"Hey Hey Nolan Wells" - A Non-Military Commemorative Cadence That Was Composed By Black Hebrew Israelites (Videos & Lyrics)

We won’t forget about Nolan Wells"

@iuicmobilealabama676 Jul 12, 2026 

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Nolan Wells, the African American teen that drown early July 2026 under suspicious circumstances.

This post presents lyric examples of "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" from various online sources and includes
my conclusions about what the lyrics of that cadence  mean and why that cadence was composed. 

Much of this pancocojams post focuses on the fact that online documentation indicates that the "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" cadence was composed by and first chanted by men who are part of a Mississippi group of Black Hebrew Israelites.

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers of this non-military commemorative cadence. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are providing support and help to Nolan Wells' family and friends. Rest in peace and power, Nolan Wells.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/07/how-black-american-teen-nolan-wells.html for the pancocojams post entitled "How Black American Teen Nolan Well's Death Is Being Factored Into Conversations Black Parents Have With Their Children About Racism In The United States".

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DISCLAIMER #1
The cadence "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" appears to have been composed by members of a Black Hebrew Israelite congregation (also known as Hebrew Israelites).

It should be noted that this pancocojams post doesn't state or imply that Nolan Wells or his family were Black Hebrew Israelites. I believe that the protest march in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and in Moss Point, Mississippi on July 12, 2026 was open to community participants. The group of Black Hebrew Israelites participated in that march as members of that community.

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DISCLAIMER #2
The cadence "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" appears to have been composed by members of a Black Hebrew Israelite congregation (also known as Hebrew Israelites).

I have never been a member of that religious denomination. Furthermore, I don't know anyone who is now or has ever been a member of that religious denomination.

I only know about that denomination via the internet.

I welcome any additions and corrections about the information about Black Hebrew Israelites that is given in this pancocojams post.

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT NOLAN WELLS
From https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-we-know-about-death-of-nolan-wells-black-teen-who-went-missing-on-mississippi-boat-trip "What we know about death of Nolan Wells, Black teen who went missing on Mississippi boat trip" By Maria Ramirez Uribe, Jul 10, 2026
"The family of Nolan Wells, a Black teenager who was found dead after going missing on an island in Mississippi, made an emotional plea Friday for an honest, thorough investigation in a case that has captured national attention over its unanswered questions.

[...]

Wells, an 18-year-old described by his parents as having a big heart, went out on a boat with three friends who were white on July 4 before going missing. His body was found on July 6.

[...]

Authorities have said they believe Wells drowned and don't suspect foul play.

Throughout the news conference, Crump described "glaring contradictions" in the witnesses' accounts of Wells' disappearance, related to whether he stayed on or left the island, why he didn't have his phone with him and the very idea that a young athlete who knew how to swim would drown.

[…]

Wells-Wonsley said she tracked down her son's phone using Life 360 and found the phone on land at one of his friends' houses who had been on the boat with him.

"What teenager would leave their phone behind if they're gonna stay on this island?" Crump asked.

Wells-Wonsley said she believes messages were deleted off her son's phone after finding no saved photos or videos on Snapchat from that day. She said that was concerning because it would be unusual for her son not to capture the day on his phone.”…

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BLACK HEBREW ISRAELITED AND THE COMMEMORATIVE CADENCE "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS"
The first documented performance of the non-military cadence "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" is by a group of Hebrew Israelite men during the July 12, 2026 community protest march in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and in Moss Point, Mississippi.  

Here's an excerpt of an AI Overview about Black Hebrew Israelites: 

"AI Overview
Black Hebrew Israelites are a decentralized religious movement whose followers believe that African Americans and other minority groups are the true, genealogical descendants of the ancient Israelites. Emerging in the late 19th century, the diverse movement combines elements of Christianity, Judaism, and their own cultural interpretations

While the movement is diverse, here is an overview of its core beliefs and history:

Core Beliefs

Lineage and Heritage: Followers believe that the Transatlantic slave trade was a literal fulfillment of biblical curses (such as Deuteronomy 28), which scattered the true Israelites into slavery across the globe.

Theological Focus: Many factions assert that Jesus and the ancient Israelites were people of color, and that mainstream Jewish people are not the true descendants of Abraham.

Practices: Adherence to this philosophy varies widely; many sects observe Sabbath on Saturdays, adopt Hebrew names, and incorporate traditional dietary laws"
-snip-

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hebrew_Israelites for some information about Black Hebrew israelites.

Some Black Hebrew Israelites are anti-Semitic while many others are not.

Some Black Hebrew Israelites consider themselves Christians, while many others do not.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE MEN WHO WERE VIDEOTAPED/PHOTOGRAPHED CHANTING "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS" AT THAT MISSISSIPPI PROTEST MARCH, JULY 12, 2026
As of July 16, 2026, I've come across three videos and one Facebook photograph collage of Black men who are members of a Black Hebrew Israelite congregation chanting "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" in an Ocean Springs, Mississippi community protest march. 

The same group consisted of  young adult Black American men and middle aged Black American men. The men either stood in military troop formation or marched down the street in military formation. The men wore black pants and a purple shirt with the words "Israel Unido En Christo" (Spanish for "Israel United In Christ") written in gold letters. Most of the men wore sun glasses. One man from that group walking besides that group of marchers wore a red vest on top of his shirt. Besides for a man who appears to be carrying a speaker on his back, and a man speaking into a hand held microphone, none of the men carried anything. (There were no signs and no visible weapons.)  In contrast to the White supremist who marched in Washington, D. C. on July 4, 2026, the Black men don't wear any masks.

As of this date (July 15, 2026), I have also come across several Instagram posts about this group of Black Hebrew Israelite men chanting "Hey Hey Nolan Wells".

