Concert on Pier Honors French Independence Day
The Urban League and the French Consulate celebrated Bastille Day--French Independence Day--with a joint African American-French concert.
The Monday night concert on the Santa Monica Pier was an acknowledgement that black entertainers played before integrated audiences in France long before they were permitted to do so in the United States, said John Mack, president of the Los Angeles Urban League.
“Too often, we Americans assume that only Americans have talent. We wanted to help underscore that talent is international,” Mack added.
The concert featured African American and French singers, as well as performers from Algeria and the Middle East.
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