Art is therapeutic and can be used to restore a broken hearted to a healing heart. Valentine’s day can be a somber reminder of heartbreak or love lost. Enter artist Raub Welch. His artwork has exhibited worldwide and caught the eye of Oprah, who owns Read More …
Fashion icon and living legend, André Leon Talley, gave me the honor of an interview. His fashion knowledge is established. However, what impressed me most is that he is an intellectual exuding southern hospitality. Mr. Talley is an elocution tactician. The rhythm of his words fascinated me Read More …
As a child, I longed for the elegance of the Harlem Renaissance that celebrated black excellence in academia, arts, music, and innovation. Chicago painter and interior designer, Raub Welch, is recreating vintage black glamour with a modern touch. Poet Countee Cullen asked, “Hey Black Child, Read More …
2018 Update: The US government under the Trump administration is creating its own “Calais Jungle” separating immigrant children from parents at the border. Painter Norman Lewis said, “The goal of the artist must be aesthetic development, and in a universal sense, to make in his Read More …
2018 Update: Trump’s America makes racists feel comfortable calling 9-1-1 when they believe a black person should not be somewhere they deem their space. Jordan Peele and Spike Lee’s movie BlacKkKlansman highlights a problem long known to the black community, white supremacists in law enforcement and Read More …
2019 Update: In light of Prada, Gucci, and H&M’s blackface and monkey business, it is time for us to support black creatives and businesses like: Nubian Skin, Harlem Haberdashery, Fenty Beauty, Louis Stewart, Vashti Harrison illustrations, SPGBK watches, The Crayon Case, Coco & Breezy Eyewear, and Read More …
After seeing Maurice Hines’ Tappin’ Thru Life, I wondered what happened to all the black tap dancing hoofers. We know of the legendary Nicholas and Hines brothers. Was tap dancing a lost art form within the black community? Enter Chloe Arnold, founder of Syncopated Ladies. Syncopated Read More …
The story of the Central Park Five is an example of the worst miscarriages of justice – innocent citizens convicted. Five teenagers were falsely accused, demonized, and convicted of rape and assault. They served time in prison until DNA evidence proved their innocence. In spite Read More …
Art adds value to our world as an expression of life. I do not always understand it, but I appreciate its various forms. Sometimes art imitates life. Other times art is a voice of the people. Such is the case with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat was Read More …
Part 2 of my endurance series for Mr. Refined Magazine is published. It features an interview with actor, Marchello Lee, from the recently released film Dreams. Marchello’s journey shows that dreaming is only the first step. Patience and endurance are essential to make dreams Read More …
“Rejoice with those who rejoice.” I have been very fortunate in that wherever I have lived, I have met a few people that become part of the fabric of my life. They are wonderful people who add joy, substance, and round out my character. Read More …
“Photographed in dissimilar settings, these photos evoke similitude. Look deeply into their eyes. The potential. The confidence. The fragility.” – Jeta B The Goal Broader awareness of I Challenge Myself from simply teens riding bikes, to the long term benefits of healthy teens, academically stronger, Read More …