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DESCRIPTION OF THE "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS" CADENCE
The cadence "Hey Hey Nolan Well" has the same textual (word) structure as United States call & response military cadences (jodies) in which the calls chants a line and the troops repeat that exact same line.

The tune for the commemorative cadence "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" is similar to the United States military cadence "Hey Hey Captain Jack". Click  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IborDZYkXU4&list=RDIborDZYkXU4&start_radio=1 "Hey, Hey Captain Jack (Special Forces) Documentary Recordings, Aug 30, 2016 for an sound file of that U.S. Army cadence.

The three video versions of "Hey Hey Nolan Wells" that I've come across have a moderate tempo. 

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LYRICS EXAMPLES OF "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS"

These examples  are given in no particular order. The lyrics are my attempted transcription of those videos.

VIDEO #1
This video is given at the top of this post.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Jqr_Zy5qfl8?si=yzfUyGOnzqqPUO70

LYRICS

Call -Hi-di-hi-di-hi-di-hey
response- Hi-di-hi-di-hi-di-hey
Call - God is on the way
Response- - God is on the way
Call -Hallelujah
Response- Hallelujah
Call- Hallelu-u-jah
Response- Hallelu-u-jah
Call- Hey Hey-eh Nolan Wells
Response- Hey hey-eh Nolan Wells
Call- Hey hey Nolan Wells
-snip-
Repeat the entire chant
-snip-
This same cadence is chanted in THE STREETS OF MISSISSIPPI FILLED UP FOR NOLAN WELLS ✊🏾🖤 THEY WANT ANSWERS 🙏🏾 iuic.mobilealabama, Jul 13, 2026 @shawnlouisiana8876 https://youtube.com/shorts/iOOaNMqx27w?si=v7K_M-D7uX8AwBV96  [The men are chanting while standing in formation.] 

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VIDEO #2 -Nolan Wells Protest

https://youtube.com/shorts/foXUsldnFLQ?si=a2mRnrfqAsJu1W1Q

[Notice that this video includes a marking that indicates it is from @viraltiktok2.

The men are shown marching down the street while chanting.

[voice speaking “My brothers ??? [sentence cut off]

Call -They can’t lie to you
Response- They can't lie to you
Call - Hey Hey-eh Nolan Wells
Response- Hey Hey-eh Nolan Wells
Call - We know the truth*
Response- We know the truth*
Call - This is how we roll.
Response - This is how we roll.
-snip-
The video repeats itself on a loop.
-snip-
*In my first attempt to transcribe this line I wrote "We built this church".

"This is how we roll" is an African American Vernacular English saying meaning "This is how we are"/ This is what we do". 

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A FACEBOOK PAGE EXAMPLE OF THE CADENCE "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS"  

From https://www.facebook.com/chaney.natasha.2025/posts/968966859527568/

Christina Aguayo News, July 12, 2026

"#BreakingNews Hundreds of people marched  in the streets of Ocean Springs, Mississippi today, demanding justice for Nolan Wells

"Hey, hey, Nolan Wells... Hey, hey, know the truth... They can't lie to you."...

"Hey, hey, Nolan Wells... Hey, hey, know the truth... They can't lie to you."
-snip-
This Facebook page includes photographs of the same religious group of men that was identified by one commenter as Hebrew Israelites*  marching in the streets as shown in the Video given as Showcase Video #2 in this pancocojams post.

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WHAT I THINK THE CADENCE "HEY HEY NOLAN WELLS" MEANS & WHY WAS IT CHANTED DURING A PROTEST MARCH FOR NOLAN WELLS (with lyrics from that cadence and selected comments from discussion threads about that cadence)

These points are given in no order of preference. Numbers and letters are added for referencing purposes only:
1. This cadence provides an opportunity for Black men in that community to honor the life of Nolan Wells and show up and show out (show up to support his family and friends in a very powerful and memorable way). 

A commenter in one of the YouTube videos' discussion threads identified this religious group as "Hebrew Israelites".   

The protest and the cadence was part of what has become a traditional call for the public to "say the name" of a person who tragically died, particularly because of racism or government excessive force.

Here's a comment about that religious group from https://youtube.com/shorts/Jqr_Zy5qfl8?si=yzfUyGOnzqqPUO70 “We won’t forget about Nolan Wells" by @iuicmobilealabama676, July 12, 2026 [Given as Showcase video #2 in this pancocojams post] that refers to that group's community outreach:

AdenaIsrael, July 13, 2026
"Come onnnnnnn 🔥🔥🔥, 

These men are always outside teaching, warning, standing up for our communities. This world does not deserve them… But those of us that understand how risky this movement is appreciate you men so much! Thank you for everything 🥰"
-snip-
Notice the word "Israel" in this screen name and in some other screen names that are quoted in this post and in these discussion threads for other people who are probably Hebrew Israelites (also referred to as "Black Hebrew Israelites"). 

**
2. This cadence provides an opportunity for members of that religious group to remind Nolan Wells' family, friends, and other people in that community to support Nolan Wells' family and friends and to help reassure them that God will work to bring justice to this case.

As such, that religious group probably considers this protest march and commemorative cadence as part of their church outreach ministry.  

**
3. This cadence is a call for Nolan Wells to speak from the grave (from Heaven) to tell what happened to him. 

(The words "know the truth" may be an abbreviation for "You know the truth... They can't lie to you."

 In those sentences, the word "you" means "Nolan Wells".)

**
4. This cadence includes lyrics that testify to the group's religious beliefs such as God being "on the way" (meaning "God is coming soon") to bring justice in this case and for other reasons.

