A Great Day in Brooklyn

I was recently asked to be a part of a very special event. Community arts organization, Dope Swan organized to have a group photo taken by legendary photographer, Jamel Shabazz, of the people who make up what they're calling the "Brooklyn Renaissance era." It was called "A Great Day in Brooklyn," paying homage to Art Kane's iconic image of jazz aficionados, "A Great Day in Harlem." In addition to the photograph, the Brooklyn, Stand Up! project will consist of monthly arts programming in and around Brooklyn, an online archive of interviews of Brooklyn's self-made leaders, and a scholarship fund for Brooklyn students.

I was honored to be included with such Brooklyn luminaries as Mos Def, Michael K. Williams from HBO's "The Wire", Black Girls Rock! founder DJ Beverly Bond, Councilman Charles Barron and Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam artist Suheir Hammad.

Check out the image below. Please note, this is a snapshot taken over the photographer's shoulder, so it's not the final image. You can find me in the third row from the top, image right of center. I'm the guy in the blue shirt, standing next to my buddy, Anthony LaSala, who's looking up, for no apparent reason.


Photo: The Jamel Shabazz Photography Group