What You Missed at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March… (Four Main Points Minister Farrakhan Shouted at Us)

As you all should know through following my social media, I attended the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March on an organized bus trip orchestrated by myself along with fellow bloggers Shae McCoy of Uncommonrealist and Cortez Page of Alumni Marketing Group to see the honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan at his special meeting for all people.

Minister Louis Farrakhan stepped up as leader of his people to share wisdom at Justice or Else March, Saturday, October 10, 2015. He spoke knowledge that any race of people could take with them to become a better being for changing the world around them.

By calling a meeting for all oppressed people, Native, Latin, and Black alike; he showed the world through stern intervention that he is a man who loves his people. He did this through speaking basic philosophy any human being should have the capacity to understand, and he did it with a mission to instill change within a society that shows limited signs of breakthrough due to ill-mannered government policies and social injustices.

Farrakhan, by being emotionally attached to this cause for so long, also made contradictions while giving his speech. I choose not to focus on delivering what’s deemed unimportant. Instead, I’ll focus on the four main points discussed by Minister Louis Farrakhan that remained with me, which I see to be worth passing to my readers, beginning with why he called this meeting following 20 years.

Minister Louis Farrakhan on the big screen. Photo taken by Doc’s Castle Media

This is a movement. We have no time for vanity.

Minister Farrakhan came with a mission to let his people know that what he’s doing is not to be taken in vain. His life work is for the future of everyone’s lives, for the descendants of everyone’s children and grandchildren, that they may have a better outcome than what his ancestors had, he had, and what’s currently facing many Black people today. Like an angry grandpa frustrated with his grand-kids, he demanded the attention of the crowd to open their eyes, minds and hearts to what’s happening in America. He told us change is a requirement and not preference.

With plenty of conviction behind his words, Minister Farrakhan shared a passion that many who attended the march felt. Black people are trying to be heard from a government unwilling to lend a listening ear. He urged that Justice or Else not be just a day that Blacks, Natives, and Latinos meet in unity. He emphasized it being a call for all oppressed people to come together in continuation in working on unification to fully gain equality.

The only way we can gain justice is through unity from everyone who has ever been deprived from justice.

Minister Farrakhan sent an invite to every nation of people to be apart of the march for Justice or Else. Speakers from different cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and gender came together to unite even in our many differences because we all had a common dislike for mistreatment.

Everyone wants to be treated fairly and we want it now!

In the fight to gain common ground from those who are privileged, Minister Farrakhan stated we must come together by first seeking to find that love within ourselves. By loving first our body as the temple then showing love for those who are around us, no matter what color of the skin, we show a force that cannot be reckoned with; a stronger power than of one entity that holds the human race back as a whole. We will gain equality for blacks by taking a stand, but we also create opportunities for the Native Americans and Latino Americans who are still fighting those same social injustices.

Black Empowerment Photo taken by Doc’s Castle Media

We live not for ourselves but for the generations that come after us.

Minister Farrakhan stressed as a people we have to stop thinking of what we can only do for ourselves. We live in a generation that thrives off doing anything for personal gain whether it be reaching success in a positive manner, or slashing each other’s throat to get to the top. It hasn’t gotten the human race far through thinking this way because there are so many people still left to be treated unjustly.

Farrakhan reminded us that to show love for your fellow brother and sister, we must become selfless. We have to sacrifice those selfish thoughts to gain for ourselves and work on gaining for our children because that is who we work for. They are the one’s who are left to these unjust institutions once we are gone.

By referencing the accomplishments of great leaders like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., he explained why this life we live is only temporary. “From dusk we came, back to dusk we shall go.” (Something like that.) He asked what is the purpose of living a cut throat “I’ll-steal-and-kill-to-reach-success” kind of lifestyle if everyone’s end in life is the same? It only makes life more difficult. Why not think of making an easier life for generations to come?

Today’s Youth is crying out for a worthy leader.

Farrakhan stressed that leadership is what’s needed to create progress. He also spoke on how very few of genuine leaders our country has by insinuating that we have more leaders today who chase money and fame rather than a good principle for life.

All corruption is an enemy of the progress of man!- Minister Louis Farrakhan

In a system that is built on corruption, such as greed, fame, and betrayal, man cannot move forward. Everywhere we go, we see corruption with the lack of discipline to lend a helping hand towards another person so they may reach new heights of success. Instead we have people who are in charge that want to tear down another man. A great leader helps another up. They lead by example to be a better person.

Minister Farrakhan reminded us that we haven’t had an influential leader since Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both of these great leaders taught the basics of being a humanitarian. There’s a need for someone who’s able to lead and teach what we no longer learn from important public figures. There is no one dedicated solely to the liberation of an oppressed people. No one to promote a better living. Instead, there’s more negativity being broadcast to a large mass of people.

