#TBT These photos were taken about 20 years ago at the FringeArts Festival (Sacramento, CA). What an amazing experience to be a part of this event amongst so many artistic innovators. It was the highlight of my tour with the West African percussion group Up From The Roots. We toured Northern California entertaining audiences with a rhythmic offering of African Culture and History. Our performance consisted of Drums, Chants, Dance, and some culture filled Lyrics by yours truly. It should be noted that The National Endowment for the Arts funded all of our work (practices, touring expense etc…). NEA is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. Federal support of this agency represented only 0.003 percent of the U.S. spending in 2016, yet funding to the program is right smack dab in the middle of this administration’s crosshairs to be cut. I repeat 0.003 percent. As Philip Bump described in Washington Post, “If you were at Thanksgiving and demanded a slice of pecan pie proportionate to 2016 NEA spending relative to the federal budget, you’d end up with a piece of pie that would need to be sliced off with a finely-tuned laser.” The negative impact to our communities would be far greater than any positive gains to the national budget. Please take a minute and sign this petition by the Arts Action Fund, and let your voice be heard on this matter. If not for yourself and/or your own appreciation of the arts, then for those you know that this cut would impact. Thanks https://secure.artsactionfund.org/page/s/trump-arts-petition
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