CHICAGO, Feb. 15, 2006----Monday morning, I'm at the table with the New York Times and some water-something catches my eye.  A picture, obviously of a dancehall party featuring the now infamous Jamaican dancer Ding Dong. The picture is a part of an article published in the Times on Feb. 13, 2006 called " Dancing Will Never Die".  Michael Nagle, I must say took some beautiful pictures of the dance the article describes which took place this past weekend in Newark.  For the link to the article and pictures, click here-

While it is always nice to see dancehall reggae music get the press it deserves, the condescending, ignorant and downright disrespectful tone of the article is inexcusable.  The most glaring example is the author's (Kelefa Sanneh) description of dancehall attire: women in plastic sunglasses and young men in gang colors alike.  Mr. Sanneh, I'm sure upon closer inspection, you will learn that the Jamaican partygoers you describe aren't wearing any gang colours and those sunglasses you describe as 'plastic', tend to be designer wear, cutting edge fashion that can cost upwards of $150/per pair and that's US dollars, not JA, thank you.  Your description is insulting and misleading to the general public who may read your article and associate dancehall with gang activity. The two have nothing to do with each other whatsoever. Frankly, I'm surprised that you stoop to such stereotypical profiling after looking at your picture.   Are you and your lady friend below wearing gang colours too, Mr. Sanneh?


Mr. Sanneh further goes on to describe the atmosphere in the dancehall at this particular party in New Jersey last weekend with this witty quote : a grandly named place called Convention Hall: a big, dingy-carpeted room. (What it lacked in charm, it made up for in — well, a low rental fee, let's hope.)  Must've been slumming that day, right Mr. Sanneh?  Make sure you describe the carpeting at the Grammy's if you cover that this year for us, OK?

Next, we go on to his description of Elephant Man's claim to fame: one of the genre's best-known stars, has made a series of big hits based on silly little dance moves.  Once again, if the venue is so 'uncharming' and the dances so "silly", why cover dancehall for the New York Times at all??

I could continue, but hopefully you get my point. I would expect better from someone who supposedly makes a living writing about music for the Times, as well as someone who is a contributing Editor of Transition Magazine, a home for intellectuals from the African Diaspora, but perhaps, this is exactly he is a music writer for the New York Times.  Who reads the Times for Music reviews anyway?