For years, most New Orleans locals have embraced Essence Festival, eagerly anticipating its arrival as a celebration of black culture and empowerment. However, beneath the excitement lies a growing sense of disillusionment and feeling forgotten. It is a sentiment that has been magnified by recent incidents, shedding light on the deep-seated concern among New Orleanians that their voices and contributions are being overlooked by Essence Festival. It is a story that needs to be told—a call to rekindle the essence of the festival and ensure that the vibrant spirit of New Orleans remains at its core.
The Power of Juvenile’s Anthem “Back That Ass Up”
Juvenile, the popular rapper at the center of the Essence Festival controversy, has a special spot in many hearts – including my Mothers’. His original exclusion from the event left him feeling disappointed. But in a pleasant shift, he’s now been included in the lineup for the festival. This is an example of his undeniable talent and considerable influence on hip-hop music.
Amidst the longing for authentic representation, one voice rises above the rest—Juvenile, the iconic rapper whose lyrics have become a cultural touchstone. Visualizing Juvenile, the creator of the famous anthem “Back That Ass Up,” playfully using those words to send a message to Essence Festival, we can imagine him urging them to reevaluate their technique and sincerely recognize the accomplishments of noteworthy people from New Orleans.
Juvenile’s song, “Back That Ass Up,” serves as a rallying cry, not only for the infectious beats it carries but also for the powerful metaphor it represents. In the context of Essence Festival, Juvenile’s anthem symbolizes a plea for the festival to reassess its approach and pay homage to the notable figures who have shaped New Orleans’ cultural landscape. It is a call to “back that essence up” and ensure that the festival truly embodies the spirit, resilience, and unique contributions of New Orleanians.
However, it is noteworthy that Juvenile, while not using his lyrics explicitly, has expressed his views on Twitter and advocated for a festival more accessible to those who cannot afford to attend the high-priced concerts during Essence Festival. His initiative to create a more affordable festival option has generated excitement among the people, providing them with an opportunity to participate in the festivities. Juvenile’s efforts have resonated with the community, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and ensuring that Essence Festival remains accessible to all.
Juvenile’s message encapsulates the longing of the community for Essence Festival to acknowledge and celebrate the local talents and cultural bearers who have made New Orleans the vibrant city it is. It is a call for the festival to go beyond superficial recognition and embrace the rich tapestry of our city’s cultural heritage. By heeding Juvenile’s message, Essence Festival can authentically honor the spirit of New Orleans, fostering a deeper connection with the community and creating a truly inclusive and representative celebration of our culture.
Juvenile’s inclusion in the Essence Festival lineup carries profound significance for both him and the festival itself. With his name carrying weight in the music industry and his contributions leaving an indelible mark, his presence offers an authentic representation of New Orleans hip-hop and shines a spotlight on the local talent that thrives within our city.
Rekindling the Essence: Celebrating New Orleans’ Forgotten Voices at Essence Festival
It is crucial for Essence Festival to embrace the forgotten voices of New Orleans. While it recognizes black culture on a broader scale, it has overlooked the distinctive contributions of local cultural bearers, particularly powerful women who safeguard our heritage. To capture the essence of our city, its talent liaison must look deeper into our communities and find hidden gems cherished by the local community.
New Orleans boasts a myriad of female entrepreneurs who skillfully infuse New Orleans culture into their craft. They are the unsung heroes who keep our traditions alive, whether it’s through art, food, or other creative endeavors. Their contributions deserve to be highlighted, celebrated, and incorporated into the fabric of Essence Festival, aligning with the festival’s professed dedication to culture.
Where are the proud New Orleans cultural bearers, such as the Black Masking Indian Big Queens and the Baby Dolls? These remarkable women carry the torch of our cultural traditions, embodying the resilience, strength, and artistry that defines our city. They deserve recognition and a prominent platform to showcase their contributions to our cultural fabric.
Additionally, let’s not forget the talented women chefs and entrepreneurs who carry on the legacy of African women who once roamed the streets of the French Quarter, proudly proclaiming their offerings. From the soulful jazz singers who captivate audiences with their powerful voices on a makeshift stage—a milk crate—to the imaginative little girl who transforms drumsticks and a mop bucket into a musical masterpiece, the talents of these remarkable women deserve a larger spotlight.
By giving prominence to these extraordinary women and their cultural endeavors, Essence Festival can better reflect the true essence of New Orleans. It can provide a stage where their voices can resound and inspire future generations, fostering a sense of pride and appreciation for our unique heritage.
The recent inclusion of Juvenile in the festival’s lineup stands as a powerful affirmation of Essence Festival’s commitment to honoring the culture and artists from our beloved host city. It marks a significant step in the right direction, providing a deserving platform for New Orleans artists to showcase their remarkable talents. This inclusion not only serves to celebrate Juvenile’s undeniable impact on the music scene but also fosters a renewed sense of pride among locals who see their city’s unique contributions being recognized and celebrated on such a grand stage.
Let us Extend Our Gratitude to Juvenile: A Champion for Our Culture at Essence Festival
“Hip-Hop 50 without Juvie? Not a chance. June 30th, NOLA we live!” he wrote. “#ESSENCEFEST #ESSENCEFEST2023 #EFOC2023.” Fans can get tickets here.
Juvenile-Twitter
As we celebrate Juvenile’s musical achievements, it is important to recognize the deeper significance of his call for authentic inclusion at Essence Festival. His entrepreneurial journey, which includes the launch of his luxury furniture brand, Made By Juvie, showcases his versatility and serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists and entrepreneurs alike. With a specialization in custom lighting, tables, chairs, and more, Juvenile’s innate creativity and freestyle designs bring a unique touch to his creations. Let us rally behind Juvenile’s call for inclusion and wholeheartedly applaud his entrepreneurial spirit as we come together at Essence Festival.
“Beyond the Celebration: Promoting Economic Equity and Local Inclusion at the Essence Festival”
The Essence Festival, offering an array of experiences and drawing crowds from various corners, should take into account the financial constraints that bar local participation. With 3-day passes no longer available and the cost of a 1-day ticket at roughly $90, the price is often beyond the reach of many residents of New Orleans.
Adding to this sense of exclusion is the glaring discrepancy between the substantial profits amassed by visiting businesses, food vendors, promoters, journalists, and other festival contributors and the meager economic benefits that eventually seep into the local community. These out-of-town beneficiaries tend to enjoy hefty financial returns, leaving the locals, who clean up in the aftermath of the celebrations, deprived of the economic fruits they should rightfully reap as hosts of such a large-scale event.
There’s a need for the Essence Festival to embrace a more inclusive approach and community involvement, which could take the form of locally discounted vendor fees and ticket prices or other initiatives akin to those seen at the Jazz Festival. By introducing such measures, more residents of New Orleans could afford to partake in the festive activities and contribute to the cultural spectacle. This would not only fortify the relationship between the festival and its host city but also ensure a fairer dispersion of the financial perks generated by the event within the local community.
The time has come to rectify this imbalance, ensuring that the economic windfalls of the Essence Festival extend to more than just external stakeholders and bring meaningful opportunities and benefits to the New Orleans populace. By focusing on integrating local vendors, entrepreneurs, and workers, the festival could genuinely encapsulate the essence of community and establish a lasting economic impact that prevails beyond the event’s duration.
Together, we can push for a fairer allocation of resources and opportunities at the Essence Festival. This not only promises an improved festival experience for the local people but also cements the connection between the event and the vibrant city that hosts it.
Dat NOLA Chic 