Page 2 ~ THE VILLAGER/March 11, 2016 THE COMMUNIQUÉ www.theaustinvillager.com

On Wednesday, March 16, First Lady MichelleObama comes to SXSW Music to discuss the Let GirlsLearn initiative, which aims to break barriers for the 62million girls around the world who are not in schooltoday, more than half of whom are adolescent.

The SXSW Film Festival celebrates raw innova-tion and emerging talent both behind and in front ofthe camera. The 2016 Film Festival will host nine daysof screenings from March 11 – 19, 2016. Here are afew highlights to expect. The life and legacy of Inter-nationally renowned music icon Miles Davis will be cel-ebrated at SXSW in honor of his 90th anniversary. SXSWwill premiere two screenings of the long-awaited, criti-cally acclaimed feature film MILES AHEAD, co-writtenby Don Cheadle, who also stars as Miles Davis andmakes his directorial debut.

I AM THE BLUES takes the audience on a musicaljourney through the swamps of the Louisiana Bayou,the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta and Moonshinesoaked BBQs in the North Mississippi Hill Country. Vis-

The SXSW Film Festival Celebrates Raw Innovation andEmerging Talent both Behind and in Front of the Camera

iting the last original blues devils, many in their 80’s,still living in the deep south, working without manage-ment and touring the Chitlin’ Circuit. They will awakenthe blues in all of us.

Nicolas Cage brings THE TRUST to SXSW. A dra-matic comedy about Waters and Stone, two nobodypolice officers who work in the evidence room of theLas Vegas Police Department. When Stone discoversan unusually high bail receipt in connection to a drugbust, the two friends set in motion a plan to find thesource of the money.

The SXSW Music Festival is one of the largest andmost influential global music events of the year, takingplace every March in Austin, Texas - the Live MusicCapital of the World. A few acts include Jay Prince, BJThe Chicago Kid, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Heart, Jones ofLondon and Joan of Arc to name a few.

These are just a few highlights to expect duringthe upcoming SXSW festivities. Check www.sxsw.comfor complete events, times, dates and ticket informa-tion.

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Jones of London

BJ The Chicago Kid

Don Cheadle

Harvard’s outreach to outstanding students every-where.”

The increase in applications may also reflect thecollege’s attempt to ease the financial burden on thosepotential students. Recent statistics show that a col-lege education is becoming increasingly expensive,which may discourage many from pursuing higher edu-cation. From 2007 to 2015, for example, college loandebt exploded from $516 billion to $1.2 trillion, accord-ing to the U.S. Department of Education. Approximately25 percent of students who take out loans for collegeare 90 days delinquent, according to the Federal Re-serve Bank of New York.

Harvard waived the application fees of nearly 25percent of this year’s applicants due to financial hard-ship. If those students are accepted, they will likely beeligible for the school’s financial aid program.

Twenty percent of Harvard’s current undergradu-ates are from families with incomes of less than $65,000a year. The college pays all tuition for those students,including room and board. More than half of Harvard’sundergraduates receive some sort of financial aid.

The availability of resources has helped removebarriers to an education at Harvard and has made itpossible for people of different backgrounds to applyto the college, officials said.

“Harvard’s Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) has reso-nated strongly with students who never thought Harvardwas a possibility,” said Sally C. Donahue, the Griffindirector of financial aid at Harvard. “Only about 20,000students applied before HFAI began over a decade ago.With nearly 40,000 applicants today, Harvard studentsnow come from a much broader array of economic, eth-nic, and cultural backgrounds than at any time inHarvard’s history.”

African-Americans comprise 10.6 percent of 2016applicants to Harvard. In 2015, 241 Black students wereadmitted to the college and 75 percent of them decidedto enroll, according to the Journal of Blacks in HigherEducation. African-American students account for 11.6percent of the Class of 2019.

Increase in applications mayreflect Harvard’s attempt to

ease financial burden onpotential students

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BLACKHISTORY

ROLLCALL

An ExhilaratingTheater

Performance!By NCNW - Austin

Section President Dr.Shirley Sprinkles

AUSTIN, TX - Re-counting the works andskills of many of America’sbest African American art-ists, writers, and perform-ers, was the objective ofSaturday night’s stageplay, Black History RollCall; An African Renais-sance Journey on Satur-day, February 20, 2016 atthe Carver Museum andCultural Center – BoydVance Theater. Theintergenerational castconsisted of performersfrom the Texas Prepara-tory School’s Sixth Gradeclass of Austin, Texas.This was their first experi-ence delivering oral biog-

raphies before an audi-ence of more than 100 pa-trons and creatively actingout an African folktalethrough movement. Itwas, arguably, the mostdifficult and intimidatingactivity of their younglives!

The play was thebrainchild of Dr. BillyHarden, CEO of SPEC-TRUM Theater Company,Inc. Cast members ofSPECTRUM blended withthe youth of TPS and BAL-LET AFRIQUE to produce arousing, musically- richshow. Famous Broadwayactors and popular artistsof a by-gone era were fea-tured in song and dance bytalented, professionals—to the delight of all in at-tendance.

This was the secondin what is to become a se-ries of annual stage playsto be sponsored by theNational Council of Ne-gro Women that will de-pict the lives, work andplay of noteworthy Black

Americans. Under theleadership of The AustinSection’s president, Dr.Shirley Sprinkles, NCNWseeks innovative plat-forms for fund-raising tosupport their scholarshipprogram. This model hascaptured the hearts ofmany donors. It brings to-gether the youth of ourcommunity with the expe-rience and knowledge ofmature artisans and con-sultants to keep alive thehistory of African Ameri-

cans. It is a transforma-tional model that is ex-pected to expand overtime if it is true to its goal.

It is safe to say thatthe performance on Satur-day night, February 20, willlong be remembered asone that was entertaining,uplifting, and informative.For certain, NCNW waspleased with the supportand turn out of a good-sized audience. They arealready starting to plan fornext year’s show!

Save the Date:Downtown Street Fair Starts Friday, April 1

Join the Downtown Austin Alliance every Fridaystarting April 1 through June 3 for a festival including foodvendors, retailers, entertainers, artists and more! The fes-tival will take place during the lunch hour, 11:30am-1:30pm,at 9th and Congress and is free and open to the public.

The Downtown Street Fair is an opportunity for youto grab a quick bite on your lunch break, enjoy the work oflocal artists and entertainers, and re-discover a hiddengem of downtown Austin.

Each week will feature a variety of vendors, givingyou the opportunity to experience a different and excit-ing element of Austin every Friday. Other downtown busi-nesses on the block will also be participating by providingfood and retail options tailored to the event.