Funeral Parade--with Drums--from My Window

"What's that music?" Ron leaned out the window facing 125th Street yesterday afternoon.  Sounded like a jazz funeral parade in New Orleans, the one you couldn't help but follow.  Yet different.

Barbara Ann Teer, founder of the National Black Theater died last week at 71.   When she moved from an active life on the stage to devoting herself to  the NBT, she stated:

We must begin building cultural centers where we can enjoy being free, open and black...where we can find out how talented we really are, where we can be what we were born to be and not what we were brainwashed to be, where we can literally ‘blow our minds’ with blackness.

Once again we found ourselves fortunate to live beyond the proper confines of the "upper west side," and within Harlem's boundaries.  Ron would point out details he noticed as we ran from one window to another to follow the parade as it turned from 125th onto Amsterdam Avenue below our window on the 21st floor.  "I got teary," he said. I wonder if picture-taking gets in the way of my own strong emotions.

The tourists on the double-decker bus (see final photo) probably never learned they were privileged spectators to a remarkable ritual, rarely seen in New York City.  The explanation came to us in today's New York Times headline, For Champion of Black Theater, A Funeral through Harlem's Streets.  There are many fascinating links for more about the visionary Dr. Barbara Teer,  known as "the queen of Harlem."

UPDATE:  More details at UPTOWN Flavor, a lively blog about all aspects of the neighborhood--events, art, politics.  Discovered independent movies are shown Wednesday and Thursday night in Morningside Park. 

Comments

[Lydia]

That is absolutely beautiful! I would have considered it a great honor to view the procession from my windows.

[D. Bell]

These are great pictures. I would love to post them to my site since we have been following the home going of Dr. Teer so closely. We will naturally link back to your site. Awaiting your response.

Thanks,

D. Bell

[Nichelle]

Wow - these photos are great! I found you via Uptown Flavor (D. Bell above)

Dr. Teer was a very special woman. Those tourists on the double-decker had NO idea what they were looking at...

[BearNaked]

Those pictures are amazing.
I am going to send my daughter this url.
I have told her for years that this is the funeral procession that I would love to have.
Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog.

Bear((( )))