Linda's Blogspot

  It appears that no official data has been released regarding virtual or online viewership numbers for the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture . All publicly available reports and press coverage focus exclusively on in‑person attendance , panel counts, performances, and general festival activity during the July 3–6 weekend in New Orleans . Here's what we do know: In-person attendance is estimated at nearly 500,000 people for the 2025 festival . Festival organizers noted a decline from previous years, with lower hotel occupancy and on-site crowd levels . No press release, Essence website update, nor media coverage mentions the number of virtual viewers or digital participation—which differs from the 2020 virtual-only edition , when online participation was explicitly highlighted. 🔍 Why the lack of virtual attendance figures? The Essence Festival of Culture resumed in-person operations in 2021 and has been primarily physical events since. While there were digital strea...

  Reflections, drawing from Marshall McLuhan’s Tetrad of Media Effects . Your observations about how older behaviors (bias, competition, hate) are intensified through new technologies are a sharp insight into what McLuhan warned: "The medium is the message." That is, the form of a medium embeds itself in any message it transmits, and thus the medium itself shapes how the message is perceived and how society changes. Let’s walk through McLuhan’s Tetrad using today’s digital media (like the Internet, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok): 1. What does the medium enhance? Connectivity : Instant global communication, real-time interaction. Participation : Users are now also creators; everyone can publish (YouTube, TikTok). Access to knowledge : Learning, research, global awareness at our fingertips. Expression : Amplifies personal voice, creativity, and activism. Community-building : Especially for marginalized or underrepresented voices. These new communication tools should enha...

Rural Roots, Global Ripple: The Urgency of African Rural Development for a Sustainable Future In today’s interconnected world, the stability of one region has direct consequences for others. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Africa, where the lack of investment in rural communities is contributing to a cascade of migration patterns—first into overcrowded cities, and then across international borders. This is not just an African issue. It’s a global sustainability problem —one that requires a serious shift in how we think about development, migration, and shared responsibility. The Rural Push: When Communities Lack Choices Across the African continent, rural areas are home to more than half the population. These communities are the foundation of food production, cultural preservation, and traditional knowledge. They are the most neglected when it comes to public and private investment. Inadequate access to quality education, clean water, health services, renewable energy, dig...

Who Built America? The Power of Innovation, Labor, and the Individuals Who Dared to Create I was recently at an event in Harlem where the host declared, “Immigrants built America.” The room nodded in agreement. Enslaved Africans didn’t just help build America—we  were the labor and the capital. They built the foundation, brick by brick, crop by crop, under force and cruelty, with no choice, no pay, and no freedom. That makes their contribution profoundly different from that of immigrants or entrepreneurs. To truly understand who built America, we must widen the lens. We must tell the whole story. Enslaved Africans: The Original Capital Before steel tycoons and tech billionaires, the wealth of America was built on land stolen from Native peoples and worked by enslaved Africans. We cleared the land, harvested the cotton that fed the textile industries of the North and Europe, built roads, railroads, and entire cities. Their unpaid labor generated vast fortunes for plantat...

How Innovations, Inventors, and Entrepreneurs Built America America’s story is one of imagination, invention, and determination. From steam engines to smartphones, the United States was built not only by political leaders and laborers, but also by a remarkable wave of innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs who dreamed of what could be—and then made it real. Laying the Foundation: Invention and Industry In the early 1800s, inventors like Eli Whitney , with his cotton gin, and Cyrus McCormick , with the mechanical reaper, revolutionized American agriculture. They didn’t just make farming easier—they transformed it into an industry. These breakthroughs helped the U.S. shift from a rural economy to a productive one capable of feeding a growing population and fueling new industries. Then came the Industrial Revolution , where inventors such as Thomas Edison (light bulb, phonograph) and Alexander Graham Bell (telephone) changed how Americans lived, worked, and communicated. These in...

AfroCROWD Heads to Nairobi: Making History at Wikimania 2025 All Roads lead to Nairobi, Kenya By Linda Dabo In what is expected to be a landmark event in the Wikimedia movement, AfroCROWD is proud to announce its participation in Wikimania 2025, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 6–9, with pre-conference events on August 5 . This year marks a historic milestone: Wikimania 2025 is expected to host the largest number of African participants ever, reflecting a growing momentum of open knowledge on the continent. AfroCROWD—the movement empowering representation of people of African descent across Wikimedia projects—will be at the forefront in Nairobi. Can’t Travel to Nairobi? No Problem If you’re unable to attend in person, you can still be part of this historic moment by joining virtually. The conference is fully hybrid, with the virtual experience offering interactive sessions, live keynotes, multilingual interpretation, chat, discussion rooms, and recordings—available for free...

