By Allen Johnston – The Music Specialist
Website: www.asha.com
My international travels have broadened my perspective on the global opportunities available to people of color. I've particularly noted the avenues open to African-American musicians and multimedia creators worldwide. It's striking how everyone aspires to the American fame and success portrayed in magazines, movies, and videos globally. The desire to "BE LIKE MIKE" resonates worldwide, with "Mike" symbolizing African-American celebrity.
As a staunch advocate for education, I believe African-Americans have a responsibility to support the education and welfare of Africans globally. Let's delve into the current state of the Black music industry in the United States. While African-Americans' discretionary income exceeded $20 billion last year, it's noteworthy that Shell Oil alone recorded profits of $30 billion in the UK. This vast wealth is a stark reminder that despite economic power, resources aren't always directed towards global education and welfare initiatives.
The question arises: How can we effectively contribute to the education of people of color worldwide? One approach is through creating music and multimedia projects infused with "Old-School" Values and Morals. These projects should steer clear of explicit language, inappropriate content, or divisive rhetoric, instead fostering reflection, interest, and inspiration among listeners.
Accessibility and affordability are pivotal in reaching large audiences worldwide. The Internet emerges as the primary medium for achieving these objectives, especially in developing regions where internet access primarily occurs through mobile phones. Sixty-one percent of the world's 2.7 billion mobile phone users reside in developing countries, compared to only ten percent of the world's 1 billion internet users. This insight, drawn from Susan Schorr's report at the International Telecommunication Union, underscores the dominance of mobile connectivity in regions like Africa.
India boasts a staggering 226 million cellphone subscribers, constituting nineteen percent of its population, with an influx of 7 million new subscribers monthly. This surge in demand has spurred a decline in cellphone manufacturing costs, making devices more accessible. In Africa, shared cellphone services are gaining traction, indicating a shift towards affordable connectivity solutions.
Initiatives like the Grameen Foundation's Village Phone model have brought mobile connectivity to remote African villages. Through microloans, individuals become mobile phone operators, offering call and data services to their communities. This grassroots approach bypasses governmental media controls, empowering communities with vital information and communication tools.
Cellphone-based internet delivery serves as an alternative information source, particularly in regions facing media censorship. During recent unrest in Kenya, resourceful citizens leveraged text messaging to disseminate information via platforms like the Mashada website, shedding light on critical issues while maintaining communication with distant communities.
For producers, writers, musicians, filmmakers, artists, and educators, this paradigm shift presents a new frontier for sharing projects, products, and ideas with a global audience. As cellphones and wireless devices continue to bridge the digital divide, more individuals gain access to a wealth of information and communication capabilities.
The missing piece? Your unique contribution to the global dialogue.
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