Salute US
WHO IS ON THE SALUTE FLAG? AND WHY? | Part 3
18
Feb
Feb
The Salute series was created to celebrate African American artists who either created, innovated or contributed in a major way to our culture.
For a more detailed explanation on the selection process, why we got it wrong, and why a certain controversial figure is on the flag, check out Part 1.
Part 3 is marked by several pioneers and individuals who represent movements within movements. There are triumphant, against all odds stories and there are tragic stories of those who couldn’t live up to their own legend. What ties them all together is their immense contribution to our culture and our collective narrative.
See the third row of artists below and BUY the Salute Tee
DJ KOOL HERC
(April 16, 1955)
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On August 11th, 1973 at a legendary Back To School Party on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, DJ Kool Herc lit a fire that would grow into the cultural movement we now know as “Hip-Hop”.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
DJ Kool Herc represents a cohort of individuals who, with the contributions of an entire generation, created a cultural movement that is arguably one of the most powerful, pervasive, and persistent movements of all time. Hip-Hop has lasted longer than the Harlem Renaissance and reached wider than the Renaissance in Europe. And let’s not even talk about the money. That’s a convo for another day.
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Don Cheadle is an award-winning actor who has one of the most diverse array of character portrayals in film history.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Although Don Cheadle is not as decorated as some of his peers, his work is just as (if not more) important to Black storytelling. Don Cheadle represents what it means to be “un-typecast-able”. His characters are diverse, deep, and demand attention. So when we talk about representation in film, we’re basically saying we want more Don Cheadles.
DON CHEADLE
(November 29, 1964)
DONNY HATHAWAY
(October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979)
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Donny Hathaway was a legendary Soul Singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, record producer and activist who successfully blended Gospel with Soul over socially critical lyrics. Hathaway is also considered to have had one of the best voices of all time. Hathaway died at the age of 33 from an apparent suicide.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Someday We’ll All Be Free, To Be Young Gifted and Black, Giving Up, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, A Song For You…. That’s why. Listen to these songs…like REALLY listen…and you’ll understand why Donny Hathaway is on the flag.
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Dorothy Dandridge is a legendary film and theatre actress, singer, and dancer. In 1954, she became the first Black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Carmen Jones. She also starred in the breakthrough musical film Porgy and Bess, which was one of the first major films to star a predominantly Black cast.
WHY SHE'S ON THE FLAG
Black Hollywood exists because Black women are at the forefront of it and without Dorothy Dandridge, Black women and Hollywood would have never met. Yes, there were people who came before Dorothy (and we applaud them). However, Dorothy gave the world a broader perspective of the magnitude of Black excellence.
DOROTHY DANDRIDGE
(November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965)
DR. DRE
(February 18, 1965)
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Dr. Dre is an award-winning rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, record executive, actor, and audio engineer. He is credited with being one of the pioneers of the Gangster Rap sound. And he would go on to sell tens of millions of records between his rapping and producing careers.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Dr. Dre’s life isn’t without controversy but his role in the emergence of “Gangster Rap” helped to re-establish Hip-Hop as a defiant counter-culture while simultaneously growing its popularity worldwide. In his second act, Dr. Dre put Corporate America on notice that Hip-Hop is the true driver of culture and thus the driver of a shit load of money.
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An originator of big-band jazz, Duke Ellington was a composer, pianist and bandleader who composed thousands of scores over his 60-year career. Duke was also a major contributor to the Harlem Renaissance and an outright legendary artist.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Few people have meant more to their genre and music as a whole than Duke Ellington. He mastered his craft, he stood the test of time, and every musician who ever lived will agree that Duke is a transcendent talent who impacted our culture forever.
DUKE ELLINGTON
(April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974)
EDDIE MURPHY
(April 3, 1961)
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Eddie Murphy is a legendary comedian and actor who holds the record for the highest grossing stand-up comedy film of all time. Murphy is also one of the top grossing actors of all time for his work in films like, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming To America, and Shrek.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Eddie Murphy is the reason why Saturday Night Live still exists and wasn’t cancelled in the early 80s. Eddie Murphy holds the record for highest grossing comedy stand-up of all time. And if it wasn’t for the success of Star Wars, Eddie Murphy would’ve easily surpassed Harrison Ford as the highest grossing actor of the 1980s. Murphy proved to the world that Black Men could dominate the Box Office; paving the way for Will Smith and many others.