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In addition, here are two comments from https://youtube.com/shorts/Jqr_Zy5qfl8?si=yzfUyGOnzqqPUO70 “We won’t forget about Nolan Wells" by @iuicmobilealabama676, July 12, 2026 [Given as Showcase video #-- in this pancocojams post] that uses the word "Prophet" as a referent and/or a title for these men. Notice that one of these comments echoes the words "God is on the way" that are found in a version of this cadence. 

a) @Yaphah-NaahIsrael, July 12, 2026
"Thank you!!!, so much Prophets, God 's kingdom!!!!!!! is on the way.

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b. @kaylove1919, July 13, 2026
"Mighty Prophets of TMH 🤴🏾💪🏾🔥"
-snip-
"TMH" = The Most High (a referent to God)

**
Here's another comment that refers to the Most High God from that same YouTube discussion thread: 

@IsraeliteKidsAcademy-DFW, July 13, 2026
"APTTMHG!!! Thank you for always supporting and representing May the Most High GOD be with you!"
-snip-
"APTTMHG" ="All Praises To The Most High God"a profound declaration deeply rooted in the belief that there is one supreme Creator

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Here's a comment exchange from that same YouTube discussion thread:
[Numbers were added for referencing purposes only.]

1. @NemoUnbroken, July 12, 2026
"Israel united in Christ?😂😂😂😂😂 uhhh is someone gonna let them know that Israel doesnt believe in Christ"

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Reply
2. @noahissacharisrael9048, July 13, 2026
" "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" John 8:31 KJV

The people of Israel we know of today are called "Israelis", inhabitants of Israel. They're NOT THE ANCIENT ISRAELITES. So-called Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans are the TRUE Israelites, according to Deuteronomy 28:15-68."

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Reply
3. @hisisraelite3992, July 13, 2026
"⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

InDeed 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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Essence Fest 2026 Was A Flop: Comments About The Demise Of This Once Great Black Arts Festival

Reese Waters, Jul 8, 2026  #blackculture #essencefest #neworleans

The Essence Festival of Culture kicked off last weekend in New Orleans and they did everything they could to erase the debacle of Essence Fest 2025. Michelle Obama sitting down with Keke Palmer, an Aaliyah tribute, Cardi B, Teyana Taylor and more. But that didn't stop the bad press, from Vendors feeling left out to attendees feeling shut out, to Black Americans feeling ignored.

The idea that Black American women have been ignored for the wider African diaspora, as reflected in new ownership was the theme online, as commentary poured in from NOLA. In fact, there has been talk of an Essence Fest boycott since last year and it only got louder. 

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos about the failure of the Essence Festival 2026,

This post also presents some comments from the discussion threads of those two videos. Most of these comments are from Foundational Black Americans.*

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who produced and published these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
*Foundational Black Americans (FBA) -Americans who have at least one ancestor who was enslaved in the United States before 1865.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/07/calls-forthe-black-american-community.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Calls For The Black American Community To Boycott The Essence Fest Because It Has Changed Its Focus From A Black American Women's Cultural Festival To A Nigerian Centered "Global" Cultural Festival"

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
These comments are given in chronological order, except for replies.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t-D4fu3Fuo&t=1007s

July 9, 2026

1. @Xrre343k7a3s
"I'm Gen X and was here the first year Essence came into being. It was always on the coffee table, in a half-fanned circle, and was a mirror of what my mom and her generation worked to achieve.. Essence has not been Essence for more than a decade actually. I can't say when it went south, but I know it hasn't been a source of authenticity and inspiriation for many moons."

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Reply
2. @angel-delight-321
"I use to look forward to buying the Essence magazine in the 90s.

My favorite cover was the one with Tyson Beckford and Gary Dourdan, had me drooling for weeks 🤣

Gatekeeping has a purpose."

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3. @oneshoewoo
"Thanks for the background info. They transferred ownership and didn't print it in their magazine. Long-term subscriber. Done!"

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Reply
4. @RochellePorter
"Why would they print it in their magazine? The sale was well documented. Essence was sold in 2000 to Time, Inc. (a very white company) by its Black American publishers. Richelieu acquired it from Time in 2018 with the proceeds from the Unilever sale."
-snip-
Richelieu Dennis is a Black man from Liberia, West Africa.

**
5. @Wonderful6950
"Ebony, Jet, Black Enterprise, and Fashion Fair are gone and the 'investors' removed any memory of these companies."

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Reply
6. @Gerberdaisy77
"Don’t forget BET."

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Reply
7. @lynneanderson4255
"And it's so sad to see. I had no idea that this was going on with the Essence Festival.  I used to go back in the 1990s when it was called the Essence Music Festival."

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8. @JP-jd8wr
"They say we don't have culture while they steal our slang, music, fashion, hairstyles, food, etc. Make it make sense."

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Reply
9. @KimAnybé,  July 12, 2026
"Your music ? It’s based on African polyrhythms brought over by Africans and carried on by their descendants. Same with clave, call & response etc.

Your hairstyle ? Are you kidding? None of the box braids, cornrows, etc., are yours—you copied them from West Africans in the 1970s. No one in the African American community in the U.S. wore braids before 1970 and the Black Power movement. In Africa, braids had existed for thousands of years.

There’s an obvious lack of cultural understanding here, which explains these delusional claims."

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Reply
10. @MsShannonashley,  July 14, 2026
"@KimAnybé And today it’s become the most globally recognized music, hair, fashion and style because of BLACK AMERICANS. Not some 500yr old alleged inspiration from Africa. You’re welcome."

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11. @fee9043
"The Essence brand has slowly gone downhill since Susan Taylor retired."

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Reply
12. @tlmurraywrites
"She was an editor, not an owner & she promoted the festival last year.  She's also first generation Caribbean, which didn't seem to be a problem during her tenure, but would likely rile the FBA's & such now.

The ridiculousness..."

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Reply
13. @starrgranby6104
"@tlmurraywrites you made absolutely no sense.. but keep embarrassing yourself.  Susan understood and respected BA Culture."

