Wynton Marsalis is a Drum Major for Justice

Elana Levin

Wynton Marsalis is a Drum Major for Justice

And you've got a chance to meet him.
DMI is pleased to announce that the third and final honoree at our 2006 Annual Benefit is jazz legend, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis.

Now sometimes the name "Drum Major Institute" confuses people at first glance. It sounds like we could be a music organization or something with batons at least. If you are reading this blog you probably know we aren't. But even though DMI is not training the next generation of percussion artists we find that DMI and jazz superstar Wynton Marsalis are marching to a similar beat.

After Huricane Katrina, Marsalis, a New Orleans native, was one of the most vocal high profile critics of the government's response (or non response) to the disaster. His critique addressed the systematic economic inequities, the corruption, the racism, bad legislation and disinvestment in America that allowed the disaster to happen.

Marsalis said in his official statement on Hurricane Katrina

" This tragedy... provides an opportunity for the American people to demonstration to ourselves and to the world that we are one nation determined to overcome our legacies of injustice based on race and class..."

Right on!

At his Martin Luther King Day speech at Lousiana's Tulane University he looked towards the future

Look around the room... and I want you all to understand that there are forces all around you who wish to exploit division, rob you of your freedom, and tell you what to think. They are afraid of change... some of these forces are even within you. But I'm here to tell you, when young folks are motivated to action, when they act with insight, soul and fire, they can rekindle the weary spirit of a slumbering nation. It's time somebody woke us up.

Many public figures shed tears over Katrina, real tears and crocodile tears for certain - but few from the mainstream of American culture (and I am sure we can all name the other one) were addressing head on the brutal truth of the economic and social injustice that made a natural disaster become a societal disaster. Look people, there is a difference between saying "oh what a tragedy" and saying "this didn't have to happen and let's fight the injustice that made this tragedy a forgone conclusion."

For being on the forefront of the call for justice, DMI is honoring Marsalis with our Drum Major for Justice Award on June 22nd. We are also thrilled to honor Anna Burger of the Change to Win Coalition (also the top woman in the labor movement) and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, founder of DailyKos.com, the blogfather of us all. Get tickets now - you'll want to tell your descendants you met these seminal figures who are setting the drumbeat for change.