We say it every year. Who are we? We are the hundreds of thousands who flock to the City of New Orleans each year for Fourth of July weekend. We travel from all over the country to join one another for an abundance of community outreach events, creole cuisine, day parties, empowerment seminars, health fairs and concerts known as the Essence Festival.
It was my fifth Essence Festival and I was proud of it. This year, I had the privilege of meeting a few Essence Fest veterans who'd attended the festival since it's inception 20 years ago. I relished in the stories of Prince's first Essence Fest appearance in 2004, exactly ten years ago to the day. It made me wonder, "How would I describe Essence Fest to those who have yet to attend?" A "Party with a Purpose" where days are spent meeting your favorite celebrities at the Ernest E. Morial Convention Center followed by dancing alongside those same celebrities that night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome? The task seems daunting. Nevertheless, here are my top ten Essence Festival moments of 2014.
1. Prince
To those who failed to make it to the Superdome before 10:30 p.m. on July 4th, may you find peace within. By then, Prince had already graced the stage for two amplifying performances with Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers and Chic. Upon taking the stage for his own set, he gifted us in the form of a collaboration with Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and Lianne La Havas. All day, there'd been speculation as to whether or not Prince would perform any old hits. He and 3RDEYEGIRL silenced the noise with two hours of every song you've ever wanted to hear him sing. Now I know why they call him Prince.
2. Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh showed us what true disc jockeys are capable of. He proudly displayed the ones and twos. He taught us how to do the "Dougie" and had the entire Superdome on it's feet. The Human Beat Box turned the show into a house party in Harlem. One thing still remains a mystery. How does he stay so youthful?
3. Mary J. Blige
After 13 Mary J. Blige concerts, you'd think I'd be able to explain what draws me to Mary. Is it her soulful voice? The honesty in her testimony? Maybe it's her iconic fashion and unique style. Perhaps it's because even though we're no longer singing about wanting to "Be Happy," I can still identify with the pain. There's something about a Mary J. concert that makes you feel as though you're sitting on the front pew in church and the Pastor's sermon is speaking directly to you. It's no wonder that throughout the night, you could hear shouts of "Preach Mary!"
4. Jill Scott
When Jill Scott took the stage, the Superdome exploded. My first thought was "Oh, hell....the naturalistas are about to riot." You couldn't deny it. Jill looked great. In a way unlike any I'd seen on her before. Before the dust could settle, the seductive songstress declared "Don't let this hat taint your image of me." Case closed. Go head Jill!
5. Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson was born to do this. I'd witnessed "Uncle Charlie" perform before, but only this time did I take note that his shows are a masterful execution of uptempo, slow tempo, and praise and worship songs. He destroys the stage every time. Nothing could have prepared me for his transformation into a Reggae Rapper. Is there anything this man can't do?
6. The Roots
The Roots brought Hip Hop back with the most diverse performance of the festival. With guest appearances by Biz Markie, Common, Naughty by Nature, and Nelly, it was rap delight after rap delight. Just when you decided to take your seat, The Roots and Biz Markie serenade the crowd with a rendition of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly's "Before I Let Go." For a brief moment, we were transported back to a time when Maze featuring Frankie Beverly closed Essence Fest. Pure nostalgia.
7. Steve Harvey and Lisa Nichols
I stumbled upon the seminar by accident. Five minutes in, I found myself thinking "I was not planning on crying today." Tears flowed as Lisa Nichols shared her story of struggle and triumph alongside Steve Harvey during the "Act Like A Success" Empowerment Seminar. Steve balanced the room with comical tales of his own trials and resulting faith. I left the seminar confident in a recent leap I'd decided to take. I guess it was no accident after all.
8. Roland Martin
If you don't run into Roland Martin at least twice during Essence Festival, you're obviously spending too much time at the hotel. In addition to being an unrelenting journalist and well respected voice in the community, he's also the cool cousin that you see every year at the family reunion. Whether he's interviewing James Fortune at the Convention Center or getting the electric slide started at the Superdome, Roland makes it a point to mix and mingle.
9. The Coca-Cola Company and The McDonald's Corporation
Marketing. Not everyone is good at it. A select few are great at it. The Coca-Cola Company and The McDonald's Corporation have mastered it. Each year during Essence Festival, the two corporations take multicultural marketing to the next level. They've studied and connected with the Essence Festival target audience and the end result is simply remarkable.
10. Hall of Fame
For the 20th Anniversary, a special Hall of Fame exhibit was displayed at the Convention Center spotlighting notable members of the Essence Festival Family. My favorite Hall of Famer is the 44th President of the United States who made his first Essence Festival appearance in 2007 as Senator Barack Obama.
If at this point you've resolved to spend Fourth of July 2015 at Essence Festival in New Orleans, my work here is done. Happy 20th Anniversary Essence Festival!
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