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Reply
14. @tlmurraywrites
"You completely misunderstood my comment. Taylor is AA AND 1st Gen Caribbean, which used to be non-problematic. In the current negative internet climate she'd get the same pushback as Dennis.

She's an amazing human & she absolutely supported EssenceFest last year."

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15. @bahramshafighi
"I have no problem with who owns Essence. I have a problem with the fact that Essence is turning into Pan-African culture and not focused on Black American culture. I love my African ancestry. I love African culture in and of itself. But this particular event, Essence Fest, is not about Pan-African, it is about Black American,  and it needs to stay that way."

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Reply
16. @lanoshajordan6722, July 10, 2026
"Yes, that's the issue I have with it."

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Reply
17. @michaelwilliams8118
"Really now! Nothing wrong with Pan African culture. "Black American" culture has its roots in Africa. Food, dance and music to name a few."

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Reply
18. @busimaseko4598
"@michaelwilliams8118   Yes but its not the same culture. Black Americans have had their own journey past Africa and deserve to hold that up without it being diluted by Africa!! Why is Pan-Africanism so rapey??!! always imposing upon group identities regardless of their protests? NO, Black Americans have their shared history apart and deserve respect and recognition for that for its own sake"

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19. @CandieP
"Why are black Americans keep going to this?"

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Reply
20. @bruny702
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

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Reply
21. @laykni
"Because they don’t know what’s going on now they only know what it used to represent and what it used to be"

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22. @chosentowin1940
"Went last year!! Complete disappoint!!! Never going back!!!"

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23. @ijgibbs
"Why are FBA'S still attending a festival that doesn't respect us at all."

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Reply
24. @Drega001
"Like the BET awards?"

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Reply
25. @lilithscar355
"Most people don't know what happened"

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26. @ThekimG313
"Co opted = Highjacked . Haven’t people been paying attention to what’s been going on for a while now?"

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27. @msprettys9216
"This was said last year, so why did ppl still go?? I’m not surprised at all.

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Reply
 28. @VictoriaWinge
"Not all of us will be on code IMO."

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Reply
29. @charlenea.davidson1199
"Maybe they were hopeful that the owner of Essence heard the feedback from last year and was gonna improve. 2nd chance."

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@maoconn7
30. "Essence Fest is no longer ours. Definitely time for FBA Fest."

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Reply
31. @bellacea6690, July 10, 2026
"Absolutely"

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Reply
32. @missmichel-a, July 12, 2026
"This would be great. It needs to stay focused solely on Black American culture"

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33. @sonene4416
"It was the same last year. It was all over the internet. I do not understand why so many people are there? This festival is not for Black Americans anymore."

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34. @tlmurraywrites
"What aspect of it "wasn't for African Americans" applies this year?"

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Reply
35. @theinvisiblewoman5709, July 10, 2026
" @tlmurraywrites well Target being there for 1 since it’s been largely boycotted by Black Americans. Also the lack of independent small business owners who are Black Americans (not African immigrants)."

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Reply
 36. @tlmurraywrites, July 10, 2026
"@theinvisiblewoman5709  This was the 3rd year of a contract that predates the boycott.

 How do you know that there we "mostly immigrant vendors?" "

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37. @zakiyahamahad7404
"The fact that Target was there during a boycott says everything. This is what happens when you don't gatekeep the culture."

**
38. @heysimmone
"They charged the small biz vendors all that money only to direct the crowd to the big corporate sponsors. Who didn't see that coming?"

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39. @darylk9128
"A large problem for me is that other cultures that come to America have absolutely no respect for Black Americans or their culture ."

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Reply
40. @reesewaters
"but yet want to mimic it and commodify it so badly"

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Reply
41. @Worldcitizen92, July 10,  2026
"@reesewaters This make the argument worst.. the Liberian owner has an English name, which makes me think he belongs to the african american  that were resettled in Liberia... the nations first president was joseph jenkins roberts , an african american..african american established an elit that mirrored racial and class issues .. heavily opressing the indigeneous liberian. Check the history of liberia. he is y'all brother😂! Some ignorant africans may have this outlook on african americans but I remember africans being constantly bullied and diminished by blacks for years in the us (all the way til 2013 at least)... so when they retaliate, all of the sudden they are the devil.

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July 10, 2026

42. @herFLYness79
"My auntie always talked about how awesome EssenceFest was. Now I won't be able to enjoy it. I feel like them folk ruined it on purpose 🤦🏾‍♀️."

**
43. @eboneeprice9908
"Essence fest I thought was a music festival branded for the celebration of and the uplifting of black women.  I was under the impression that there were panels and vendors to educate and encourage all facets of black women(ness)!  This year more than any year I would have thought the theme would be mental health, wealth and wellness due to financial attack that this administration has intentionally inflicted on black women.  But what do I know.  I have an issue with CBCF for the same reason it’s a party without purpose as well and black people do run this so here where are."

**
44. @deniseoates7147
"I stop going when they would only sell the concerts in a package and we like the option to attend one night only, way to control expense for trip. 

There are a few hotels on Bourbon Street and that would have to be crazy to be in that hot climate without A/C and the dark.  Hope no one was in the elevators when this happened.

I hate this setup for the vendors where they were basically by looking separated to the back of convention space.  They should not have the 3 large vendors be the first booths all in the same area as you walk in because it does not promote crowd flow, people should have to walk past the other booths to get to Tide and then they have to walk past other booths to get Target.  Basically, big major booths should be in all 4 corners to keep it from being crowded at entrance."

**
45. @shernette32
"I noticed in the last couple of years there have been little to no promotion and advertisement for Essence Fest."

