Tag: Africans in Dickinson North Dakota

Deep City Records, The Birth Of The Miami Sound

Tonight, I was watching the Prairie Public PBS television station that we get here in Dickinson, North Dakota, when I happened upon a surprisingly good documentary titled, “Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound”.

I had not known, that besides the Black music recording industry in Detroit and Los Angeles during the 1960s, there was a totally separate and independent Black music scene in south Florida, in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale area.

In Miami, this Black soul music incorporated not only blues, jazz, and gospel influences, but also Caribbean sentiments from the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, to create what came to be known in the 1960s, as the Miami sound.

The record label, Deep City, had two of the most remembered artists from this time, Helene Smith and Betty Wright.  Here are some excerpts from this PBS documentary:

” “Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound” tells the story of how two musical geniuses created the first black-owned record label in Florida. They changed the face of soul music in Miami and eventually the country forever…

Deep City Records was the brainchild of producers Willie Clarke and Johnny Pearsall. One from the backwoods of Tallahassee, Florida, the other from the mean streets of Miami, this duo honed business and music skills they had learned at Florida A&M University. With its unique blend of Caribbean rhythms and marching-band cadences, this label was churning out the best soul music south of the Mason Dixon Line, creating what would later be termed the “Miami Sound.” “

Here is the link to this PBS documentary:

https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365802656/

 

 

 

Positive Programs For Black Children, Zen Masters

I happened upon a series of videos produced by a Black man who owns a Karate school, called Zen Masters.  His many students, are all black children from the city.  He teaches them discipline, self-control, focus, calm, and while building their self-esteem, confidence, and physical fitness.

Here is just the introductory video, I will upload some of more of these videos soon, that show more of their training:

Most Black Friendly Restaurants And Bars In North Dakota

Below I have compiled a list of the restaurants and bars that are most friendly towards people of color in North Dakota.  This list is not all inclusive, but serves as a guide, from my experiences:

  • King Buffet Chinese Restaurant, Dickinson – This restaurant is Chinese owned.  They have a buffet, hibachi, take-out, and you can order from their menu.  They serve a variety of beer on the premises.  Usually not crowded, due to high capacity seating.
  • Four Bears Casino Buffet and Restaurant, New Town – This casino is on the Three Affiliated Tribes reservation in New Town.  They have an excellent buffet, which can cost up to $30 at dinner when they serve seafood.  They have a separate fine dining restaurant which is very expensive.
  • Teddy’s Residential Suites Dining Room, Watford City – This restaurant and bar are located in the Teddy’s Residential Suites hotel.  You can sit at the bar, the lounge, or parlor, and order drinks and food.
  • Players Club, Dickinson – This restaurant has a sports bar, where you can sit at the bar and order drinks and food, or you can be seated at tables in the bar area.  They also have a separate formal dining room.  This bar and restaurant are more upscale for Dickinson.
  • Paragon Bowling Alley, Dickinson –  This restaurant is a diner, that is open 24 hours on Friday night and Saturday night.  They have Black waitresses and cooks.  This place is probably the most social for Black people in Dickinson, but it can get rowdy for anyone at any time, due to people coming from the bar at the Paragon, or other bars in Dickinson.  I believe that we have video from the bar at the Paragon below:

 

Peace,

Cornelius