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Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, intonation, and a “horn-like” improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
WHY SHE'S ON THE FLAG
Ella Fitzgerald was the original Jazz Singer, rising right before Billie Holiday. The lineage of R&B can be traced back to Ella Fitzgerald
ELLA FITZGERALD
(April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)
ERNIE BARNES
(July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009)
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Ernie Barnes was an artist, well known for his unique style of elongation and movement. He was also a professional football player, actor and author. Barnes’ most famous painting is The Sugar Shack, a 1976 piece showing a group of Black dancers in their natural element. The work was famously used on the cover of Marvin Gaye’s album I Want You, released that same year.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Ernie Barnes was a professional football player who decided to make art his second act. That’s revolutionary in its own right. Then he had the nerve to actually be great at it. Barnes’ work is in the same vein as many of his predecessors who painted Black life but what makes Barnes’ story unique is how he was able to infuse his work into other aspects of Black Culture.
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Ethel Waters was a blues and jazz singer and dramatic actress whose singing, based in the blues tradition, featured her full-bodied voice, wide range, and slow vibrato. Waters notable recordings include “Dinah”, “Stormy Weather”, “Taking a Chance on Love”, “Heat Wave”, “Supper Time”, “Am I Blue?”, “Cabin in the Sky”, “I’m Coming Virginia”, and her version of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”. Waters was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award.
WHY SHE'S ON THE FLAG
Although Ethel Waters doesn’t get the same recognition as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, her importance to the culture can’t be overstated. Ethel Waters attacked the racist American structure on two fronts, singing and acting, and made huge contributions in both. Her story adds to the narrative that our talent is often multi-faceted.
ETHEL WATERS
(October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977)
FAITH RINGGOLD
(October 8, 1930)
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Faith Ringgold took the traditional craft of quilt making (which has its roots in the slave culture of the south – pre-civil war era) and re-interpreted its function to tell stories of her life and those of others in the black community. One of her most famous story quilts is Tar Beach, which depicts a family gathered on their rooftop on a hot summer night.
WHY SHE'S ON THE FLAG
“You can’t sit around and wait for someone to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it” words famously spoken by Faith Ringgold. Her work tells you exactly who she is — a Black empowering, beautiful story-telling, limitation destroying gangster, who just so happens to create art.
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A trailblazer of a comedian, Flip Wilson was one of America’s most popular entertainers in the first half of the 1970s. Wilson was the first African American performer to catch on as host of a major weekly network variety show on television.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
The Flip Wilson Show is the grandfather of The Chappelle Show and in its first two seasons, was the second highest rated show on television. Flip Wilson also broke barriers by introducing Geraldine who would inspire future comedians to experiment with drag characters.
FLIP WILSON
(December 8, 1933 – November 25, 1998)
GEORGE CLINTON
(July 22, 1941)
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George Clinton is a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer. His Parliament-Funkadelic collective (which primarily recorded under the distinct band names Parliament and Funkadelic) developed an influential and eclectic form of funk music during the 1970s that drew on science fiction, outlandish fashion, psychedelic culture, and surreal humor.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Every once in awhile, an artist comes along and completely disrupts the current flow of creative expression by introducing something that shocks your senses. In the 1970s the Funk movement, both musically and aesthetically, ushered in a new shock wave of creative expression and George Clinton was “Knee Deep” in it.
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Gil Scott Heron was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s. He was extremely influential to Hip-Hop and one of his most notable works was the album Pieces of A Man.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Gil Scott Heron’s story is both inspiring and tragic. He was fearless in his depiction of Black life and the White racist power structure but ultimately fell victim to them. My personal favorite Gil Scott songs are, The Bottle, Pieces of a Man, and Winter In America. Listen and understand why he’s on the flag.
GIL-SCOTT HERON
(April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)
GORDON PARKS
(November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006)
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Gordon Parks was a prolific, world-renowned photographer, writer, composer and filmmaker known for his work on projects like Shaft and The Learning Tree. Gordon Parks was a self-taught artist who became the first African-American photographer for Life and Vogue magazines.
WHY HE'S ON THE FLAG
Gordon Parks is one of the best photographers of all time. Period. Given the fact that he was self-taught just further cements his legendary status. His work has inspired multiple generations of “life” photographers who often credit him. Parks also serves as another example of an artist who decided to break out of his prescribed medium and conquer another with his legendary film, Shaft.
Out of stock
$40.00
Out of stock
$40.00