Farrakhan told everyone the essentials of demanding justice; the essentials of being a great leader. He did so to reach a generation of people he states as whom he works for, the youth. To be a great leader demanding justice, a person should seek integrity and selflessness. They should sacrifice for a principle bigger than their own lives because the majority is greater than one. When we find that leader who chooses the majority before themselves, we know the person is working in love and not war.

IMG_20151010_074601[1] — 6 AM upon boarding the bus to Justice or Else

Attending the Million Man March was as familiar to me as attending the protests earlier this year for Freddie Gray in Baltimore following the riots exasperated through police brutality. That feeling of unity that is so scarce in a time of selfishness gave me life! I felt amazingly proud of the skin I was born in. I was proud of the people around me coming in unity against social injustices that minorities have fought against for years. I understood what needed to shared with people who didn’t find an importance in coming out for Justice or Else. I gained a better understanding of what Justice or Else stood for, which that “or else” stands for you and the interpretation you gain from Minister Farrakhan 3 hour speech.

All in all, I understood the change in a people, as a whole, that we must overcome in order to have a better future. It’s starts with ourselves channeling our inner leader, being that example that’ll spark a revolution to change. So I see and, so I shall do.

What do you think about things that Minister Louis Farrakhan had to say at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March? Leave your comments below.

Q & A with Alumni Marketing Group

The Blogger’s Rundown has yet to come to a halt. I had the chance to interview one of Baltimore’s inspiring promoters as an addition about his event promo blog Alumni Marketing Group, which is stated on the AMG Facebook page as “an entertainment marketing guide connecting young professionals and artists globally through Social Media.” While interviewing founder Cortez of Alumni Marketing Group, I learned he’s someone that has a passion to help those who might not have an opportunity, like many of Baltimore’s “A-list” artist, at exposure to an audience. Alumni Marketing Group is different from previous blogs I’ve featured on Doc’s Castle Media because Cortez provides a service unlike the others. He’s work is more active in event management while his sites showcase what is expected at his events if someone should attend.

As I’ve talked with Cortez, we discussed how Alumni Marketing Group began, what his initial goal for his AMG blogs is, what the two most popular events hosted under Alumni Marketing Group are, and what to look forward to from his company. His company, along with his blogs will amount to change tremendously in the art scene. I can’t wait to see what new things will come out of what he’s doing for this city.

Doc: Where did the idea to create a blog for the Alumni Marketing Group start?

Cortez: The idea involved just being on social media and being able to utilize social media applications so it could help me put my brand out to an audience that I’m targeting. So essentially, what I did was brand myself using the Alumni Marketing Group’s network, and I was able to use different search engines so I can be able to publish the content that I distribute to my readers and audience.

Doc: Are you the only one involved with the updating of your site?

Cortez: Yes, I’m the sole proprietor of everything.

Doc: Oh, alright. Do you plan on bringing anymore people on?

Cortez: Certainly. That’s what a brand is. It’s Alumni Marketing Network. I’m always looking to bring on new people to the team.

Doc: Okay, so I’m aware that you have two blogs. You have a Blogspot and a Tumblr. Is there a specific reason for why you have two?

Cortez: I’m using two to capture different audiences. Social media is one of the trends now. I think anyone who’s involved in small business should have it.

Doc: Do you get most of you followers from Tumblr because I know a lot of people who use Tumblr? Is that where you post the most?

Cortez: Yeah, I would say I post the most frequently on Tumblr. Blogspot, I usually update sparingly.

Doc: So I guess Tumblr would be your primary?

Cortez: Certainly, that where I do most of the posting.

Doc: What kind of events do you promote on your blog?

Cortez: Right now, my sole service line is individual artist showcases. That involves scouting local talent where I’m able to give them the platform to showcase their music. Addition to doing the showcases, I’m also involved with the visual arts aspects of entertainment. So I work with local film makers, as well, and help them scout talent and promote their casting calls.

Doc: I don’t really know too much about the directors or videographers scene but that’s nice to hear that it’s people out there.

Cortez: Yeah, certainly. Baltimore, I think, is one of the most upcoming… Well, we’re late in terms of where we’re at in the entertainment industry. But I think Baltimore is on the rise in terms of providing these types of things for the urban community.

Doc: So do you promote events outside of the Alumni Marketing Group? I know you do the Monumental Mondays. Do you do anything else other than your Monday showcase?

Cortez: I also do a Saturday event. It’s once a month. I call that the Saturday Spotlight, where artist also have an opportunity to come out to the venue. It’s more so like a happy hour event but if artist would like to showcase, they’re more than welcome to come out. I try to do it at least once a month.

Doc: So Monumental Monday’s is every Monday?

