The Night James Brown Saved Boston

Two days after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, singer James Brown performs at the Boston Garden. James Brown's presence gave concert goers a moment of reprieve from the tragedy of April 4, 1968. The concert stood in some ways as an ode to Dr. King's legacy. James Brown being there allowed for the Black community to drown out anger and sadness with singing and dancing.
In brainstorming sessions to figure out a way to keep the city from going up, the idea was posited that the concert should be broadcast live on local television to keep people off the streets in the South End and Roxbury.
The film documents that remarkable concert and the politics around it. Boston Mayor Kevin White and his colleagues almost by accident realized that by televising the James Brown concert they could keep people indoors that night prevent widespread rioting. The film is almost testimony to the power of music in general and the power of James Brown's music in particular.

[@ricksegal3065]

Great video!

[@CalVid]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DukesMusic84]

Awesome, thanks for posting! JB was a man of the people, true performer and entertainer. I wish we could hear a little more of what he actually said to the crowd in Boston and what songs he played to calm them down from a near riot situation.

[@averyassur3250]

My oh my how times have changed.

[@denisesampaio9922]

Ícone

[@vnette9777]

Americas Racial History.Great Cal Vid💥People Need to Remember❤️‍🔥💯
🙏♥️✨️

[@vnette9777]

Thank You.♥️🙂

[@vnette9777]

James Brown was A One of A Kind Man.Beloved in my Family.♥️🙂💯So talented.Times Were S0 Different Back Then.Some things have stayed the same and other things have Changed for the Better.