flag, which is today seen by many as a symbol of racism and to others one of Southern pride, was the handiwork of members of the South Carolina Secessionist Party, local Greenville station WYFF reported.

In addition to the large flag that was seen waving near Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena where the men’s games were taking place, protesters were seen carrying the flag on the streets below.

“People tend to mistake this for a race thing. It’s not about race. It’s about history and it being erased. And it is being erased,” an unidentified white demonstrator told a reporter, according to sports news outlet SB Nation.

Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller, speaking to WYFF, said that no laws were being broken and that the protesters reached out to see if they needed a permit to protest before hitting the streets. The protesters also said they wanted to pressure lawmakers to speed up the process of putting the Confederate flag that flew on state house grounds in a relic museum.

In a statement, Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball, assured that the flags and other related symbols will not be allowed on the venue’s property.

“No symbols that compromise that commitment will be permitted to be displayed on venue property that the tournament controls,” he said. “Freedom of speech activities on public property in areas surrounding the arena are managed by the city of Greenville and we are supportive of the city’s efforts.”

The flag’s appearance comes nearly three years after it was removed from above the Columbia statehouse, ending a near 15-year ban that prohibited the state from holding NCAA games.

The decision to remove the flag followed a 2015 targeted shooting at a historically black Charleston church that left nine black worshippers dead. The gunman named Dylann Roof, who was an avowed white supremacist, proudly posed for photos with different versions of the flag on social media.

Hunter Meadows, who was among those protesting with the flag on Sunday, told the Associated Press that the flag and its supporters shouldn’t be blamed for Roof’s actions. He also expressed upset that it had been removed from the capitol’s grounds.

“I didn’t feel it was right when the flag came down,” said Meadows, who said his ancestors fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. “We wanted to show the NCAA that we’re still here.”

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Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Following news of Chuck Berry’s death on Saturday, plenty of fellow musicians shared touching tributes to the rock ‘n’ roll legend on social media. Among them being The Rolling Stones, who considered Berry a huge influence on their own music. 

“The Rolling Stones are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chuck Berry,” the band wrote in a statement on Facebook. “He was a true pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll and a massive influence on us. Chuck was not only a brilliant guitarist, singer and performer, but most importantly, he was a master craftsman as a songwriter. His songs will live forever.” 

The band’s lead singer, Mick Jagger, also shared a tribute of his own, writing, “I want to thank him for all the inspirational music he gave to us. He lit up our teenage years, and blew life into our dreams of being musicians and performers.” 

He concluded: “Chuck, you were amazing, and your music is engraved inside us forever.” 

Guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood also shared individual tributes on Twitter.

“’One of my big lights has gone out,’” Richards wrote, while Wood called Berry “my inspiration, a true character indeed.”

Other stars, including Brian May of Queen, Carole King, La Roux and Bruce Springsteen, also paid tribute to the rock ‘n’ roll legend. You can see more tributes here. 

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— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Source: HuffPost Black Voices

A team of black and Latinx fourth graders became the target of racism during a robotics competition in Indiana, but they didn’t let that stop them from going to the world championships.

Last month, the Panther Bots, a five-student team from Indianapolis’ Pleasant Run Elementary School, had finished participating in a robotics challenge at Plainfield High School when their competitors saw them in the parking lot and yelled to them, “Go back to Mexico!” according to the Indiana Star.

“They were pointing at us and saying, ‘Oh my God, they are champions of the city all because they are Mexican. They are Mexican and they are ruining our country,’” Diocelina Herrera, mother of one of the Panther Bot students, told the Star.

But the students, three of whom are Latinx and two of whom are black, did their best to ignore the hurtful words and strive to do better.

“I feel like what they say doesn’t affect us,” Elijah Goodwin, a 10-year-old Panther Bot, told local news station WTHR 13. 

“When you are a good team,” he added, “people are going to hate you for being good and I think what people say can make you greater.”

The students’ attitude proved successful.

After winning several awards during robotics challenges at the Indiana State Championships, the Panther Bots earned a ticket to the Vex IQ Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Well, our scrappy little robotics team did it!” Lisa Hopper, coach of the Pleasant Run Elementary School’s Panther Bots team, wrote on Facebook after they earned their spot. “It has been an exciting journey.”

Officials at Plainfield High School told the Star that they were unaware of the racist comments made during the competition, but called the behavior disheartening and unacceptable.

Hopper thinks the students were targeted because they aren’t white. Their school, Hopper explained in a team sponsorship presentation, is a low income Title I school.

“For the most part, the robotics world is kind of a white world,” Hopper told the Star. “They’re just not used to seeing a team like our kids. And they see us and they think we’re not going to be competition. Then we’re in first place the whole day and they can’t take it.”