Cortez: Yes, when we originally started it, it was a weekly event. But I was still building the brand and we had some minor setbacks. So I had to cut back from doing it weekly. Monumental Monday’s started in September 2013. So we ran it from September to December weekly; every week. Then we cut back in the beginning of the year because of the turnout. But now, at this point we’re starting to do it weekly again.

Doc: and then the Saturday event is monthly?

Cortez: Yes, Saturday’s event is what I try to do once a month. It’s a daytime event. That’s one of the trends that’s going on around the town now.

Doc: Oh really? Daytime events?

Cortez: Yeah, they call them Day Parties.

Doc: Oh, I’ve never been to any day parties so I probably come to that. Do you have any important events that people should know about in the month of April?

Cortez: Right now, I’m working with a local film maker by the name of Frankie Jones. He’s one of the guys that I’m a subordinate of. I’m helping promote his casting calls for his films. He’s actually trying to do a short film monthly.

Doc: Every month? Really?

Cortez: Yeah, every month. He’s doing short films to help build his brand. So be on the lookout for casting calls on the blog or from our street team. We’ll be putting the word out for talent to come in and cast for these positions.

Doc: Okay, how do people notify you for permission to perform at your shows?

Cortez: I’m best reached by email. I have a heavy social media presence. If you’re on social media through Twitter, you can find us by the hashtag #MonumentalMondays or you can use the hashtag #MonumentalMusic.

Doc: Can people submit events to you? If they had an event, do you post it on your blog to promote their event, or do you do solely your events?

Cortez: Well, at this point, I’ve networked with people around the city. But I’m willing to build relationships with other people, like event host and planners. But at this point, I haven’t received submissions for other events because we haven’t built a solid foundation in terms across promoting each other’s events.

Doc: What is your most popular event that you throw?

Cortez: At this point, it’s Monumental Mondays because we’re branding ourselves not just in Baltimore. We’ve reached a market and have had artist perform from as far as California. So I think it’s one of our most notable events at this time. It’s a great opportunity for these artists to showcase their talents to our followers and listeners.

Doc: Thank you for interviewing with me.

Cortez: No problem, thank you.

To see Cortez’s Alumni Marketing Group blog, visit amnep.tumblr.com.

Did you read the last Blogger’s Rundown post with Amirah of AmirahRashidah Blog? Check it out on Doc’s Castle Media.

March 10th Monumental Mondays with The Alumni Marketing Group

I’m want to start by saying I’m proud of the turn out this past Monday at The Depot for the hip-hop open mic event, Monumental Mondays, hosted by the Alumni Marketing Group. The event started at 6pm and lasted until the venue closed. I arrived at the peak of the show and was at awe because of the turnout.

If you guys don’t already know, I wrote a piece about the lack of support in Baltimore for artists. (Read here to catch up.) The turnout of this event proves the beginning of change for artists. It’s definitely something to be proud of though there are some concerns I want to discuss later in this post. At previous hip-hop shows I’ve attended in Baltimore, crowds were extremely dry. This was my first time being at Monumental Mondays and it was fun. I enjoyed that atmosphere mostly because it felt more like a party. People were dancing and singing along to performers’ music. I’d say it was a great experience for many artists and supporters. If you’re a diehard hip-hop fan who’s seeking new music to add to your collection, this is the event for you.

One of Doc’s Castle Media’s featured artist Kaseo, who’s latest mixtape is MoBetta Hip-hop, along with Park Heights natives, SMG, and numerous other rap artist performed at Monday’s show. I didn’t have too much of an opportunity to network with new artists, though I wish I had. So I’m announcing I’ll be at future Monumental Mondays as a heads up. Look out for me.

Here’s my little snippet of the show:

Though many performers had a fair opportunity to perform on at Monday’s event, others expressed frustration. Artists, whom claimed to be on the events’ list to perform but didn’t, talked of disappointment towards waiting for their time. Those who’ve performed later in the evening complained about the lack of support from peers, for once an artist performed their song; they’d leave the venue, leaving the building scarce of support of their music. To tend those concerns, Cortez, the promoter of Monumental Mondays, already proposed they’ll be addressed for future events. He wants everyone to feel they’re being heard, as they should for this is an open mic show. I look forward to the coming changes. I believe it’ll bring an even better turnout.

If you missed out on Monday’s show, you’ll have another opportunity to attend next week on Monday, March 24. Held at The Depot on 1728 N. Charles Street, come out to see another round of artists perform their best selections from their musical stash. Whether you’re an artist or an onlooker, you’ll have a good time here. If you’re an artist looking for some exposure in the Baltimore music scene, the Alumni Marketing Group accepts new artists for performances at their events. Just submit to their email, amnpage@gmail.com, for the next available opportunity.