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PRSRT STD U.S POSTAGE PAID Savannah. GA Permit No. 923 “GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY’ ADDRESS SERVICE REQ ®he ^ahannal) tribune :RVICE REQUESTED ^ March 16,2011- March 22,2011* Vol. 39 No. 3 • www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140 The Savannah Tribune Salutes Women’s History Month Edna Jackson Edna Branch Jackson grew up in the throes of segregation during the 1940’s in Savannah. By the time she was nine years old, Jackson was attending NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) meetings, where she learned valuable lessons about civil rights, leadership, and non violent protest strategies. She and other teenagers were arrested for sitting at a white lunch counter at stores such as Kress and Levy’s. Along with several other teens, she was arrested a second time for a “wade-in” at the beach on Tybee Island, which, like the lunch counters, was also off-limits to blacks. And, she experienced all of this before graduating from high school! After graduating from Beach High, Jackson enrolled at Savannah State College, but after two years, went to Florida to work with the NAACP, teaching young people how to employ non-violent demonstration techniques. She eventually returned to Savannah and completed her edu cation at Savannah State College (now University), where she experienced an illustrious 30-year career serving in various capaci ties. Upon her retirement from Savannah State, she ran for the Savannah City Council, and was elected to the Alderman At-Large See Jackson, page 7 The Savannah Children’s Choir Announces 5th Anniversary Artists in Residence Program and Gala Concert Eric Jones Helping celebrate the Savannah Children’s Choir’s 5th anniversary will be returning Artists in Residence Metropolitan Opera bass/baritone Keith Miller and Memphis Opera mezzo-soprano Rachel Waiters. The Choir will also welcome Darion Clonts, tenor, from Morehouse College, and Music Alive! as ensemble in residence. In addition to pro viding 24 direct services to local public schools in the form of lectures, recitals or Master Classes, the Artists in Residence will join the Savannah Children’s Choir and the Savannah Arts Academy Chorus and Orchestra in a gala performance Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Lucas Theater. The con cert is supported by Brasseler and International Paper. The performance will feature solos and arias from the Artists in Residence, as well as selections from Rutter’s Mass of the Children. The main feature will be the world premier of a newly commissioned work titled Songs of Creation by composer Eric Jones. The work, based on the poetry of African-American poet James Weldon Johnson, will be performed by the Artists, SCC and SAA Chorus and Orchestra. Student/child tick ets are only $2, adult tickets are $15 and both are available at SCAD box office, (912) 525- 5050 or www.scadboxof- fice.com . VIP tickets, which include reserved seating and an Artists Reception following the concert, are $75 and available at www.savan- nahchoir.org . Schools interested in scheduling Artist in Residence services should contact the Savannah Children’s Choir at info@savannah- choir.org or by calling (912) 228-4758. Savannah Music Festival Announces 2011 Lineup Savannah Music Festival (SMF) announces the lineup for its 2011 season, an expansive city-wide, multi-venue program showcasing a wide array of internationally acclaimed artists in over one hundred pro ductions. Held annually ini historic downtown) Savannah, this 22nd season of Georgia's largest festival described by The Times of London as "one o the best events around the world"- features two premieres, numerous festival debuts, and the return of several audi ence favorites from the realms of classical, jazz, Americana and world music. In addition to a wealth of concert pro gramming, SMF gives attendees a chance to hit the dance floor with four Robert Randolph dance parties - Cuban, Cajun, Funk, and Zydeco music - scheduled throughout the festival. The 2011 Savannah Music Festival is coming up soon, and features more blues, soul, funk, jazz and R&B artists than ever before. Beginning on March 24th, the festi val includes more than 100 concerts in fifteen venues throughout the historic district. Upcoming jazz and R&B programming highlights include: One of New Orleans' priceless musi cal treasures, Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Allen Toussaint has estab lished himself as one of America's most influen tial rhythm and blues artists during a career spanning five decades. In addition, his songs for and collabora tions with The Rolling Stones, The Who, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Jerry Garcia, Phish and scores of others have made him one of the most original and in-demand musi cians, composers and record producers in the U.S. Toussaint performs with his outstanding Louisiana-based band in his Savannah debut. Sharing this distinctive SMF double bill is UK- See Festival, pg. 8 Savannah State Student Government Presents Spike Lee Spike Lee The Savannah State University (SSU) Student Government Association will pres ent “An Evening with Spike Lee: America Through My Lens” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, in Tiger Arena. The event, which is part of a student leadership lecture series, is free to SSU students with valid uni versity identification. Tickets, $5 for non-SSU students with valid school ID and $10 general admis sion, are available in the campus bookstore located in the King- Frazier Student Center. Proceeds benefit the Miss Savannah State University scholarship fund. Lee is a forerunner in the “do- it-yourself’ school of filmmaking. The writer, director, producer, actor and author revolutionized the land scape of independent cinema and the role of black talent in film. His movies have examined race rela tions, the role of media in contem porary life, urban crime and pover ty and other political issues. In summer 2010, Lee’s pro duction company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, released the fol low-up documentary “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” which revisits the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region as residents attempt to rebuild while also demanding assistance and account ability from political leaders. The film, which premiered five years to the day that Hurricane Katrina formed, is a follow-up to Lee’s groundbreaking documen- See Lee, pg. 16