Bang. Click.

Those are the sounds you’d hear. The first, a judge’s gavel coming down, sealing your fate for life. The second, the sound of handcuffs going around your wrists, leading to a chain around your waist.

That’s what you’d hear if you were convicted of a felony. Maybe you’d be guilty. Maybe you’d be innocent.

In cities all over the country, African-Americans—particularly men—face unbalanced rates of incarceration when compared to prison time served by Whites. In the book “The New Jim Crow,” author Michelle Alexander likens this travesty to slavery and more.

This week I visited the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood, CJ’s in the Strip District, Club Heat in the Strip District, Phase III in Homewood and Billy’s Gold Door in Homewood.

My first stop was at Phase III in Homewood where everyone came out to the event called “Party With The Ques!” This was the first night of the Mardi Gras event that is held every year. This fraternity really knows how to get their party and drink on.

Andrea James and the crew chilling at the Mardi Gras event at the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood.

Thursday 25

West African art

Chatham University Art Gallery presents “Mother, Maker, Model: Women in West African Art” from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Woodland Hall, Woodland Rd., Shadyside. This art exhibit is in celebration of its Global Focus Year of West African Art. Students selected artifacts from the university’s Olkes Collection of African Art, which includes over 600 works. The exhibit will run through April 8. It is free and open to the public. Call 412-365-1106.

Friday 26

2010 symposium

The Romare Bearden Foundation and the Heinz Endowments presents the 2010 Symposium Bearden in the Public Realm at the August Wilson Center of African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. This two-day symposium will bring together scholars and artists from across the country to examine how Bearden merged message and medium in his art, which represented the life of African- Americans. This special presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. For more information, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Saturday 27

Cultural festivals

The University of Pittsburgh presents the 30th Annual Latin American and Caribbean Festival from 12 p.m.-12 a.m. at the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland. The festival will feature food, crafts, vendors and music performances. There will be a dance to the sounds of Latin American rhythms from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. The festival’s guest artist will be Mexican artist Armando Jiménez Aragon. For more information, call Luz Amanda Hank at 412-648-7394 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

‘Valu-Mart’

The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre presents “Valu-Mart” at 8 p.m. at 542 Penn Ave., Cultural District. This play, by Playwright Sean O’Leary, examines the art of self-preservation. When a display case key has gone missing at a mass merchandise department store, five employees are suspected of taking the key and are detained in a break room for questioning. Humiliated and fearful that they will all be fired if the key and the person responsible are not found, the five employees struggle to find a way out. Their struggle exposes the hopes, fears, aspirations and resentments that arise from five very different lives. The performance will run through March 28. For more information, visit www.pghplaywrights.com or www.proartstickets.org.

Sunday 28

Sundaynight jazz

The Pittsburgh Jazz Society presents The Sunday Night Jazz Concerts from 6-10 p.m. at the Rivers Casino, 777 Casino Dr., North Shore. The featured entertainer will be the Dr. Tom DeGregory Septet along with DUQ’s Tony Mowod as the host. For more information, call 412-343-9555 or visit www.pittsburghjazz.org.

Monday 29

Jam session

AVA Lounge presents a Weekly Live Jazz/Jam Session with The Interval Trio & Friends at 9 p.m. at 126 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty. Every Monday jazz fans can enjoy great music from some of the best musicians. DJ J. Malls will be spinning the vinyl. Must be 21 years or older. There is no cover. For more information, visit www.shadowlounge.net.

Tuesday 30

Jazz show

Little E’s presents the Sean Jones Show from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. at 949 Liberty Ave., 2nd floor, Cultural District. The show features Jones, a nationally recognized jazz trumpeter. For more information, call 412-392-2217.

Wednesday 31

Contemporary dance

The Dance Alloy Neighborhood Dance Center presents their Contemporary Dance Program at 6:30 p.m. at 5530 Penn Ave., East Liberty. Instructors will teach the graceful and physical aspects of contemporary dance techniques that touch on ballet and jazz. For more information, call 412-363-4321.

I sometimes see men on the street holding signs declaring to be homeless. This is totally unnecessary. After coming out of juvenile detention and after serving five years in adult prison, I came up with the master plan.

This is what I did: I decided to live the good life. I have never worked because I always befriended a lady who had children and having a difficult time—mentally. Usually she was together when it came to receiving her assistance such as free housing, food, and a monthly check.