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FORWARDEVER MEDIA CENTER

Writer Alex Haley writing The Autobiography of Malcolm X with Brother Malcolm.

"The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses."
- Malcolm X

Mission

The Forwardever Media Center is 100% committed to providing unconventional writing workshops and media literacy training to "at-risk" Black youth, particularly males, ages 14 through 24. Working in partnership with The Mentoring Center in Oakland, CA., the Center's writing workshops, website internship, and film forums, help students develop critical thinking skills and discover their creative talents. We recruit youth for our programs from the California Youth Authority (the state's largest prison for youth) as well as from universities and high schools. This cross-pollination of young minds creates dynamic shared experiences.

Programs

Whatchusay Cinema–A monthly film forum hosted at schools or community centers in Northern California that explores issues such as race, class, gender, and society. Students are joined by a panel of activists, educators, athletes, entrepreneurs, etc. to rate the films and convene roundtable discussions about corresponding relevant issues in society. For info about film screenings and schedules contact: cheo@whatchusay.com

Writing Workshops–We offer intensive seminars in journalism, creative writing, cultural criticism, new media, film production, etc. These seminars are taught at the center, located at 1224 Preservation Park, Oakland, CA, 94612. They are also available on location, at schools, community and detention centers, churches, etc. For info about class schedules contact: cheo@whatchusay.com

Internships–Whatchusay.com offers competitive internships to young writers who have clearly demonstrated a passion for the craft of writing or media production. The 3-month internship covers news writing and reporting, feature writing, creative writing, media literacy and new media. Working in partnership with community based organizations, universities and international and national media outlets, we produce a pipeline of informed journalists of color who will go on to create their own independent media organizations or work for major media organizations.

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Feelin' Rahsaan Patterson

By Maya Pope-Chappell

On tour with his recent album After Hours, indie-soul man Rahsaan Patterson feels the music differently each time he sings it. And for listeners around the country, it feels good.

Rahsaan Patterson's new album is the definition of musical art, with rhythms and melodies that create a canvas of illuminating colors and sounds. The epitome of sophistication, After Hours is filled with up-tempo songs and ballads that will have you on an emotional rollercoaster and not wanting to get off. Featuring collaborations with Van Hunt, Jamey James, Steve "Silk" Hurley, and others, this new LP is an eclectic album influenced by jazz, blues, soul, and gospel. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, this New York native delivers a soulful, innovative, and classic sound unlike anyone else.

"I'm very much a person that goes against the grain," says Patterson. Timeless and uplifting, After Hours is truly Rahsaan at his best. Although Rahsaan has had to maintain his independence at the cost of airplay, his originality and creativity in song is a breath of fresh air from the smog of commercialized and packaged hits often heard on the radio.

Patterson says, "I used to feel like there needed to be a change [in radio] but at this point in time, I don't really concern myself with that. I just do what I do and I'm grateful that it even gets put in a record store. And those people who go to the record store and purchase it, I'm blessed for that. My main focus is making and finding a way for it to be shared." On stage, Rahsaan is a confident performer who reinvents the music inside himself as he performs it. Spontaneous and innovative, he literally feels the music like Chaka Khan, James Brown, or Al Green.

From an early age, Rahsaan's interest in music was cultivated and nurtured by his parents who were both singers. Having sung in the church and on a TV series called "Kid's Incorporated," Rahsaan moved from New York to California as a young man to embark on his solo career with MCA. Under MCA, Rahsaan recorded his debut album Rahsaan Patterson and his follow up, Love in Stereo.

Although both albums received rave reviews, according to the 31 year-old, while recording with MCA, it was difficult for the president of the label to determine the single. "I found that over the course of my career of recording solo albums, because I have so many different styles of songs that don't necessarily fit in with mainstream radio, it was difficult for some of the people involved to choose one, or even hear one (a single)," Patterson says.

With an established fan base upon MCA's closing, Rahsaan left and signed with a smaller independent label, Artistry, on which he released After Hours. "Personally, I've always felt that my albums possessed songs that were radio friendly and capable of being played and with this new album, I just really wanted to show that I am conscious of what's played on the radio," says Patterson.

Having grown from his first two albums both vocally and creatively, Rahsaan says his life experiences have changed how he approaches and interprets his songs. "I'm older [and] the album just reflects that growth and maturity," says Patterson. This is apparent on "Don't Run So Fast," a personal ballad about reflection and growth. Similar to Bill Whither's song "Grandma's Hands" and reminiscent of a Billie Holiday or ‘50's classic, the song begins with poignant orchestrated sounds followed by Rahsaan's soothing and captivating vocals. The way the production grows and develops is like a grandmother's influence on a child as he sings, "I remember Grandma's blue robe/ and some of the stories she told/ there were other words she once spoke/ there was a lullaby I treasured the most/ it said/ Don't run so fast/ you might fall on glass/ Don't run so fast/ you wont be the last/ Don't run so fast."

Finding inspiration to write this song upon leaving MCA, "Sometimes" is a seductive and funky track with a gospel touch about letting go and growing stronger. The funk continues with "Separate," a song about a relationship that has gone bad, has a slight hip-hop feel to it with a soulful overlay. Rahsaan plays with his voice as he sings, I think its time/ we separate/ Wrap it up and call it a day. Clearly passion-filled with each vocal variation, "Separate" is a prime example of Rahsaan's effortlessly captivating and melodic appeal.

Heartfelt from top to bottom, After Hours invites listeners to share his feeling.
Your RSVP will prove wise.

Posted on July 27, 2005 12:19 PM