To celebrate the everlasting legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou on what would have been her 90th birthday, the Google team has created a visually stunning animated short that honors the prolific poet, author, and civil rights activist. In the Doodle, Angelou’s famous “Still I Rise” poem is brought to life through splendidly vibrant illustrations. The […]
“When a black man walks, think of it as a masterpiece, a beautiful song that you may only hear once. Cherish it. You may never hear it again.” These are the haunting words of Neiel Israel from her poem “When a Black Man Walks,” that unfortunately ring true. For National Poetry Month, we’ve curated a […]
Through her graceful body of work, New York-based artist Fabiola Jean-Louis is Rewriting History. By manipulating photographs, Jean-Louis’s latest series allows us to visualize what fine art between the 15th–19th centuries (typically dominated by White European royalty) would look like through the lens of the black experience. Having a strong appreciation for period ball gowns, Jean-Louis […]
Born in rural Virginia in 1920, Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman who was diagnosed and died of aggressive cervical cancer at the youthful age of 31. Without consent from Henrietta and her family, doctors at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore collected her cancer cells, which were discovered to be immortal. Widely known as the […]
Media powerhouse and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is being honored and celebrated with her own exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), highlighting Winfrey’s expansive accomplishments and trailblazing journey throughout her prolific lifetime. Some of Winfrey’s greatest achievements include becoming the first black female billionaire, the first African-American woman to […]
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will temporarily house a number of objects from Marvel’s record-breaking film, Black Panther. For four days in October, the items will be on display as part of the museum’s first-ever African American Film Festival. In an announcement on Facebook about the acquisition, the museum stated that […]
The New-York Historical Society has announced the September 2018 opening of a new exhibit that explores how African Americans survived Jim Crow, and how their resistance ultimately led to the Civil Rights Movement. Titled “Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow,” the show will document the years between the Civil War and World War […]
Kareem Waris Olamilekan, an 11-year-old artist based in Lagos, is receiving global recognition due to his phenomenal artwork. Describing his style as hyperrealistic, Olamilekan began drawing at the tender age of six. By eight years old, he became a professional, making him the youngest professional artist in Nigeria. To succeed at hyperrealism, extreme patience is […]
A friend of mine sent me a text message after the passing of Aretha Franklin: “I find it interesting that someone we have never met, one who had no economic impact in our lives can have such an emotional impact when they are gone. Richard Pryor made us laugh but somehow the emotional grip on the nation […]
A partnership has forged between The African American Film Critics Association and Turner Classic movies that will bring much needed programming into the homes of many. The Black Experience is a month-long endeavor that uses key films to trace the history of African American cinema. The channel will begin airing classic films from September […]