![]() I’ve never been in a barbershop quartet but I knew for certain, I recognized that sound. Back to college when I learned the granular details of that sound. Every time I listen to the guys sing Dinah, I immediately go back to a happier time in my life. It was as though my thoughts were scattered about the universe of my mind, and that exact moment of that particular song was like a black hole the gravity of it forced all my thoughts to gather instantaneously and I was laser focused for the first time in a long time. ” The moment I heard Jackson’s distinct timbre The Newfangled Four had my attention. ![]() I proceeded to search my music app for barbershop and by some stroke of divine luck, I happened to discover The Newfangled Four’s Dinah. It forced the corners of my lips upwards and in that moment, Eureka! There was an art form that could cut through the gelatinous thick of emotional stagnancy and bring some joy into my life. That cheesy insurance commercial featured a barbershop quartet on a basketball court and the only part of the commercial that I noticed was the four part harmony. Little did I know, this unremarkable moment was about to change my life. The television was on but was just a white noise machine with colors that I was not paying attention to as indistinct noises from a cheesy insurance commercial were barely perceptible at the edge of my audible periphery. I was in an emotional funk and riding the doldrums that so many lovers have ridden before. ![]() But none of the things that typically encouraged a smile could seem to do the trick. It was an average day in the life of a man suffering from heartbreak. Much like my life at that moment, I was just watching the river go by and wishing I could move with such momentum and determination. I peered out the window and stared forlornly at the river, trying but failing to steel my mind into imitating the flowing water’s focus and determined procession towards greater things. ![]() That's what I hope to see for that area."įor more information on Bryant's GoFundMe or to donate to her cause, visit. "It's important that we continue the legacy of barbershops - historic barbershops, the ones with the leather bands and the genuine razors that they use - and just keep a part of history going. "I think it's so important that Black people have a reminder of how far they've come, especially with the Civil Rights Movement." Bryant said. In response, Bryant started a GoFundMe campaign in early August, requesting a $7,000 goal that would be put toward repairing the barbershop and getting it to city standards.īryant reported the funds would be used to repair the roof and some structural issues then conduct further analysis on the building to identify other issues.īryant said she and her family hope to not only preserve the legacy of a building so important to the African American culture and history of Tifton but create new opportunities for future barbers and cosmetologists in what was once and will hopefully remain a pillar of the Black community. The pair have attempted to revitalize the barbershop with aid from other barbers and cosmetologists but the building has unfortunately seen better days, and is in need of repair.īryant was spurred to start her campaign following a request she and her mother received from the City of Tifton, asking them to ensure the property keeps to current standards or risk it being claimed by the city. Bryant III continued to run the shop in his father's stead, but passed away in 2016, leaving the business in the hands of his wife and daughter. "I just hate to see it go."Įven once Newfront began to fade away, Ira S. "The barbershop is the last standing historical building that represents Black ownership in that area and I think it's really important that we keep a piece of history alive in that area," Bryant said.
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