Folk Alliance vs. NAACP

Subject: RE: Folk Alliance vs. NAACP
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:58 PM

Whoooaaa! There goes the neighborhood!

Found this at the conference website:

NETWORK OF CULTURAL CENTERS OF COLOR & FOLK ALLIANCE

Two Conferences in One!

For many years our two organizations have sought mutual points of interest and concern. Our two boards of directors convened in Washington, DC to explore issues surrounding arts advocacy and possible collaboration. From that meeting came a commitment to convene in the future. That future is now.

Cultural inequity is an ongoing issue for cultural centers of color and artists who perform folk music. It is this shared disenfranchisement that led to our two organizations desire to come together in one conference. The possible collaborations and possibility for networking are really limitless.

Through panels, workshops, showcases and the Exhibit Hall, we'll have a chance to meet, exchange information, and move forward on partnerships and collaborations to strengthen both organizations.

End quote

Talk about your hypocrisy! Sheesh!

Subject: RE: Folk Alliance vs. NAACP
From: DebC
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:57 PM

This is from the Folk Alliance email list. It is an explanation from Phyllis Barney, Executive Director of Folk Alliance. Deb's Disclaimer: I am not stating an opinion on this issue, just passing along the information from FA.

The NAACP at their annual meeting in July did reinstitute their boycott of the Adams Mark hotel chain. They had previously called off their 1999 boycott in the face of a settlement with the hotel arrising from the incidents that happened at the Daytona Beach Adams Mark Hotel during the Black College Reunion. The settlement was apparently thrown out in court, which brought about the reinstitution of the boycott. This last weekend there was a call to picket Adams Mark hotels nationwide to draw attention to the boycott.

Our meeting partners for the Jacksonville conference, the Network of Cultural Centers of Color, and Folk Alliance have been working on this issue since the story broke a few weeks ago. The Executive Committee of Folk Alliance and the NCCC Board both agree that while difficult, we have to move forward with our meeting plans at this facility in Jacksonville.

As you know, we booked in Jacksonville in to the Adams Mark hotel because our Pittsburgh location went under the wrecking ball. We booked during the time that there was no boycott in force. We are under contract with the Adams Mark, a contract that would cost us considerably (up to $300,000) to walk away from. Folk Alliance does not have the funds to do this. In addition, there is little chance of finding another location at this late date, meaning no annual conference. Without a conference, our organization is in serious jeopardy.

We are writing a joint letter to the Adams Mark chain, and a letter to the NAACP indicating our position. We are not alone in this. The Black Theater Arts Festival met last weekend in South Carolina at an Adams Mark - because they were under the same contractural situation that we are under. We are urging the hotel to enter into discussions with the NAACP right away, and to resolve the issues that are still on the table. If both organizations commit to resolution, they will have one prior to February.

While they are working together, we will be addressing the boycott issue in our programming, as NCCC Executive Director John Thorpe is planning a panel on artist responsiblilites in the face of calls to action/boycott. In addition, we have options open to us while in Jacksonville for creative and visible ways of drawing attention to the issue. So we can be part of a positive statement while we are there.

Phyllis Barney, Executive Director North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance

Subject: RE: Folk Alliance vs. NAACP
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:48 PM

I think there is widespread belief among folkies in general that they are more virtuous and enlightened than the rest of humanity. I've seen scant evidence of that in my 30 years around folkies, who I find to be much more conservative than the political Radical Left with which they are often associated.

Knowing who is involved in the positions of power at Folk Alliance will tell the real story about this. Rank and file folkies don't make these decisions, the FA leadership does.

BTW, the accusations against the hotel, if proven to be true, are pretty awful. So folks should remember, they do have the right to start a folk boycott of the conference, if they choose to act in solidarity with the NAACP boycott.

Subject: RE: Folk Alliance vs. NAACP
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:53 AM

That's a bit disturbing. Can anyone else supply more info, and perhaps the Alliance's point of view regarding this issue. Is there more to this that we don't know?

Rick

Subject: Folk Alliance vs. NAACP
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:45 AM

The NAACP has a current boycott against the Adams Mark hotel chain because of its discrimanatory treatment of African American guests and staff. There is information on the boycott avaialble at www.naacp.org.

Today, the North American Folk Alliance announced that it will ignore the boycott and hold its February 2002 conference, as scheduled, at the Adams Mark Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

I always thought that folk music people and folk music organizations had principles. I guess it ain't necessarily so.