  Here’s a draft of your article to promote AfroCROWD’s participation in Wikimania 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya — a historic moment for African representation in the global Wikimedia movement: AfroCROWD Heads to Nairobi: Making History at Wikimania 2025 All Roads lead to Nairobi!  In what is expected to be a landmark event in the history of the Wikimedia movement, AfroCROWD is proud to announce its participation in Wikimania 2025 , to be held in Nairobi, Kenya — the heart of innovation and cultural vibrancy on the African continent. This will not be just another conference. Wikimania 2025 is predicted to host the largest number of African participants in the history of the event , a powerful sign of the growing momentum of open knowledge in Africa. And AfroCROWD is proud to be a part of the movement dedicated to increasing the representation of people of Africans and people of African descent on Wikipedia and the wider Wikimedia projects. A Homecoming of Knowledge Since i...

Community Spotlight: The Fouta Development Movement Gathers in Rosso, Mauritania From July 25 to 27, the city of Rosso, Mauritania, will host a powerful gathering of minds and hearts dedicated to one purpose: the development of Fouta. The International Association Fouta-Développement is holding its General Assembly, bringing together delegates from the United States, France, and across Africa to strengthen ties and implement a bold strategic plan for the region. This year’s assembly isn’t just a meeting—it’s a celebration of vision, collaboration, and cultural pride. A Vision for the Future At the forefront of this initiative is President Mansour Kane , who is traveling from the United States to present the association’s three-year action plan. His team, along with committed members from Mauritania—representing regions such as Nouadhibou, Diéwol, Kaédi, and Sélibaby—will lay out strategies to enhance development and promote local empowerment throughout the Fouta region. Rosso T...

Is Cryptocurrency a Pyramid Scheme? Understanding the Hype and the Reality In recent years, cryptocurrency has captured the attention of investors, tech enthusiasts, and skeptics alike. Its explosive growth, dramatic price swings, and the stories of overnight millionaires have prompted many to ask: Is cryptocurrency just a high-tech pyramid scheme? The answer isn’t simple — some projects raise red flags, while others represent genuine technological innovation. Let’s unpack where the comparison is fair, and where it falls apart.  Why Crypto Can Look Like a Pyramid Scheme 1. Early Adopters Often Win Big One of the main criticisms of cryptocurrency is that those who get in early tend to profit the most. This mirrors pyramid schemes, where top-tier participants gain wealth at the expense of those who join later. In crypto, the early buyers of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin saw massive returns. Newer buyers often purchase at higher prices, hoping to sell at a profit — sometimes fueling ...

  President Trump’s recent ruling on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), how it differs from former President Biden’s approach, and what it means for Americans: President Trump Bans Central Bank Digital Currency: What It Means for You Published: July 2025 In a bold and historic move, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 that bans the development, promotion, or use of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the United States. This decision reverses years of exploratory work under the Biden administration and has sparked a national conversation about privacy, freedom, and the future of money. What Is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? A CBDC is a digital version of the U.S. dollar , issued and controlled by the Federal Reserve. Think of it as money that exists only in electronic form—but instead of being held in a bank account, it’s held in a digital wallet directly managed by the government . Supporters argue a CBDC could: Speed up ...

The Daring Life of Norma Wallace: Queen of the French Quarter In the heart of old New Orleans, behind the shuttered doors of 1026 Conti Street, lived a woman who ran one of the most sophisticated and enduring brothels in America:  Norma Wallace , known to many as  “The Last Madam.” Born poor in 1901, Norma learned early how to navigate a world that rarely offered power to women—let alone to women in the underworld. But Norma wasn’t just any woman. She was elegant, cunning, and commanding. With a pistol tucked in her purse and diamonds at her neck, she curated an empire in the French Quarter that lasted through Prohibition, two world wars, and the changing tides of morality. From the 1920s through the 1960s, Norma’s brothel was  the  place for discretion and luxury. Her girls were polished. The linens were clean. And her guest list included politicians, police, gangsters, and even visiting celebrities. Norma wasn’t just a madam—she was a cultural broker, working in sh...