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46. @COACHERIC365
"Essence Fest MUST return to FBA LEADERSHIP/VISION... 🇺🇲✊🏾❤️"

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47. @therealcatali
"Sounds like we need some new black festivals & magazines"

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Reply
48. @ILoveReadingbooks2026, July 12, 2026
"Agreed, I believe the Younger generation will start this. One thing that I admire about the younger generation is that they wait for NO ONE. If they want to see the change; they do it themselves. Shout out to them forreal!"

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Reply
49. @erosnectar5481, July 13, 2026
"I’m Haitian and i agree! This pissed me off… the least they can do is respect Black American culture! 😣"

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Reply
50. @bluubird7077, July 13, 2026
"@erosnectar5481 I feel the same. Honor the culture."

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July 11, 2026

51. @foodiegal9923
"The real conversation is why are you letting this happen? I keep seeing comments that say ‘they never let us have nothing…’ ‘they are culture vultures’.

Ok, well, time to have a hard conversation within Black American communities as to why you allow this to happen. I say ‘allow’ because there’s power in money but you are spending it in the wrong places and investing in nothing"

****
July 12, 2026

52. @sheanelson4769
"YOU KNEW THIS LAST YEAR"

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53. @PTLV-xv3xs
"WHY DID WE GO BACK THIS YEAR!!  IT WAS BAD LAST YEAR. SMH."

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July 13,  2026

54. @enyc9
"This might be the unpopular comment but... I'm not with the idea of just saying "ok" and creating a 'new' festival. No.  'We' have always had everything taken or stolen from Us and now THIS... From who?  No.  There needs to be a 'changing of the guards' in this situation.  Its ours, and should stay Ours."

**
55. @stephencooper1003
"Let's get to the meat of the problem . All that this lady was saying . Raised a question . How did black essence. A wholly owned black company. End up in the hands of Africa ??? Let's start with and answer that question.  Talking and going around the circle but not telling what NEEDS to be said. Everybody's complaining about what Africans are doing to essence fest. But again .  How did ownership end up in the hands of Africa???"

****
July 14, 2026

56. @JadenKaye
"I learned about this three years ago, but thanks for informing the rest of us. I grew up with Essence magazine from the beginning as a young girl and subscribed for decades. That ended when I learned about this sellout. My Lord, they create for us and then sell out to those who weren't interested in us, hence their efforts to create Essence, Miele, etc."

**
57. @forrestsmith3640
"ALL THOSE OFF CODE FBA'S!!! WE'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE ESSENCE FEST!!! ALL THOSE OFF CODE FBA'S STILL PARTICIPATING!!! WE ON CODE FBA'S , DON'T CARE TO HEAR YOUR COMPLAINTS!!!"

**
58. @coryjackson6944
"Oh well..

It was great when Susan Taylor was editor ❤️"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -  Essence Festival Is FLOPPING Hard: Black Americans Walk Away Unbothered

Liam Bernard, Jul 12, 2026

WARNING- This video includes some profanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3FTgmwmMlE

These comments are given in chronological order, except for replies.

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

July 13, 2026

@kevinmodkins9623
"The Essence Festival has lost its Essence.👀"

**
@jenniferross3725
"Essence, Ebony. Jet magazine was everything to black ppl especially on the living room tables it was a staple and I use to order Essence magazines but those days are over"

**
@T.DelGado
"Once essence was no longer Black American owned I never watched again."

**
@menelikmorton8597
"Essence Magazine was founded by Edward Lewis , Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth and Johnathan Blount (1968) later published in 1970...for African - American's. Susan Taylor (Caribbean) was a CEO and Chief editor...of the Magazine. Yes, we should have bought it... Black American Freedmen/ women."

**
@vashtic8139
"I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAGAZINE OR THE FESTIVAL I FELT THE DISCONNECT YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD A NEW OWNER THAT NOT OUR ESSENCE"

**
@reynaldo7753
"Hey Blacks, Make A New Fest In Atlanta, Keep It FBA Only, Call It Atlanta Fest Get Some Positive Black Speakers & Entertainers, Bring Back The Time, SOS Band, Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle, George Clinton & Bootsy & da Funk Mob, Bring Kendrick Lamar & Other Positive Rappers Like That To Uplift The Festival, AMEN❤️"

**
Reply
@trenee23000
"Definitely not Atlanta."

**
Reply
@nubiannile4606
"@trenee23000

Then where?"

**
@xanus34
"They said they bought it they could do what they want with it and we said OK, no problem. We don't need to talk anymore. Now y'all broke."

**
@AdamsE464
"Take the festival to Africa! We don't need it. We are forming the the Foundational Black American Festival!!"

**

@AbundanceCt504
"My black ppl we are not African. So please stop saying African American.

 

We are black ppl, Israelites, Hebrew ✊🏾. The chosen ppl of YAHAWAH 💪🏾"

**
@Chosen-1619
"As a delta native from Mississippi, recognize that New Orleans culture is not my immediate culture and I respect it. I understand that it is not my place as a Mississippi native to dictate New Orleans festivals like essence festival.  but for some reason our fellow FBAs who aren’t even from the south try to allow all these foreigners into our culture and look at the mess it caused! My heart goes out to my beautiful New Orleans natives because they are the real victims!"

****
July 14, 2026

1. @gwendolyncaughn9214
"Create another festival!!!"

**
2. @FBA_AllTHEWAY
"Too many tethers involved in traditional FBA events waters it down and it becomes WEAK! And it becomes boring, it puts me to 😴 sleep. I wish they would leave our spaces alone! WE NOT AFRIKAN! ✊🏾🇺🇸✊🏾🇺🇸"
-snip-
"Tether" is a usually at least mildly derogatory referent for a Black person living in the United States who isn't of Foundational Black American (FBA) descent.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/what-word-tether-means-to-foundational.html for the 2024 pancocojams post entitled "What The Word "Tether" Means To Foundational Black Americans (FBAs)".

