Former Mayor Comments On Fundraiser And Funeral
Editor:
Thank you, thank you, and thank you for me and for you.
More than 700 people attended the recent fundraiser for the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library called “A Journey to the Past.’’ Participants heard a speech by DNA expert Dr. Rick Kittles on tracing African ancestry.
The event piqued the interest of local residents about the DNA test with 87 signing up the night of the event; 40 the following morning; and another 60 requesting the test be sent to them by mail. Those 187 people are anxious to see what the tests determine as far as their African ancestry.
The money from the event will be put to good use for unmet needs at the research library, which I urge everyone to respect, support and protect. That includes educating young people who are putting graffiti on our cultural landmarks that this is disrespecting their history.
Earlier this month, Wilma and I attended Coretta Scott King’s funeral in Atlanta. When we arrived in the city we visited Martin Luther King III’s home to offer our condolences to him and other friends of the family.
We then went with Macon, Georgia Mayor Jack Ellis and civil rights veteran Doris Crenshaw to Ebenezer Church to view Mrs. King lying in state. Driving down Auburn Street, we saw people standing in a steady downpour of rain for more than two hours to pay their respects and view Mrs. King’s body.
Young and old were huddled under umbrellas and some waited until 2 a.m. to be part of the 115,000 people who passed by Mrs. King’s body. This was in addition to the 42,000 people who viewed her lying in state at the State Capitol.
The next morning we went to the church on one of five buses reserved for family. Following the six hour funeral, there was talk about some of the comments during the eulogies directed to President Bush as disrespectful. I thought only two of the dozens of speakers raised issues about President Bush’s policies. The question that should have been asked was, “Did the speakers tell the truth?” Weapons of mass destruction were not found in Iraqi and the worst treatment of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina was people of color.
Wellington E. Webb
Denver

Survivor Expresses Appreciation
Editor:
I just wanted to thank you all once again for the Christmas Open House last month and also for the wonderful gift cards, clothes, and food. That was a nice gesture and I just wanted to let you and your staff know that at least one person followed through to say how grateful "we" Hurricane Katrina survivors are. Thanks again.
Ashley DeGruy

Remembering Coretta
Editor:
Thanks for sharing these beautiful memories.  I pray they serve as reminders of the days of peaceful strength and keep me strong.  In this violent world there are few examples of peace and non-violence and the Kings had indeed an impact on the era of my development and the person I became. Thanks again and again.
Vanessa Ruffin-Colbert
Washington, DC 

Black Radio’s Beacon In The Fog
Editor:
I agree with the overall message of Desi Cortez in his column about Denver radio; however he's only 99 percent correct. There is an exception to his rule, a station that is the antithesis of what makes him rightfully angry about the rest of the radio dial in the Mile High City.  At community-public radio, Jazz89 KUVO, a Latino-managed station, we proudly broadcast virtually the entire spectrum of African American music. Most of our weekly programming is jazz, an African American and Afro-Caribbean creation; Friday nights at midnight, we have a hip-hop jazz program, "So What." On Saturday evenings, 5 to 7 p.m., we broadcast "All Blues," an African American art form that is the backbone of many other genres of Black music. That’s followed by the 1950s R&B and 1960s soul show, "The Golden Age of R&B."  The beat goes on 8 p.m. with "Mahogany Soul" a neo-soul show that segues at 11 p.m. into the classic funk show, "A Funk Above The Rest."  Sunday mornings at 9, we air "The Gospel Train." Sunday afternoons at 2, we have an African Diaspora music program, "Orgy in Rhythms," and an Afro-Caribbean music show, "Salsa con Jazz."At 4, all of the aforementioned programs play music not heard on any commercial radio outlet. KUVO has a total of 33 weekly program hosts, 11 of whom are African American, nine Latino, as well as an equally proportioned amount of substitute hosts and other volunteers.
KUVO is proud to be located in Five Points and works closely with African American organizations like the Black Arts Festival, as well as many Latino cultural organizations such as Centro Su Teatro. We showcase the accomplishments of African Americans and Latinos in the Arts throughout the entire year with special emphasis on Blacks in February and Latinos in October. I feel the same frustration as Desi Cortez does for the rest of the radio market, not only in Denver but throughout the country. There are only a handful of minority-controlled, community-public radio stations around the country and even fewer with the programming of Jazz89 KUVO; we are fortunate to have one of those here in Denver.
I moved to Denver from Miami almost three years ago because I wanted to be part of the unique station that is KUVO, I believe in its vision and wanted to become a contributor to a station that is assuring that the genius and greatness of African American, Caribbean, and Latino musical art forms are part of the radio landscape along the Front Range.
Arturo Gómez
Denver