Crowds were heavy and enthusiasm high at the booths filled with fun and celebrity, such as the one for the TBS show House of Payne tent, Budweiser's booth and the Sony exhibit. All had glitzy prizes and big names to attract the masses.





...while at the booths pertaining to volunteer and non-profit work, or at the discussion by the panel of Katrina victims in the main auditorium, visitors were hard to come by.


Update (7/6/07, 9 a.m.): Today's Times-Picayune had several stories pertaining to the opening day of the 2007 Essence Festival. One had to do with a return visit by former New Orleans' Mayor and current National Urban League President Marc Morial. Morial spoke at the Seminar session at the Convention Center (which is named after his father, by the way) earlier in the day. I did not see his talk, but I thought it was worthwhile to share an excerpt from it, as it hits the mark on many key points. I only wish this theme came from more voices here, and more loudly.
Again, this was taken from today's edition of the T-P.....

"New Orleans is this generation's Birmingham: a reminder that there's too much poverty, a reminder that the government at every level dropped the ball, a reminder that, not withstanding the success of some, there is still suffering for too many."

In addition to action by Congress, Morial urged local elected officials to ask voters to amend the City Charter to provide "a protected right to return" and assurance "that every neighborhood is rebuilt."

Morial labeled the city's spotty redevelopment as "one of the great American tragedies of our time" and encouraged festival visitors to venture outside the rebuilt tourist districts.

"I urge you not to stay downtown," he said. "I want you to take a trek down to the 9th Ward. I urge you to take a trek out to New Orleans east. I urge you to take a trek down to St. Bernard Parish. I ask you to do that because your eyes must see in person what the television tried to convey."

He also implored Essence fans to help keep New Orleans' plight on the front burner of public discourse after they return to their homes.

"It is easy, it is tempting for some to say, 'Forget that awful past,' " Morial said. "I'm here to say to you that our mantra must be: 'We will never forget.' We will never, ever forget. Because to forget is to ensure that someone else, someplace else, might meet with the same awful fate in this nation."

(it should be noted that Morial is under federal investigation for contracts awarded by his administration while in office; there have already been a number of guilty pleas and a top aide has been sentenced to jail time. the guy might not be an angel and it's likely just another case of politics as usual down here, but his remarks are still very relevant, and very valid).