The Sip Podcast Presents: Black Women in Jazz Celebrating Billie Holiday
March 19, 2021 5pm-7pm MST (cocktail half-hour at 4:30pm)
Purchase virtual tickets here, $15 each
IN-PERSON TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT
**COVID-19 social distance guidelines must be followed; masks are absolutely mandatory; temperature checks and COVID-19 screening will take place upon arrival**
20% of all ticket sales will be donated to ‘Know Justice, Know Peace’ DMLK’s The Take Podcast
Email heygirl@thesippodcast.com to become a sponsor (all donations are tax-deductible).
Event Details:
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 American biographical film about singer Billie Holiday, based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. Directed by Lee Daniels, the film stars Andra Day in the titular role, along with Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne and Garrett Hedlund. In the 1940s, Billie Holiday is targeted by the government in an effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial song "Strange Fruit".
The film was released on February 26th, and our aim is to produce a Women In Jazz Panel to discuss the film, the life & work of Billie Holiday, as well as our lived experiences as Women of Color artists and how Billie has inspired each of us in our careers.
A ‘United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Inspired Panel presented by The Sip Podcast
An exploration of the life and legacy of Billie Holiday in celebration of Women’s History Month & in collaboration with The Red Line Contemporary Art Center
Date: Friday, March 19th 5pm-7pm MST
Location: RedLine Contemporary Art Center 2350 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205 (303) 296-4448
Panelists:
Dianne Reeves, Grammy-Award Winning Jazz Vocalist
Aja Burrell Wood, Ethnomusicologist
JoFoKe, Jazz Vocalist
Kim Dawson, Jazz Vocalist
Hosted by The SIP Podcast:
For info, visit: thesippodcast.com; redlineart.org
Sponsors: Roux Black Consulting, RedLine, Bhuetful, BlackGirlFitClub, The Wine Suite, & The Kaleidoscope Project
Why we chose to partner with RedLine Contemporary Art Center:
RedLine has a history of working with enterprising artists, it has a passion for the community, and its location in Five Points, once known as the Harlem of the West, makes them the ideal partner for this event! Five Points in Denver, CO was an area graced by Billie's presence and talent, not only because it was the hottest spot in the region for jazz, but also because she was not welcomed everywhere as a black woman. Yet, in spite of all the odds, Lady Day is remembered by millions worldwide for her authenticity and courageous spirit. To donate to Redline's continuous work in the community, click here.
Fundraising Element: 20% of all ticket sales will be donated to ‘Know Justice, Know Peace’ DMLK’s The Take Podcast
Students at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College (DMLK) are hard at work. Spanning back to an eye-opening visit to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington D.C. in the Fall of 2019, members of DMLK’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) made it their priority to take what they learned and use it to enact change at a local level. Over the past year, the BSA addressed the Board of Education, advocating for a more inclusive history curriculum at Denver Public Schools; they worked on a plan to recreate the African-American History and Culture museum to be on display at DMLK; and they focused on growing their BSA membership.
When the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and several other Black Americans reignited a nationwide movement calling for racial justice and an end to systemic racism, students knew they had to act. Inspired by the work of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s, the BSA members decided to amplify their voices through a medium that would speak to their own generation– a podcast.
“We are in the midst of a new Civil Rights movement. Just as the movements of King, X and Carmichael had a prominent role for youth voices and leadership through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, our movement will include the younger generation.” -Statement from the Black Student Alliance
The podcast, titled, “Know Justice, Know Peace, DMLK’s The Take” offers listeners the chance to hear directly from the next generation of leaders on politics and first-hand accounts of the black experience in America.
“We have come to the realization that our generation is the future and injustices will forever be our reality unless we commence change NOW. Through this podcast, we are hoping to inspire other youth into making a change in a safe and EFFECTIVE way. We want others to know that through their voice and effort, an impact CAN and WILL be attained.” -Statement from the Black Student Alliance
The BSA announced the new podcast on Juneteenth, serving as both a remembrance of the liberation of the final slaves in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865, and as a celebration of black voices.