**
Reply
3. @TheBoogeymansCousin
"New Orleans is and always has been a huge mixture of multiple cultures. American Blacks, Europeans, Africans, Haitians, Creoles, French are all a part of the NO culture. It's literally what built the city! There is no NO independent of everyone else's culture."

**
Reply
4. @Chosen-1619
"@TheBoog @TheBoogeymansCousin that to an actual NO native and see what happens. You’re literally talking about the early demographics of the city but you forget that the southern Louisiana culture which consists of cities like Baton Rouge and Lafayette have the same culture and none of the people groups you mentioned. The culture in that part is shaped by the low country elements and native black people at its base! Ever heard of Cajun country and the Bayou? This is why none of the groups you’ve mentioned have any significant connection to the culture there now."

**
Reply
5. @CreoleNOLAMix
"@TheBoogeymansCousin  Baby ain't no dam Haitians or African people live here in New Orleans like that" Florida n Texas yes, but New Orleans no"" You speaking on when some migrated here back in the 1800 century, but now nope"" New Orleans is mostly a predominant black Creole city which doesn't include Africans or Haitians... There is no community here for them tbh"

**
6. @saritamoorebansa4485
"I and my family/ friends, No Target and No Essence festival. Standing ten toes down!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️😅😅😅😊😊😊😊"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

How Black American Teen Nolan Well's Death Is Being Factored Into Conversations Black Parents Have With Their Children About Racism In The United States

 

Parents of Nolan Wells demand answers in the mysterious death of their son

ABC News, Jul 11, 2026

The parents break their silence, speaking with ABC’s Michael Strahan, for the first time about Wells’ death, as civil rights leaders call for a thorough investigation.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents a video of and information about the death of Black American teen Nolan Wells and how that tragedy is prompting and/or reinforcing the conversations Black Americans have with their children about their need to protect themselves against the possibility of racism.

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Rest in Peace and Power, Nolan Wells.

****
EXCERPT FROM ONLINE ARTICLE ABOUT NOLAN WELL'S DEATH
From https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/mid-south/race-nolan-wells-death/ "Was race a factor in Nolan Wells’ death? What we know" by Damita Menezes, Jul 10, 2026
"NewsNation) — The Rev. Al Sharpton says he is not ruling out race as a factor in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, telling reporters Friday that key details of the case “do not make sense” and that National Action Network will back the family “until the end.”

“He was one Black with three young white men who happened to end up with his phone, happened to end up with his keys,” Sharpton said at a news conference alongside Wells’ parents and civil rights attorney Ben Crump. “There’s just too many questions … they should not be closing the investigation.”

Wells, a community college football player, was last seen on Horn Island, Mississippi, around 3 p.m. July 4. His friends told investigators they returned home without him after he said he would find another ride. His body was found on the island July 7.

Sharpton said he has little confidence in the local investigation, criticizing authorities for concluding within days that no wrongdoing occurred. He said an argument involving Wells was captured on video, and that Wells’ phone and keys ended up in the possession of one of the friends who left the island without him.

Nolan Wells found dead after July 4 trip with friends

“So some people are saying, ‘Reverend, are y’all bringing in race?’ Well, we’re not bringing in race, but we’re not discounting race, either, because we don’t know what it is,” Sharpton said. “This does not smell right.”

He added that while he wouldn’t presume race played a role, he also wouldn’t accept assumptions that it didn’t.

“Don’t rush to judgment saying it was not racist,” he said. “Because we do not know.”

Sharpton said Wells’ mother, not the friends, was the one who tracked down his phone, and that the friends never voluntarily disclosed they had it or his keys.

Crump, who is representing the family, pointed to Mississippi’s history as part of why race can’t be dismissed as a factor.

“The history of Mississippi is something that they don’t just read about in books, but it’s a lived experience for many Black Americans,” Crump said. “We refuse to sweep it under the rug.”

Crump also disputed the theory, floated by investigators, that Wells’ death may have been an accidental drowning.

“This is a kid who knew how to swim,” Crump said. “This is a kid who was in tip-top shape. He was a superior athlete.”….

****
AI OVERVIEW WRITE-UP 

[This write-up is the result of my July 13, 2026 query "How have Black Americans talked to their children about the death of Nolan Wells?]*

"Black parents are using the tragic death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells as a painful opportunity to teach their children about safety, racial dynamics, and situational awareness.

Conversations across the Black community focus on:

Situational Awareness and Safety: Parents are emphasizing the necessity of being hyper-aware of your surroundings, especially when being the only person of color in predominantly white social settings or remote environments.

Navigating Anti-Black Racism: Many use the incident—where Wells, a Black teenager, was found dead on Horn Island, Mississippi, after a July 4th boating trip with white peers—to teach kids how to protect themselves from systemic biases, microaggressions, and racially motivated hostility.

Historical Context: The case has evoked deep generational trauma due to Mississippi's fraught racial history. Parents are highlighting these systemic realities to explain why the local sheriff's initial handling of the case is being met with scrutiny and distrust.

As the Jackson County investigation continues and Wells' parents seek transparent answers, these discussions center on empowering Black youth to trust their instincts and navigate environments where their safety may be uniquely at risk."
-snip-
I was (and still am) particularly concerned about the first point in this write-up (situational awareness and safety) particularly when Black people (or other People of Color) are the only ones or one of few other Black people or other People of Color) in a location. The potential concerns or problems that Black people (and other People of Color) have doesn't need to be as severe as loss of their life or resulting in some physical injury. Read this article excerpt immediately below.

