Nationally-known Artist Kishi Bashi Brings Unique Inspiration to Selma for National Day of Racial Healing Concert

    SELMA, AL, January 13, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- TRHT (Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation) Selma through, The Black Belt Community Foundation and the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation (SCNTR), in presentation partnership with the Local, will host a special finale concert on January 16, to close its three-day schedule of community events honoring MLK Jr. Day and the second annual observance of the National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) as begun by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a world leader in philanthropy. This special concert will star Kishi Bashi and the No-No Boy Project, and is one of may events occurring nationally to observe this day. See (www.healourcommunities.org) for full schedule of national events. The Local, a new food cooperative serving Selma, AL is graciously providing a tasting menu on-site for concert goers in addition to providing services to co-present the event.

The narrative Mr. Bashi and team will explore will not be the usual story told in the Selma context - that of civil rights, a fabled "Bloody Sunday" march across the Pettus Bridge and the national changes that all of that sparked. Rather, Bashi and team will present a unique juxtaposition of two very different historical narratives dealing with US racism. His Selma performance will showcase Mr. Bashi's current project work with Julian Saporiti and the No-No Boy Project as they derive musical inspiration from the problematic episode of American WWII history dealing with Japanese-American internment camps. As Americans of Asian heritage, this band of performers is uniquely qualified for this seemingly unlikely performance and convergence of histories.

The Selma concert will follow a Birmingham, AL show the evening before at popular music venue, Saturn and will present an intimate acoustic setting, as Bashi shares his songs in a stripped down, acoustic incarnation. Bashi will also show footage and share stories about his documentary exploring the Japanese American Incarceration and American identity. He will be joined by songwriter and scholar Julian Saporiti (https://nonoboymusic.tumblr.com/about) and Erin Aoyama, whose grandmother was interned at Heart Mountain (WWII internment camp), as well as Atlanta based cello maestro Takenobu. Following Selma, the group will continue their journey to Arkansas where there were two other incarceration camps.

Andre Williams of the Local said: "These artists are generously donating their time to join us on the National Day of racial healing. They share so many of the same goals that we here at the Local have when it comes to promoting cooperative economics. Everyone deserves a piece of the pie, and it's wonderful to have such accomplished, nationally known musicians working with us and bringing new exposure to our activities here in Selma. We are really looking forward to this special evening's event!"

About Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth & Renconcialiation: http://www.selmacenterfornonviolence.org
About the BBCF: To learn more, visit: http://www.blackbeltfound.org or join our FB community at https://www.facebook.com/BBCF2004/

About Kishi Bashi and the No No Boy Project:
Selma Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/903864999777147/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishi_Bashi
National Public Radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgqAmZHkkTg
Current Project Focus: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/omoiyari-a-songfilm-by-kishi-bashi-music-film - / and https://nonoboymusic.tumblr.com/

Contact: DK Harris
DK Harris Public Relations
Phone (256) 592-9153
[email protected]

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