arts & culture
Honoring Expression Rooted in Memory and Movement
If The SHoe Fits
They talk about good intentions—where?
All I see are their hands, their eyes, their whispers,
and it tells a different story.
Her Guitar, Her Voice, Her Blues: Evan Nicole Bell and the Black Women Who Shaped a Genre
The success of early Blues women faced a unique blend of gendered expectations and socially defying expression that in some cases broke barriers and in other cases hindered careers. Blues musician Valerie Turner states “…Let’s be honest—role models for contemporary women playing blues guitar are few and far between. This isn’t because they’re not out there; it’s simply because they aren’t well recognized.” (para. 1). This interview is important as it introduces younger readers to a young black woman role model who is keeping the blues alive. That woman’s name is Evan Nicole Bell.
What Did We Do?
Image by: Unseen Histories
Poem By: D. Parker
What Did We Do?
I can’t help but ask,
what did we do
to make them hate us so much?
A Review of Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS
I’ve been thinking a lot about that film. It’s the first film that I’ve watched at least three times. I have my criticisms of it, but I also think that it is a masterpiece. When we compare that movie with anything produced anywhere in the world, it is an artistic masterpiece aesthetically. It is overflowing with symbolism from the “jump.” Everything from the opening scene with “Lil’ Sammy” and the introduction of the “Smokestack” twins is overflowing with rich historical and humanistic themes.
Black American-Run Country Music Associations Needed to Make a Comeback—Here’s Why
On the heels of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” release, Black country artists had their mainstream moment amongst the genre’s fans. It was long overdue since it was us who helped create and pioneer country music, though racist industry politics have blocked most of our artists from shining in the big leagues.
History Speaks: The Black Experience in Southeast Kentucky
The Black Experience in Southeast Kentucky is a series that shares the stories of African Americans living in the hills of Southeast Kentucky.