FROM THE EDITOR

How many of you have had the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture? I see your hands waving in pride. I’ll bet you’ve got the t-shirt, the mug, and the magnet. And why not?! The museum is a treasure to behold and the pride that comes with walking the halls of this monument to OUR history and culture makes one’s chest burst with pride. As travel remains complicated, the museum continues to engage with us and offer virtual

I just watched Summer of Soul…( Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) . Wow! What a ride – the performances, the narratives, the times! Just a few weeks ago William Greaves’ Nationtime was made available for viewing by LANGSTON . Yet another piece of important Black history that lay dormant in a basement for decades, and was only recently restored and put back into the active volumes of Black cinema. So much of our history is left to languish or intentionally tuc

President Jimmy Carter declared Black Music Appreciation Month on June 7, 1979. In 2009, President Barack Obama gave June its current designation as African American Music Appreciation Month. In his 2016 proclamation, President Obama noted that “a vital part of our Nation's proud heritage, African American music exemplifies the creative spirit at the heart of American identity and is among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known.” The creative spirit tha

Letter from the Editor, May 2021