Held annually on July 4, the Peachtree Road Race was postponed to Thanksgiving Day in hopes the COVID-19 pandemic would subside enough for large gatherings. When it became clear an in-person event would not be possible, race organizers Atlanta Track Club announced the race would be held virtually over the course of four days from November 26-29. Race packets began shipping via UPS and will be arriving at participant’s homes.

​Beckie Dominick’s appropriately and optimistically named “Keep On Keeping On” will grace the front of the shirts delivered to all participants of the Virtual Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The shirts, which were printed for the traditional July 4 running of the race, were sent back to the printer to add a message on the back of the shirt that reads “Peachtree: An Atlanta Tradition 2020 Can’t Stop.” It marks the first time a printing appears on the back of the shirt since the 1986 Peachtree.
Dominick, a graphic designer from Gainesville, Georgia received the news over Zoom on Tuesday. “I think every time I see someone wearing the shirt, I’ll think ‘oh my gosh! I did that!” Dominick said. Dominick, who recently moved to Georgia from Florida is a first time entrant in the contest. She also plans to complete her first Peachtree on Thanksgiving weekend. Dominick will be awarded $1,000 for her winning design.

​That won’t stop 90-year-old Bill Thorn of Tyrone, Georgia. He’s the only person to complete every Peachtree. In honor of his streak, Thorn was the first participant to receive his shirt, hand delivered by Race Director Rich Kenah on Tuesday morning. “For y’all to even think about me under these circumstances, I just can’t get over it,” Thorn said.

​The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) annual ELEVATE public art festival recently partnered with Facebook to install five new murals, which are a part of this year’s festival — presented digitally on the ELEVATE website, Facebook, and YouTube from October 4 to 10.

With 2020 marking a pivotal election year, Facebook launched the “Voting is Voice” campaign and set a goal to register 4 million new voters during the largest voter drive in U.S. history. Facebook’s partnership with the OCA and ELEVATE was a natural fit as the festival will explore the concept of social justice and equity through this year’s programming.

​For the “Voting is Voice” campaign, five artists from across the U.S. created original artwork commissions in response to the prompt “Voting is Voice.” Within this theme, each artist explored voting as a powerful tool of the personal and collective voice, the importance of a diversity of voices to a healthy society, the powerful impact of personal narratives as vehicles for change, and our collective responsibility to acknowledge and amplify a broad spectrum of voices. These five murals are a part of Facebook’s push to increase voter engagement and participation during this election year.

Each mural will feature the artist’s bio, Q.R. codes, and URLs that direct viewers to Facebook and Instagram’s Voting Information Center, where they can find more information on the 2020 U.S. election and a quick and easy way to register to vote.

In addition, the murals encourage public interaction through compelling, relevant design & digital features that create multiple levels of access for every member of the community.

This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced racial unrest, economic recession, isolation due to social distancing, and a divisive political climate. The festival theme is Equity, Activism, Engagement, and through our programs we seek to provide hope, inspiration, and food for your soul. Join this year’s free virtual programs from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.  It’ll be streaming live via Facebook, YouTube and website. Check elevateatlart.com for details.  Below is the music lineup.

This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, economic recession, and a divisive political climate. Dance performances being presented are dazzling, dreamlike, and defiant. They provide insight into issues that we, and our communities, are dealing with including inequity, food insecurity, and isolation, but also seek to inspire hope, resilience, and activism as we move forward. Join this year’s virtual programming from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.

News Source:  Bossip.com

​WELL would you look at the change in the air! Glamour Magazine unveiled their September issue today and low and behold, the entire magazine is devoted to Black Hair! The issue delves into both the discriminatory stigmas Black women often face in the workplace over their hairstyles, as well as our unique styles and beauty rituals.

NEWS SOURCE:  Hatchett PR

​The City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will bring its annual ELEVATE public art festival to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood from Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s festival events will be virtual. 

​• Musical performances by Kebbi Williams and The Wolf Pack, The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Gritz and Jelly Butter, Tony Hightower, and Julie Dexter. 
​• Mural installations honoring civil rights leader Reverend James Orange and Black women activists from the West End community. 
• An online and in person voter registration event at the West End MARTA station. 
• A conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, who frequently feature Atlanta’s West End community in their work.  
• The opening of Hammonds House Museum’s exhibition Elements of A Revolution. 
• A conversation between the executive directors of Atlanta Contemporary and Les Abattoirs/Toulouse to discuss challenges of promoting art during COVID-19, issues of gender equality and racism in their field. Since 1974 Atlanta and Toulouse have been Sister Cities. 
• A screening of the stirring new documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an intimate account of the legendary U.S. Representative’s life, legacy, and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism. 
• An Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance of Lazarus created by acclaimed hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. The ballet connects the past and the present in a powerful work that addresses racial inequities America faced when Mr. Ailey founded his dance company in 1958 and still faces today.
• Renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with SCAD, will launch RESIST COVID/TAKE 6, a public art initiative raising critical heath awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic. 

​Remey Williams is a Drummer, Producer, Singer, Songwriter, and Performer.  He has toured all around the world with artists like Summer Walker and has opened for artists such as Jagged Edge and Carl Thomas.

​Remey Williams has always had music flowing through his veins. Being the son of O’Jays bass player Jimmy Williams, music has always encircle his life. He first discovered his love of music at the age of 10 when he learned how to play the drum set. Playing the drums became his way out of the violence ladened and gang affiliated life many young black males decided to live on the streets of Camden, New Jersey. 

I'M GOOD BY REMEY WILLIAMS

​FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT REMEY WILLIAMS:
Remey Williams on Instagram
Remey Williams on Facebook
Remey Williams on Twitter

KEYWORDS
remey williams -  black boy joy anthem - i'm good remey williams - bass player for the ojays - members of the ojays - drum sticks - new cd releases - drum set - summer walker drummer - when we speak tv 

​The 2020 BET Awards were held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic but that didn't stop great performances.  One performance that When We Speak TV particularly enjoyed was Usher and Summer Walker!! 

​​​During the 2019 Black Music Honors Red Carpet, singer, Major., salutes When We Speak TV of Atlanta.

​Some of you may remember our interview with Terrell Carter on When We Speak TV....some may remember him from Tyler Perry plays.....some may remember him from the hit tv show, Empire on Fox!!!  

​Using interviews and rare archival footage, John Lewis: Good Trouble chronicles Lewis' 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter's primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life.

​The family of John Lewis has released a statement announcing the death of the congressman from Georgia.

​John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights leader. He was the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020. He was the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. The district he served includes the northern three-fourths of Atlanta. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

​In response to the immense toll of the combined forces of COVID-19, recent racial unrest, and the intense economic instability currently facing many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, Burnaway will award ten grants of $500 ($5,000 total) to Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color in the South. You can contribute to this fund here.

BIPOC artists living and working in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible to apply for this grant. While all BIPOC artists in our coverage region are invited to apply, special consideration will be given to Black and Indigenous artists.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, July 12. Grantees will be notified by Wednesday, July 15.