Note: It would not be prudent for me to share how the past 29 days of our lives have been personally & directly changed within our family and friends since 1/20/2025. Or specific instances of how those changes reach farther than just us. Instead, what follows is an attempt at showing in a less threatening context – how
silenced voices can yet speak.
Just a few days ago, as I was “doing what I do” across multiple areas of interest – taking deep dives into satisfying curiosities, researching on-line and hardcopy, expanding my knowledge-base to further enrich my (he)artistic creations, personal enrichment, and ‘growing in knowing’ – I came across yet another disturbing announcement.
So much so that I copied and pasted the relevant portions of the National Endowment of the Arts website info to a Word doc in the event original articles would be scrubbed and disappear entirely. What a thing to feel compelled to do. Yet, this was based upon recent blackouts of other websites such as DEI, NIH, USAID, CDC…
The National Endowment for the Arts cancelled its grant program Challenge America for fiscal year 2026. In operation since 2001, the program primarily supports small organizations & individuals that reach “historically underserved communities that have limited access to the arts relative to geography, ethnicity, economics, and/or disability.” *
The National Endowment for the Arts itself is a conduit of support for a myriad of disciplines ranging from scientific research, the arts, and community development through its extensive grant programs.
The artist I was interested in tracking down, Susan Hudson, is a 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellow. She was honored (along with 9 others) just this past September at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ** and the Library of Congress.
Native American Heritage Month is in November.
November 2024, it was celebrated all out, in full view – integrating past, present and future aspects of this vibrant cultural community and its members.
Black History Month is in February.
Now. This month. This year. February 2025.
It is currently in low gear due to unspecified ‘new guidelines’ yet demanding adherence. In addition, Black History Month, as an “Identity Month” has been declared dead by the DoD.
That said, join me now as I envision a celebration parade headed by my Black History Month honoree of personal choice: Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Need help with that?
Pretend you’re one of the audience here in this vintage footage of Sister Rosetta performing in the rain at the then abandoned (and now non-existent) Chorlton railway station on Wilbraham Road, Manchester, England.
As part of the 1964 Blues & Gospel Train Tour through Europe, this all out performance in the rain exemplifies what it means to be a true performing (he)artist.
“The station was dressed up to look like one from the American South, but typically for Manchester, the weather did not echo that area’s dustbowl conditions. Shortly after the train which carried the audience the few miles south from Manchester’s city centre pulled in, a storm lashed the station.
‘Sister Rosetta came to me and asked if she could change her opening number to Didn’t It Rain? … when she strapped on her guitar, it was astounding.’
Mr. Hamp says the downpour would have been his worst memory of the show had it not led to his best.”
a memory from TV producer Johnnie Hamp
I will not elaborate on the impact these current times are making upon everyday Americans – scientists, musicians, academics, researchers, educators, students, health workers, families, farmers, etc – At least not directly.
For now, this is how one voice, my voice, can yet speak.
*from the original website category list description as per my cut and paste Word doc
**Since then, much has changed within the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, making this past event hold even more significance.
While it does not surprise me that the Orange Felon is taking a slash-and-burn approach to any and all programs and agencies that sustain and uplift us, it does surprise me that the majority of congressional Republicans (and too often, all of them) are not standing up for the American people, for these programs and agencies, many of which have been with us for decades and all of which have provided immeasurable joy and enrichment. (Gosh, that was a long sentence!). Thank you so much for your post, Laura, for reminding us of what we are losing.
You’re welcome, Marie.
Smart move, copying everything to a Word doc. In these ridiculous times, physical evidence is more important than ever.
Crazy, eh?
I know that my heart sank when I saw that The Donald was going to be in charge of the Kennedy Center honors. Just another good thing for him to ruin. Yet, as you’ve shown here, we can still honor those musicians who deserve recognition in our own ways. And ignore his selections entirely.
As ever, your practical analysis/thought on this just about wraps it up! Thank you , Ms Bean. 😎
Yikes.
Indeed.
The Kennedy Center Honors is a must-see annual event … and that’s where I learned about Rosetta Tharpe … so the recent news events about the center bothers me.
Fantastic that you have been able to attend these events. I am envious. And sad about what bodes ill in its future.
I confess, I’ve been a fan of Sister Rosetta for decades – as the daughter of a working Jazz musician, we had insider info on the greats that weren’t known as ‘the greats’ by the general public although we didn’t know it at the time. Plus, growing up in Chicago was a cultural experience of everyday proportions! 😉
Oops … haven’t attended … loyally watch!
Still great – you’re a true patron of the arts!
Thank you for this post, Laura and for your interest in Susan Hudson and Sister Rosetta. I’m glad to know about them too. I appreciate you honoring them. It has been a challenging month. I’m grateful to God for his loving concern.
I, too, am grateful to the Lord for His abiding love&care. hugs
I suspect that one day America will wake up and look back with sadness upon this time period. Everywhere we turn these days, alarm bells continue to go off in my brain. I simply don’t understand how anyone can possibly think that any of this is making our country stronger or better.
I think many of us share your sentiment, Pete.
So good to see your post! Finding a way to nurture what is threatened is an old, old task. Building community and connections weaves healing into the everyday. Remembering that the truth always manages to find a way to the surface, we pass on what we know. Insisting on being present, we explore how to speak with honesty and care. Knowing that what reaches a zenith inevitably wanes gives hope. As always, sanity in an insane world is hard. Be well my friend.
‘Hey’ to you, too! Thanks for popping up to comment. What you speak of is really important – it is ‘doing’ and ‘nurturing’ for others and ourselves. Your phrase “Insisting on being present” makes the appropriate observation that it all takes effort.
Take care.
Hi Laura. As you know, I’ve been unable to leave comments on your posts. I am trying Jetpack again to see if it works this time.
Thank you for your powerful post. I am as horrified as you are about what is happening. I can’t (don’t want to?) believe that this is what many of his voters wanted. I fear for our country yet I feel powerless. I will continue to write, make phone calls and protest but I wonder if it does any good.
Take care, my friend.
Janis-Thank you for persevering on keeping comment-connected with me. Seriously. That means a lot to me. One trick-I find I can only respond to posts via the WPReader on my laptop.
I feel us walking alongside each other in this – you on my favorite coast and myself on the other. There is a form of strength in that.
And yes, it **all** does good, my friend.