And it seems that the students’ graceful response to the racism has helped them fund their trip to the championships.

On Saturday, a Go Fund Me Account set up for the Panther Bots surpassed its $8,000 goal to help pay for their travel expenses and robotics parts. Their fundraising page is filled with comments from people who read their story and praised their determination.

“Keep up the interest in robotics and don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t worthy,” one donor wrote. “You have earned your success!” 

The Panther Bots have won six awards for their robotic creations, according to the team’s Go Fund Me page. During the Indiana State Championships, they ranked fourth in the state for teamwork, 11th in the state for skills and programming and won the Create Award for best robot design, which earned them a ticket to the World Championships.

Now, the internet is rooting for the Panther Bots’ next win.

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Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Fans and musicians around the globe mourned the death of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s wild founding father Chuck Berry at the age of 90.

Instead of a wish for Berry to rest in peace, the estate of famed guitarist Bo Diddley tweeted a message to the music legend to “rock in power.” The estate of John Lennon — whose own music was inspired by the rhythm pioneer — posted a quote from the late Beatle hailing Berry as “another name” for rock ‘n’ roll. 

Berry’s rock anthems like “Johnny B.Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Maybelline” set the stage for future generations of fans and countless budding musicians pinning their hopes on playing the guitar like Berry could.

Rocker Huey Lewis honored Berry as “maybe the most important figure in all of rock and roll. His music and his influence will last forever.”

Keith Urban thanked Berry for his “poetry, passion and potency.”

The Jacksons tweeted: “Chuck Berry merged blues & swing into the phenomenon of early rock ‘n’ roll. In music, he cast one of the longest shadows. Thank You, Chuck.”

Writer Stephen King said Berry’s death “breaks my heart.”

The Rolling Stones have said they are “deeply saddened” by the death of Chuck Berry, describing him as a “true pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll and a massive influence on us.”

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Clarification: This article has been updated to reflect that Diddley’s Twitter account is not the guitarist himself (he died in 2008), but that of his estate.

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Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry sunrise 10/18/26, sunset 3/18/17 St. Louis, Missouri.

Convicted of armed robbery in high school and served time in a reformatory from 1944 to 1947.

After release from reformatory worked in an automotive assembly plant.

His influences were Louis Jordan, Nat King Cole, Bennie Goodman, and Muddy Waters.

He owned a nightclub in St. Louis called Berry’s Club Bandstand.

From 1962 to 1965 he served time in prison for transporting a 14 year old girl across state lines.

In 1979 he served 3 months in prison for tax evasion.

In 1986 he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at its opening.

He was married to the same woman for 68 years and had two children.

In 2004 Rolling Stone named him the 5th out of 100 greatest artists of all-time.

Peace, love, joy, gratitude, faith, courage, compassion and blessings.

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Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry has died, Missouri police said Saturday. He was 90.

“The St. Charles County Police Department sadly confirms the death of Charles Edward Anderson Berry Sr., better known as legendary musician Chuck Berry,” police said in a statement posted to Facebook.

First responders were called out to a home on Buckner Road around 12:40 p.m. and found a man later identified as Berry unresponsive “and immediately administered lifesaving techniques,” the statement reads. They were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m.

Berry penned a great number of hits in the 1950s and 1960s like “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Rock and Roll Music” that influenced generations of rock groups, including The Beatles. Merging a captivating stage presence with his own blend of blues, country and jazz, Berry helped define the fledgling rock’n’ roll genre, later becoming one of the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Born into a middle-class family in St. Louis, Missouri, Berry picked up the basics of guitar from a neighbor and started performing music as a teenager. In 1952, he formed a trio with Johnnie Johnson on piano and Ebby Harding on drums that rose to fame in the local nightclub scene. To pay the bills, Berry worked as a hairdresser. But soon enough he wouldn’t have time for that ― a trip to Chicago netted a recording session with Chess Records, during which Berry performed an old hillbilly tune called “Ida Red.” Changing the name to “Maybellene,” Chess sent the track to an influential New York DJ, and it became a hit among the teenage set.

According to an oft-cited line by John Lennon, “If you tried to give rock ‘n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” Berry’s music became so well-known, he toured the country with only a guitar, trusting he’d be able to find musicians in each city he played who could serve as his back-up. Many of his lyrics focused on teen culture, although he was significantly past that age by the time he started traveling around singing about cars and dates. 

