Tuesday, October 2, 2012

"LET THEM EAT CAKE..."


I went to the Hess' On Hollywood 250th ALLENTOWN CELEBRATION and left feeling kind of discouraged. Alot of money and prestige; limousines and bright lights; literally red carpets at each restaurant in Allentown with photographers; professional models walking around with couture outfits and greeting you at the door; while, simultaneously, I see families that live less than a block away walking by looking bewildered and not knowing ANYTHING about this 250th Celebration of Allentown..  Also, I don't only blame the City for not being effective in their dissemination of information  but residents who only think the most important news is that rap artist, P. STYLES is performing at Club Horizons.
The Mayor's advisor called me 2 months ago and asked me to attend an important meeting. I thought it was going to be a meeting where they wanted to ask for my services and we would discuss a budget, etc, because they KNOW I do this for a LIVING. Nope. It was a group of people (and I was the only Black man in a group of 15 -20) where the Mayor asked us to go out and help them get vendors, sponsors, and spread the word about this event. Now, it's the 250th Anniversary and he has a paid staff, an in-house printing press, and prestige, while I am a sole proprietor who pays the City taxes and who has no access to any perks or people of power/influence. So, I kept it moving and just knew they would use their resources to "make it happen". I was sure they would make this event a priority to lift the spirits of the residents and show that the City actually cares for ALL of the voting/non-voting constituents. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Many people STILL didn't  know about this event and live in Center City.
 I got a call from a woman who said she was the first African American woman to open up a beauty salon in Allentown and she was not contacted and had no idea about the celebration and YET she is apart of the history. LITERALLY. So, I have decided that,  in the month of October, I will do a 250th ANNIVERSARY month long event on PROLIFICK RADIO and highlight historical facts / interview historical people who seem to have been glossed over and forgotten...  "When you KNOW better, you DO better..."