Summertime Joy in Bed-Stuy with The Soapbox Presents
By Celia Bernhardt | cbernhardt@queensledger.com
Musicians and singers pose for a photo on the stoop where the concert took place. Visit @thesoapboxpresents on Instagram for a list of performers and to stay updated about the group’s events.
The Soapbox Presents, a Harlem-based group organizing joyful outdoor concerts, made their way to Bed-Stuy last Saturday evening. Soapbox took over a full block of Halsey street between Tompkins and Marcy Avenues with a makeshift dance floor, local vendors, and a funk concert on the stoop of a brownstone. Scores of community members came out to dance, sing, and be together. The Star spoke to the group’s founder, Marija Abney, about the community celebrations she has helped create for four years.
(Edited for length and clarity)
Majira Abney (in white dress) speaks to the crowd.
“We started in Harlem, really in direct response to the murder of George Floyd. It was really — the community needed something. Black or Brown community, specifically, needed something. We needed a place, not only to gather to mourn those who are lost but also a place to remember joy, because in those moments of trauma and those moments of devastation you need joy more than anything.”
How have things evolved over the years? Did anything come out of this that you didn’t expect?
“When I started this, I didn’t start it thinking I was going to do something for four years, or thinking that it was a business. It was literally to answer the call for community, like, what can I as an artist do in this moment for my community? So when it came to the end of the first year, it was like, ‘Okay, maybe I’ll do it a second year.’ Now we’re in the process of, ‘Oh, what can this be? How can this develop?’
“One of the pillars of the organization now is making sure all of our artists get paid. So everybody that is featured on The Soapbox Presents gets paid a reasonable like a fair rate, which for Black and Brown artists is historically not that common. Also, we’ve managed to adopt as part of our mission statement to amplify Black and Brown businesses and Black entrepreneurship and what that looks like. So I’m really happy we’re able to expand the impact of our mission.”
What did it feel like to be out here today?
Today felt amazing! It kind of felt, interestingly enough, it felt kind of like our first activation again, because we’re introducing ourselves to Brooklyn in this way. We haven’t done a stoop session in Brooklyn. We usually do them in Harlem. In Harlem we’re very well established, our audiences are massive in Harlem. Today, it kind of felt like, ‘Okay, the first time again.’ So it’s interesting in that way for me.
Is Soapbox Presents going to continue throwing events in Brooklyn?
We have a couple stoop sessions in Brooklyn this year.
In Bed-Stuy or elsewhere?
Bed-Stuy. We’re really specific about wanting to stay in Black and Brown neighborhoods, and also those neighborhoods that are quickly gentrifying. You know, it’s about reclaiming space for us.
