James Armistead Lafayette was like James Bond before there even was a James Bond. Instead of modern day Britain, the setting was the 1700’s during The American Revolutionary War. Lafayette, a slave at the time, was tapped to serve as a spy for the Americans after gaining entry into the British Forces. It was his […]
“The wonderful thing about being an artist is that there is no end to creative expression. Painting is my life; my life is painting.” Lois Mailou Jones. Tweet These words would strike a chord in the heart of any creative. They know all too well how free from limitations their artistic proclivities are. It’s just […]
There’s so much rich cultural history that lies across the various musical genres. So many different sounds, cadences, and aesthetics born from different circumstances. As a result, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly who deserves credit for what. But one figure whose impact could never be understated is Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Godmother of Rock […]
Medgar Evers was a true American hero. He’d fight in WWII as a young man, though these wouldn’t be the last human atrocities he’d witness. Ironically, it was his time in the military that put the reality of Jim Crow South even further into perspective for him. Evers would experience a different culture in Europe, […]
These words ring just as true now as they did when they were first uttered. The promise of capital can corrupt even the strongest willed person. The temptation of financial gain can sometimes hil Holding steadfast to noble morals and principles. This prophetic quip comes from the iconic Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. She was the first […]
There’s something to be said for innovation born out of adversity. The old adage of pressure creating diamonds takes on an entirely different meaning when the pressure is a result of literal slavery. Lewis Howard Latimer would experience such strain after being born to parents on the run from bondage. His father gained considerable notoriety […]
Dorothy Height spent her entire life combating injustice. Born in the early 1910’s, she felt full on the crushing blow of oppression. She’d rise above these obstacles in a particular fashion, each accomplishment outweighing the last. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, nor would she submit to subpar conditions. When Barnard College accepted her […]
Imagine living in a country that doesn’t love you. Having a disadvantage at every turn due to the color of your skin. Your very existence threatened on a regular basis as a result of bigotry and prejudice. Danger also lurking around the corner at any given moment for you and your family. Now imagine giving […]
There’s a special burden that awaits most trailblazers. It’s a sort of pressure that would consume the average person. The kind of struggle that simple fanfare can’t satisfy. The motivation has to come from something deeper than instant gratification. It’s a commitment to an ideal that can be tiresome, discouraging, and sometimes dangerous. But the […]
The value in any form of art is subjective. But every so often, a talent comes along that’s undeniable, regardless of your taste. An eye for capturing the beauty of life through a filter so sophisticated and pioneering, it almost feels inhuman. It’s brilliance, draped in an elegant, cascading cloth of cool. It goes beyond […]
