Photo video by Anthony Alden
Chene Park Detroit: Friday August 12, ERYKAH Badu Grammy Award winning artist and activists used her musical genius to raise awareness to help rape victims receive justice. Her goal was to pay for all the city's untested Rape Kits. Partnered with Right Productions Incorporated, the concert is set to raise $50,000 toward the cost of 11,341 rape kits found untested in the city seven years ago. About $5 from each ticket goes toward the cause and about 10,000 have now been paid for.
The African-American 490 Challenge of the group Enough SAID says they're trying to raise about $300,000 more to pay for the rest. The 490 stands for the $490 dollars it costs to process one of the kits.
“I pledge to raise the same amount of money with each show that I do until we raise this money,” she said at a post-concert reception at Chene Park. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the African American 490 Challenge, which is raising funds to test and investigate rape kits discovered in a Detroit police warehouse. “I’m with it. I think it’s one of the most important things I could do.”
The African-American 490 Challenge of the group Enough SAID says they're trying to raise about $300,000 more to pay for the rest. The 490 stands for the $490 dollars it costs to process one of the kits.
“I pledge to raise the same amount of money with each show that I do until we raise this money,” she said at a post-concert reception at Chene Park. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the African American 490 Challenge, which is raising funds to test and investigate rape kits discovered in a Detroit police warehouse. “I’m with it. I think it’s one of the most important things I could do.”
| Erykah more than exceeds expectations. Her voice is nearly as smooth and soulful as it is on her studio CD's, and her playful repartee with the crowd comes through. |
Her performance consisted of a melody of all time favorites that entertained the packed house of old and new schoolers. "Baduizm" clearly-had her fans in her grip, her slow, mellow vibe kept them glued to her every move, with occasional punches of energy with Caribbean Rastafarian vibe.
| Badu tries not to be to get to preachy but she sometime loose her way with inspirational wisdom. |
Badu performance conjures up blue light images of a Saturday evening at your local jazz club. Badu's voice, often compared to the grittiness of Billie Holiday, is elegantly restrained; yet, it is her humble modesty that makes it all the more powerful.
After seeing Badu over a dozen times live I always anticipate that her voice will glance over all her greatest hits landing effortlessly on the ones that touch the souls of her fans.
| Much of her stage presence reinforces her "Mother Earth" image. |
