The Grant Station Project
The tragic murder of Oscar Grant by Transit Officer Johanness Mehserle has sparked a wave of crucial discussions and cultural expression. This feature project by Pendarvis Harshaw looks at this senseless act of violence and prejudice as only a Hip Hop perspective can, through beats and rhymes.
Check it and share it.
—————-
Written and arranged by Pendarvis Harshaw
During and interview with Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums in early July 2010, we discussed the video taped murder of unarmed Oscar Grant at the hands of transit officer Johannes Mehserle, the ensuing protests and uprisings by the people in Oakland, Ca., and the impending trial verdict. I then asked him what he thought of the possibility of renaming Fruitvale Station in the name of Oscar Grant?
“Grant Station”
The Mayor was taken by this question, he told a brief story of his mother’s appreciation of seeing a building named after her son, and connected the story to Grant’s mother, and how renaming Fruitvale Station to Grant Station might bring relief to the family. He then asked if he could have permission to take this idea to the necessary individuals in effort to bring this idea into fruition. Gladly, I said yes.
(Video complementary of Youth Radio.)
But the question didn’t stop at Mayor Dellums.
I sat down with music producer Jamon Dru and lyricist Young Gully, we discussed the concept. The two gentlemen told me that they had been constructing an idea of their own: an album inspired by Oscar Grant.
We shook hands and agreed, in the name of the Oscar Grant, we would create an album that would shine a police helicopter sized light on police brutality, the state of the young citizens of Oakland, California, and the death of Oscar Grant.
I sat down with organizers of the Oscar Grant support movement, journalists that have been constantly covering the situation, and I even had the opportunity to speak with members of Oscar Grant’s family. We discussed everything: I asked about what was said on the platform on the night of Grant’s murder, I asked about what was said in the court room during Mehserle’s trial, and I asked Oscar Grant’s Uncle Bobby what he would say if he could speak to Oscar now…
This resulted in “The Grant Station Project”, an audio documentation of lyrics, music, and interviews all full of emotion; an ethical response from the people to a blatantly unethical action that took place in our community.
Here is the first single off the Grant Station Project by Gully featuring Yound D, “Grant Station.”
It is also available for download if you click HERE.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRHrYCEpDFY]
But the album isn’t enough. The people want justice served to the fullest extent. The people want Mehserle to receive the maximum sentencing for his crime. The people want this instance to stand as a constant reminder to the officers of our community ,that they have a sworn duty to uphold the well-being of the people.
The question has now turned into a statement: the people want Grant Station.
2 Comments – Add Your Comment
Ron
August 25th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Hey Pen great write up and interviews! Living and growing up in DC my biggest fear was death before 25 by gun violence. I made it but a decent amount of my peers didn’t. Everyone deserve to be remembered.
Miss Gaila
August 31st, 2010 at 3:19 am
When I approached the Fruitvale St. for the march in the name of Oscar Grant, what immediately struck me was the flyers that Latino’s were wearing with simple words:” I am Oscar Grant.” It touched me so deeply, because I came to walk for all the mothers of Black Men who have lost their sons to brutal racist stupidity in the hands of those who profess to “Serve” communities they have no stake in. Then to witness other women genuinely grieving and mourning with Mrs. Grant and her granddaughter for the loss of a son and father, took my breath away, and gave me hope. I understood we are all in this together.
And women of color know, if they come after a black man, they will surely come after a brown man, a red man or a muslim; and they have.
For all us “OG’s” that passively sit by and not raise our old ass voices consistently to the injustices of our youth, at the very least we should be able to support the concept and actuality of Fruitvale station being changed to Grant Station. Pick up your Metro and call city hall, let our voices be heard.