But in the nascent era of the Civil Rights Movement, Berry’s status as a black man with a following of young white people ― a lot of them girls ― caused certain conflict. He’d been known to take refuge in police stations to dodge protesters after his shows, which sometimes featured police presence themselves, according to an Esquire profile. After a teenage coat-check girl who worked briefly at a club he owned alleged Berry had an affair with her, the guitarist served two years in prison. A tax evasion charge sent him to prison again, briefly, in 1979. Then, in 1990, a police raid on a recording compound he owned turned up a stash of marijuana and images of Berry with nude women ― including one underage ― but charges were later dropped.

Notoriously interview-shy, Berry had been living out his later years in Ladue, Missouri ― near his hometown. He never stopped writing music, and performed regular gigs at a local restaurant and club called Blueberry Hill. 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Source: HuffPost Black Voices

Rock ’n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry has died, Missouri police said Saturday. He was 90.

“The St. Charles County Police Department sadly confirms the death of Charles Edward Anderson Berry Sr., better known as legendary musician Chuck Berry,” police said in a statement posted to Facebook.

First responders were called out to a home on Buckner Road around 12:40 p.m. and found a man later identified as Berry unresponsive “and immediately administered lifesaving techniques,” the statement reads. They were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m.

Berry penned a great number of hits in the 1950s and 1960s like “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Rock and Roll Music” that influenced generations of rock groups, including The Beatles. Merging a captivating stage presence with his own blend of blues, country and jazz, Berry helped define the fledgling rock’n’ roll genre, later becoming one of the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Born into a middle-class family in St. Louis, Missouri, Berry picked up the basics of guitar from a neighbor and started performing music as a teenager. In 1952, he formed a trio with Johnnie Johnson on piano and Ebby Harding on drums that rose to fame in the local nightclub scene. To pay the bills, Berry worked as a hairdresser. But soon enough he wouldn’t have time for that ― a trip to Chicago netted a recording session with Chess Records, during which Berry performed an old hillbilly tune called “Ida Red.” Changing the name to “Maybellene,” Chess sent the track to an influential New York DJ, and it became a hit among the teenage set.

According to an oft-cited line by John Lennon, “If you tried to give rock ‘n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” Berry’s music became so well-known, he toured the country with only a guitar, trusting he’d be able to find musicians in each city he played who could serve as his back-up. Many of his lyrics focused on teen culture, although he was significantly past that age by the time he started traveling around singing about cars and dates. 

But in the nascent era of the Civil Rights Movement, Berry’s status as a black man with a following of young white people ― a lot of them girls ― caused certain conflict. He’d been known to take refuge in police stations to dodge protesters after his shows, which sometimes featured police presence themselves, according to an Esquire profile. After a teenage coat-check girl who worked briefly at a club he owned alleged Berry had an affair with her, the guitarist served two years in prison. A tax evasion charge sent him to prison again, briefly, in 1979. Then, in 1990, a police raid on a recording compound he owned turned up a stash of marijuana and images of Berry with nude women ― including one underage ― but charges were later dropped.

Notoriously interview-shy, Berry had been living out his later years in Ladue, Missouri ― near his hometown. He never stopped writing music, and performed regular gigs at a local restaurant and club called Blueberry Hill. 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Source: HuffPost Black Voices

“Saturday Night Live” is experiencing a creative renaissance and its biggest ratings in two decades under Donald Trump’s presidency. But Dave Chappelle has a message for fellow comedians enjoying the fruits of the administration’s blunders: “Trump’s kind of bad for comedy.”

Speaking with CBC on Sunday, Chappelle offered his take on the current president’s relationship with his chosen profession, agreeing that comedy has “a role to play under Trump,” but warning that there’s a risk of regurgitating the same material. 

“Most comics in the states are starting to do the same jokes, just because Trump is so on everybody’s mind,” he said. “So it’ll be nice when we don’t have to talk about him that much.”

Despite his concerns over Trump’s omnipresence, Chappelle said he still believes the state of comedy today is “strong and healthy,” citing the return of some of his favorites like Chris Rock and Jon Stewart to the game.

“I think that most of these guys you see working are wildly courageous,” he explained. “It’s such a strange time, being bombarded with so much information, and I think comedy is an important valve for syphoning through all that.”

In November, Chappelle hosted the first “Saturday Night Live” episode after the election and delivered a stirring opening monologue in response to Trump’s surprise win. After joking that America actually elected “an internet troll as our president,” he recalled a recent visit to the White House for a BET event that made him feel hopeful about the country’s direction. 

 “I saw how happy everybody was, these people who had been historically disenfranchised, and it made me feel hopeful, and it made me feel proud to be an American,” Chappelle said. “So, in that spirit, I’m wishing Donald Trump luck. I’m going to give him a chance, and we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too.”

For more from Chappelle, you can watch his two comedy specials that premiere on Netflix this month.  

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Source: HuffPost Black Voices