****
ARTICLE EXCERPT ON THE BURDEN OF BEING BLACK IN WHITE SPACES
https://news.yale.edu/2022/03/24/elijah-anderson-burden-being-black-white-spaces
"Elijah Anderson on the burden of being Black in white spaces"

Anderson discusses his new book on the challenges facing Black people as they navigate overwhelmingly white settings and struggle to overcome stereotypes.

By Mike Cummings, Mar 24, 2022

…"Since the end of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, large numbers of Black people have made their way into settings previously occupied exclusively by whites. They have received mixed receptions.

Many neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, universities, and other public spaces remain overwhelmingly white. Blacks perceive such settings as the “white space,” which they often consider to be informally “off limits” to them, said Elijah Anderson, Sterling Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Yale and winner of the 2021 Stockholm Prize, the world’s most prestigious prize in the field of criminology.

The challenges Black people face while navigating white spaces are the subject of Anderson’s latest book, “Black in White Space: The Enduring Impact of Color in Everyday Life,” (University of Chicago Press, 2022), which draws on his 40-some years of qualitative fieldwork, including many interviews with local Black and white people, his previous four distinguished books of urban ethnography on race relations, as well as his lifetime of experiences as a Black man in America.

In the book, Anderson documents the unique challenges facing Black people as they navigate “white space” — a perceptual category, defined by the overwhelming presence of white people and the relative absence of Blacks — and their struggle to overcome stereotypes that continue to stigmatize them.

He explained that despite the growth of an enormous Black middle class, many whites assume that the natural Black space is what he calls the “iconic ghetto” — the symbol of that destitute and fearsome locality so commonly featured in the media.

“White people typically avoid Black space, but Black people are required to navigate the white space as a condition of their existence,” Anderson said. “When an unfamiliar  Black person enters the ‘white space,’ often the people there immediately try to make sense of him or her — to determine ‘who that is,’ or to figure out the nature of the person’s business and whether they need to be concerned. Stereotypes can rule perceptions, creating a situation that can estrange the Black person.

“In these circumstances, almost any Black person can experience such distance, especially a young Black male — not as a measure of his merit as a person but because of his Black skin and its indication of ‘outsider’ status in the white space. Thus, such a Black person is often burdened with a negative presumption he or she must disprove before being able to establish trusting relations with others.”

Anderson recently spoke with Yale News about the lived experience of Black people and the structural underpinnings of racism in America. The interview has been edited and condensed.

How do anonymous Black people try to overcome “the negative presumption” they often encounter upon entering white spaces?

Elijah Anderson: In my study, I found that this negative presumption may be minimized or tentatively overcome by a performance, a negotiation, or what some Black people refer to derisively as a “dance,” through which individual Blacks may be inclined to show white people and others that ghetto stereotypes do not apply to them personally; in effect, they may feel the need to perform for credibility or for acceptance. This performance can be as deliberate as dressing well and speaking in an educated way or as simple as producing an ID or a driver’s license in situations in which this would never be demanded of white people. Around predominantly white college campuses, especially when ghetto areas are nearby, Black students often wear school paraphernalia to distinguish themselves from ordinary Black people from the local ghetto. With this strategy, college students try to avoid being profiled, but on occasion, they get stopped by campus security nonetheless.

Do white people wittingly treat Black people this way?

Anderson:  Yes and no.  In white spaces, white people dominate, and compared to their Black counterparts, enjoy an implicit power along with a degree of moral authority that Black people fundamentally lack. Moreover, white people tend to take their white-skin privilege for granted, and to be dismissive of the complaints by Black people, or they show incredulity and “horror.” In this context, it is very hard for white people in general to understand and appreciate the experience of being Black.

What’s at stake for Black people during these awkward encounters?

Anderson: Black people typically want to be treated the way they assume white people are treated, without racial animus, without being regarded as “suspicious characters” on the basis of their skin color while navigating civil society, and especially when they navigate white spaces. They want to be able to get through their day uneventfully, without experiencing arbitrary treatment based on their Blackness.

How does this “dance” typically unfold?

Anderson: Almost by definition, the Black person performs before a distant, judgmental, and unsympathetic audience of gatekeepers, such as security guards, salespeople, fellow patrons. They are distant because of the extant racial divide, and judgmental and unsympathetic because their minds are typically already made up about the Black person’s “place” and the threat they believe he or she poses to the white space, and perhaps to some of the people standing in judgment. Depending on how effectively the Black person performs or negotiates, he or she may “pass inspection.” But there are no guarantees, for some members of the audience are inclined at times to weaponize their prejudices, to put the Black person in their “place.” Moreover, others in the white space may require additional proof on demand.

When the unfamiliar Black person can demonstrate that he or she has business in the white space, the defending gatekeepers may relax their guard, at least for the time being. The Black person may then advance from a “deficit of credibility” to a “provisional status,” suggesting a conditional “pass,” with the person having something “more to prove” on demand.

Are all Black people at risk of these encounters when they enter white spaces regardless of their socio-economic status?

Anderson: Yes, because racial bigotry is not social class specific. When venturing into or navigating the white space, Black people endure such challenges repeatedly. In white neighborhoods, Black people may anticipate racial profiling or harassment by the neighborhood watch group, whose mission is to monitor the “suspicious-looking.” Any unfamiliar Black male can qualify for close scrutiny, especially at night. Defensive whites in these circumstances may be less consciously hateful than concerned and fearful of “dangerous and violent” Black people “from the ghetto.”

In the minds of many white people, to scrutinize and stop a Black person is to prevent crime and protect the neighborhood. Thus, for Black people, particularly young males, virtually every public encounter results in a degree of scrutiny that a “normal” white person would certainly not need to endure.”…

***
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Visitor comments are welcome. 

The Twenty Most Viewed Pancocojams Posts On July 11, 2026

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is part of a periodic series that highlights the top twenty pancocojams posts that were viewed on a particular date.

