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This week My Urban Report is featuring coverage from Jena Louisiana that probably didn’t make mainstream news.

Hip Hop artist/actor Mos Def was among those who attended the rally, and he had a lot to say about the lack of support from other so called celebrities. You’ll just have to watch to see who he calls out… It’s fiya.

Video Credit: Mario “Supe” Page Director of Photography

by A.man.I

8:3Opm
Mario and I are making a pit stop in Birmingham as we drive back to Atlanta. Internet and cell phone service was terrible in Jena, partly because of all of the TV satellite trucks, so I haven’t been able to update the blog as regularly as I had hoped.

Before we left Alexandria Louisiana, we stopped by the Louisiana NAACP conference to see what people had to say about the events. We also spoke to the Mayor of Alexandria about the noose incident that happened after the rally.

The overall experience was eye opening. I think there are some serious issues that need to be addressed in Jena, and this story is far from over. Looks like Mario is going to be helping me create content to the site… Maybe I’ll rename it Our Urban Report. We have several videos to produce, and even though the news covered the event as it happened, I’m sure I captured some moments that didn’t make air.

by A.man.I

I’m scheduled to do a talk back with CNN’s “American Morning,” today at 5:15am (central time). Mario and I are on our way back to Jena.

We’re checking to see if Mychal Bell will get bonded out of jail today… That’s the money shot.

Yes, I’m a Florida Gator. I wasn’t trying to make a scene during a political Q&A, but you don’t hear me scream, “Don’t taze me bro!”

by A.man.I

5am Thursday
Mario and I wake up after getting three hours of sleep. This is the day we’ve been getting ready for ever since we arrived in Louisiana on Tuesday, and though we haven’t had a good nights rest since we got here, it doesn’t matter.

We load up. I bring my XL1, Mario has his Panasonic HD cam.

First stop: Gas station convenience store. We load up on energy drinks, chips, and junk food.

We planned to meet the caravan of busses at the loading point in Alexandria, but quickly realize we better haul tail to Jena. Our other crew is already in place, and we don’t want to miss anything by being stuck in traffic.

The trip into Jena is smooth. Traffic isn’t bad, but as we approach the town we realize we have to park and foot it to the courthouse.

We load up, and start walking.

We get there just in time. Al Sharpton is arriving. He’s flanked by security, the media is swarming. Mario and I start shooting.

Since we didn’t get there ahead of time like we should have, we push our way towards the front gate along the stage. We’re pissing of people who got there early to get a good view. Some of the media is past the barrier, but we are trapped with the spectators.

The event opens with an introduction, and a prayer. There are tons of people chanting, and cheering. Sharpton gets on the mic and does what he does. The family members of the Jena Six are introduced, Mychal Bell’s parents, two of the teens, and several other parents.

Michael Baisden in next. He explains how the event was organized in just three weeks, and offers words of support to the Six.

Mario and I decide to see what else is going on and have to push our way through the crowd again. By the time I get through I look down at Mario’s mic which I’m holding and realize his mic’s windscreen was knocked off as I struggled through the crowd… Not a good feeling.

We shoot more b-roll. More chanting, “What do we want justice! When do we want it now!” More people, it’s like a sea of black… Beautiful.

Busses are rolling in, people start marching to Jena H.S. and we’re still shooting.

We still haven’t met up with the other crew because we were never told where the satellite truck parked. That’s a problem. There’s next to no cell phone service in Jena and news trucks are everywhere. We keep shooting, and try to call the other crew.

9am
I finally reach a manager in New York and he tells me that the truck is parked by the courthouse. There are so many people, how are we going to get through? We start the hike, and arrive 20 minutes later. We check in with the reporter and photographer, and Mario leaves his tape to feed. We go out to gather more footage and interviews.

This is an amazing event, so many people, so much media. I interview Martin Luther King III., Jesse Jackson, the father of Theo Shaw, Theo McCoy, young people, older people, parents, a LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, and a school board member.

I forgot to mention that I was only able to bring one bag of snacks and one PowerAde. Not good, but that seems to be the routine. By this time I forget that I’m hungry, and I’m working off of adrenaline.

We return to the sat truck to feed more video up to NY.

People are returning from Jena High School, and back to the courthouse. Demonstrators are peaceful and spirited. Most are wearing black and wearing “Free Jena Six” shirts. It seems like people are still showing up.

2pm
The other crew finishes their scheduled live shots. It’s time for a conference call. Now I get my chance to do some reporting. I’m assigned a story that focuses on the young people, and what locals are saying about the event. I have about an hour to log my video and write my script.

The old news instincts kick in. Mario shoots my on camera standup. I review the interviews and start writing. I voice my story, and feed the video and narration up to NY where it is edited.

4:00pm
The crowd is starting to thin out. The other crew wraps up and leaves. Mario and I stay behind and hang out with rally attendees and some of the other news crews.

The rally was a wonderful experience, and I’m glad I was able to witness this piece of history. Hopefully there will be a positive resolution for the Jena Six, and the town.

More thoughts, reflections and videos will follow, but for now… Sleep!

PEACE!!

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2:00am
All I can say is we’re sleep deprived, and have to get up soon to cover the Jena Six story.

I can’t go into explaining why right now, but in the TV world, Murphy’s Law is the rule fa sho.

As for the latest developments, you may want to watch the news tomorrow. I’ll be working, and I’m guessing I won’t be posting much.

I’m not sure about all the media outlets who will be covering, but I know The story will be on HDNews, not to be confused with HDNet. CNN has been here all week, and I saw a CBS satellite truck here too.

One of the Jena 6 family members told me that The Montel Williams Show asked the family for pics, and we hear Oprah Winfrey or at least producers with her show are here as well.

I’ll be checking for all media, independent, bloggers, and the mainstream.

It’s hella early (that’s Cali slang), and I have to get up in a few hours.

Here’s some last minute info:

5:00 A.M.
Protesters assemble at the bus staging area and board buses at the Alexandria Coliseum (5600 Coliseum Blvd)

6:00 A.M.
Bus Caravan to LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, Louisiana

7:00 A.M.
Rally in front of the Courthouse featuring Rev. Al Sharpton, Michael Baisden, Martin Luther King, III, Actor Tyler Perry and many others

7:30 A.M.
March from LaSalle Parish Courthouse through Jena, Louisiana, and then caravan back to Alexandria, Louisiana

11:00A.M.
Live rally at the Downtown Ampitheater broadcast to millions of listeners on Rev. Al Sharpton’s nationally syndicated radio show and Michael Baisden’s nationally syndicated radio show (Murray Street at the River, Alexandria, Louisiana)

by A.man.I

Though Black Family Channel is no more, I have some good news to report for all of my former comrads.

My former Producer, Larry Lawson, Associate Producer Cee Jai Jones, and myself are finalists for the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists 2007 Pioneer Black Awards Community/Public Affairs report category.

We’ve been nominated for “Get Your Money Right,” a one-hour special about Hip Hop artists who are teaching financial responsibility.

The other nominees are: Prime Time: Corretta Scott King Death: WSB-TV staff and, C.E.R.T., Julian E. Thompson, E. Kirk Glass, Diamond Miller-Lewis, Dekalb County Television (DCTV, Channel 23).

I’m honored to be mentioned.

PEACE!!