  The Last Madame of New Orleans:   Norma Wallace Norma Wallace (born Norma Lucille Badon , 1901 – 1974) was a prominent New Orleans madam who operated a series of high-end brothels from the 1920s through the early 1960s. Known for her elegance, business acumen, and longevity in a male-dominated underworld, she was often referred to as "The Last Madam." Her life and legacy are the subject of Christine Wiltz’s 2000 biography, The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld . Early Life Norma Lucille Badon was born in Mississippi in 1901 and raised in poverty. By her teenage years, she had moved to New Orleans and entered the sex trade. She reportedly began as a streetwalker and quickly rose through the ranks due to her entrepreneurial skills and strategic connections. Career as a Madam Wallace opened her first brothel in the 1920s. By the 1930s, she was operating out of a residence at 1026 Conti Street in the French Quarter, once the studio of photographer E....

  Spirits & Sirens: Ghost Stories and Wayward Women of New Orleans New Orleans wears her past like a velvet gown—elegant, weathered, and stitched together with mystery. Her streets echo with music and mourning, her buildings lean with stories. And when the gas lamps flicker in the mist, you can almost feel the city exhale… releasing the memories of those who never left. Among the haunted houses and shadowy courtyards are the whispers of women who defied the rules—queens of voodoo, madams of pleasure palaces, and spirited rebels whose legacies dance between history and legend. In this city, the veil between the living and the dead feels thinner. And perhaps that is why the ghosts remain. The Ghosts Who Linger The Haunting of the LaLaurie Mansion At 1140 Royal Street, in the heart of the French Quarter, stands a building with a beauty as cold as the grave. The LaLaurie Mansion, once the residence of Delphine LaLaurie, holds the most chilling legend in New Orleans folklore...

  A Plea for Dignity: We Can’t Afford to Live Here Anymore What kind of civilization are we becoming when the very workers who keep our cities alive—teachers, sanitation workers, bus drivers, hospital aides—can no longer afford to live in them? In Ft. Greene, a newly built high-rise offers studios for $3,000 a month, one-bedrooms for $3,661, and two-bedrooms for $4,376. To qualify, your income must start at over $100,000 and climb as high as $227,000. Who are these units for? Not the average city worker. Not the single mother juggling two jobs. Not the recent graduate saddled with debt. Not the countless youth being raised in a system that shows them early that they are unwanted in the very cities they call home. Let’s be honest: this is not development. This is displacement. The average American earns less than $35,000 a year. No promise of raising minimum wage to $30 an hour will bridge the chasm between income and housing costs like these. Even at $30/hour, working full-time, yo...

The Hidden Cost of Louis Armstrong Park: Displacement in the Heart of Treme By [Your Name] Nestled just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong Park stands as a tribute to the legendary jazz musician and the cultural vibrancy of African American life in the city. At its heart is Congo Square , a sacred site where enslaved Africans once gathered on Sundays to drum, dance, and preserve their cultural traditions — the spiritual and rhythmic roots of jazz. But behind the creation of this park lies a lesser-known story: the displacement and destruction of a thriving Black community under the banner of urban renewal. A Vibrant Neighborhood Erased The park occupies part of Treme , one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the United States. Treme was historically rich with Creole cottages, shotgun houses, small businesses, music clubs, and community churches. For generations, it served as a center of Black cultural and social life , where families lived an...

  The Hidden Cost of Louis Armstrong Park: Displacement in the Heart of Treme Just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong Park stands as a tribute to the legendary jazz musician and the cultural vibrancy of African American life in the city. At its heart is Congo Square, a sacred site where enslaved Africans once gathered on Sundays to drum, dance, and preserve their cultural traditions — the spiritual and rhythmic roots of jazz. But behind the creation of this park lies a lesser-known story: the displacement and destruction of a thriving Black community under the banner of urban renewal. A Vibrant Neighborhood Erased The park occupies part of Treme, one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the United States. Treme was historically rich with Creole cottages, shotgun houses, small businesses, music clubs, and community churches. For generations, it served as a center of Black cultural and social life, where families lived and worked, and where jazz mus...

  A Taste of Africa in New Orleans: Celebrating African Chefs and Culinary Roots By Linda Dabo  New Orleans is famous for its gumbo, po’boys, and jazz-soaked evenings, but there's another flavorful layer to the city's culture that continues to rise—its deepening connection to African cuisine and the chefs bringing it to life. From the bustling streets of the French Quarter to the historic neighborhoods of the Seventh Ward and Gentilly, African and African-diaspora chefs are reshaping the city’s culinary landscape with food that tells ancestral stories and honors heritage. A Culinary Star: Chef Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA At the forefront of this movement is Chef Serigne Mbaye , the Senegalese-born culinary artist behind Dakar NOLA , a fine-dining restaurant that has captured national attention. Blending Senegalese traditions with the soul of New Orleans, Mbaye’s tasting menus offer diners a culinary journey rooted in family, migration, and flavor. In 2024, Dakar NOLA w...

The Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans, along with a walking tour and cultural history  that captures the neighborhood’s spirit, evolution, and resilience. Bywater, New Orleans: A Neighborhood of Art, Resistance, and Renewal Bywater, nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, just downriver from the French Quarter, is one of New Orleans’ most dynamic and storied neighborhoods. Known for its Creole cottages, bohemian spirit, and layers of cultural memory, Bywater is a community where history and creativity meet at every corner. Historical Roots: A Working-Class and Creole Neighborhood Originally part of the city known as Faubourg Washington, Bywater developed in the early 19th century as a hub for dock workers, craftspeople, and free people of color. Its proximity to the port made it ideal for working-class immigrants—German, Irish, Italian, and Afro-Creole populations—who built homes in the modest Creole cottage and shotgun house styles, still iconic today. Bywater was deep...

  A Plea for Kindness: From a Witness of Beauty and Joy There is too much hate in our world right now. It’s everywhere—on television, in politics, and spilling across our social media feeds. I see it creeping into our conversations, poisoning our communities. I see people—Black, white, Hispanic—being pulled into a culture of cruelty and suspicion, fueled by misinformation and amplified by influencers who thrive on division. But what broke my heart recently was seeing my own people—people I love and care about—turn their anger toward something that was created to uplift us: the Essence Cultural Festival in New Orleans. I was there. I experienced it. I felt the power and beauty of it firsthand. It wasn’t just an event—it was a gift. I left feeling inspired, energized, and reminded of the strength and brilliance of our people. I saw families, artists, business owners, and young visionaries coming together in joy. It was a safe space of celebration and connection. And yet, I sa...

When Creativity Becomes a Catalyst for Displacement Can We Imagine a City Where Artists and Communities Thrive Without Being Pushed Out? Every creative city has its “before” story. Before the boutiques and tech campuses. Before the luxury condos and branded coffee shops. There was color. There was sound. There was risk. And more often than not, there were artists — making something out of nothing. Neighborhoods like SoHo, the Lower East Side, and Bushwick in New York City were once overlooked and undervalued. Then came the creatives — drawn by cheap rent and big dreams. They brought with them music, murals, street fashion, and a heartbeat. Suddenly, the neighborhood had flavor. It had character. It had a vibe. And then — as the cycle goes — in came the developers, the investors, the corporate brands. The same energy that artists created became the selling point. “Live where the culture lives,” the billboards say. But when the leases are up, it’s often the original culture that gets pus...

  Title: The Cycle of Creativity and Gentrification: Can Community Be Sustained Without Displacement? In cities around the world, a familiar pattern plays out again and again — a story of creativity, culture, and ultimately, control. It begins with artists, makers, and visionaries moving into overlooked or economically depressed neighborhoods. Drawn by affordability, openness, and possibility, they bring with them a spirit of innovation and expression that breathes new life into old spaces. Neighborhoods like SoHo and the Lower East Side in New York City, once neglected and considered undesirable, became cultural hubs because of the creatives who dared to dream there. They painted murals, opened studios, held poetry nights, organized community potlucks, and made the streets vibrant and magnetic. But this renaissance rarely lasts in its original form. As neighborhoods gain character and visibility, so too do they catch the eye of developers, corporations, and investors. What wa...

  Richelieu Dennis: Entrepreneur, Investor, and Advocate for Economic Empowerment Richelieu Dennis is a Liberian-American entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist best known for founding Sundial Brands, the parent company of SheaMoisture , and for restoring Essence magazine to 100% Black ownership. With a career rooted in cultural heritage and community empowerment, Dennis has become an  influential voices in beauty, media, and venture capital for underrepresented communities. Early Life and Education Born in Liberia in 1970, Richelieu Dennis immigrated to the United States during the Liberian civil war. He attended Babson College in Massachusetts, a school renowned for its entrepreneurial focus. While still in college, Dennis began selling natural, handmade shea butter products to help support his family, drawing on recipes and traditions passed down from his grandmother. What began as a modest street-vending business in Harlem would eventually blossom into a global ...