Google blogspot automatically publishes a list that the blog's editor can view of the top twenty posts in a blog that have been visited within a certain time period. Statistics for every post that has been published in this blog that I haven't deleted for one reason or another could be included in this daily top twenty list.

This post presents a list of the twenty  most viewed pancocojams post on July 11, 2026. I was moved to publish this post because I have an affinity for the number 17 and the 711 date reflects that energy. 

I published a previous post like this on July 1, 2026 for no discernable reason. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-twenty-most-viewed-pancocojams.html for that post.

I published a previous post like this on May 16, 2026  when I noticed that this pancocojams blog had reached a total of 18 million + views since I launched it on August 29, 2011. (That number doesn't included my views .)  Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-twenty-most-viewed-pancocojams.html for that post. It's interesting to notice the differences in the subjects for the twenty most viewed pancocojams posts on these different days.

This post is presented to document meta information about this blog. This list is also presented as a way of highlighting these showcased posts.

Thanks for supporting pancocojams!

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
The mission of pancocojams is to showcases the music, dances, language practices, & customs of African Americans and of other people of Black descent throughout the world.

At the time of this post's publication  on July 1, 2026, pancocojams has had 18,677,223 views since this blog was launched on August 29, 2011. That number doesn't include my views.

A total number of 5948 posts are available on this pancocojams blog as of July 11, 2026-including this one. 

*This list that is presented in this post presents the title for each of the top twenty posts that were viewed during July 11, 2026. in addition to the post's title, these entries include the hyperlink, and that post's publishing date.

All of the top twenty lists (such as this one on July 11, 2026 document the eclectic nature and the wide range of socio-cultural and/or folkloric topics that are featured in this blog.

I determine the subject of each pancocojams post as the Spirit (or my spirit) moves me to do so.

Publishing this list can help visitors to this blog find posts that they may be interested in visiting again or visiting for the first time. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/12/links-to-twenty-five-pancocojams-posts.html for the post entitled "Links To The Twenty-Five Pancocojams Posts With The Highest Number Of Views (From 2011-2024)."

Last year I decided not to publish an annual "most viewed" post from this blog's launching  because the list of posts with the most views has remained very similar for a number of years. 

****
A LIST OF THE TWENTY MOST VIEWED PANCOCOJAMS POST (July 1, 2026)

[The post with the highest number of views on that day is given first, and all the other posts are given in descending order.]

1. What The Word "Tether" Means To Foundational Black Americans (FBAs)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/10/what-word-tether-means-to-foundational.html

October 22, 2024

**
2. Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky (General Information, YouTube videos, & text examples)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/02/down-by-banks-of-hanky-panky-video.html

February 11, 2015

**
3. The History Of The Hoochie Coochie Dance (including information about The Song "Ham Fat Man")

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-history-of-hoochie-coochie-dance.html

September 23, 2022

**
4. Part II of Some "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes" With Geographic Locations (K - Z)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/part-ii-of-some-down-by-banks-of-hanky.html

March 22, 2021

**
5. Two Versions Of The Song "Old Zip Coon" (sound file & lyrics)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/two-versions-of-song-old-zip-coon-sound.html

April 25, 2013

**
6. What "Ah Sookie Sookie Now" Means

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-ah-sookie-sookie-now-means.html

May 14, 2013

**
7. Reggie Stepper- "Kimbo King" What Are The Lyrics For This 1990 Jamaican Dancehall Song?

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/07/reggie-stepper-kimbo-king-what-are.html

July 13, 2023

**
8. Children's Parodies Of "I Believe I Can Fly" (text & video examples)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/childrens-parodies-of-i-believe-i-can_2.html

October 2, 2013

**

9. The Racist Roots Of The "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" Chant

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-racist-roots-of-five-little-monkeys.html

July 22, 2014

**
10. "Colored Aristocracy": The Old Time Music Tune & How It Got Its Name

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/08/colored-aristocracy-old-time-music-tune.html

 August 13, 2014

**
11.Bajan (Barbados) Folk Song - "Every Time She Pass" ("The Sandpipe Song") with Lyrics

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/bajan-folk-song-every-time-she-pass.html

March 21, 2013

**
12. Senegalese singer, composer Ismaël Lô - "Tajabone" (information, YouTube examples, lyrics with English translation)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/12/senegalese-singer-composer-ismael-lo.html

December 12, 2019

**
13. Che Che Kule - Origin, Lyrics, & Videos

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/che-che-kule-origin-lyrics-videos.html

 March 12, 2012

**
14. 50 Most Common African American Surnames (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania 1992-2001)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/50-most-common-african-american.html

May 24, 2015

**
15. The REAL Origin Of The Word "Ungawa" & Various Ways That Word Has Been Used In The USA

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-real-origins-of-word-ungawa-various.html

 August 13, 2015

**
16. Gabonese Afro-Zouk Singer Oliver N'Goma - "Adia" (Part I - information & lyrics in its original languages, in English, & in French)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/07/gabonese-singer-oliver-ngoma-adia-part.html

July 9, 2018

**
17.Elizabeth Cotten - "Shake Sugaree" (sound file, lyrics, & meanings)

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/eiizabeth-cotton-shake-sugaree-sound.html

February 16, 2013

**
18. Examples Of "Shave And A Haircut" Children's Rhymes

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/examples-of-shave-and-haircut-childrens.html

January 4, 2014

**
19. How "The Wobble Line Dance" Got Its Moves From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's 1990s "The Nasty Girl" Line Dance

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/how-wobble-line-dance-got-its-moves.html

August 22, 2025

**
20. The Original Meaning of The Song That Became "Sea Lion Woman"

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/08/original-meaning-of-song-that-became.html

August 30, 2011

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.