Blackadelic '68/Pivot Towards Potential
April 8, 2008/
Historical Society of Washington D.C.
Blackadelic '68 was a hugely successful program hosted by the Washington, DC Historical Society as part of a week of city-wide events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King. When dealing with historical material, it is never my primary intention to wax nostalgic over the "good old days". This multimedia presentation sought to define 1968 as a pivot year in which the culture was nearly overwhelmed by the pursuit of new possibilities of thought and deed, and attempted to draw parallels between the challenges of that time and those we face today. Blackadelic '68 recentered the discussion of this countercultural revolution around musicians of color within and outside the United States. It looked closely at the violent political struggle that shaped that year; the important role of psychedelic drugs in defining the internal landscape of that era; and the way that musical culture energized and reflected this accelerating wave of change. It included a look at the contributions of often overlooked artists in this discussion like Nina Simone, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Marsha Hunt, Curtis Mayfield, Miriam Makeba and George Clinton. The audience participation was charged and extensive. The show was reviewed by a Howard University undergraduate; her review can be viewed here. Blackadelic '68 can be tailored to any mature audience and is available for reprise (slight return) now.
