Art is a conflation of our minds imagery, personal experiences, and intellectual or creative wherewithal, immortalizing each piece as a symbol reflective of an idea or concept. When art becomes culturally relevant and reflects a specific viewpoint within a mishmash of conflicting contemporary thought, we attach prolificacy, when it would be apt to declare society at large late to the experiences of its own people. Many artists, regardless of race, creed, or sexuality, will naturally have a heightened understanding and capacity of expression, due to first hand world experiences — both good and bad.
Maryland based free-hand artist, Maché Turner aka “Budda Oeuvre”, creates her works via inspiration from her thoughts and experiences. Much of her art features bright dynamic colors in a cartoonish style. Her pieces vary in subject matter ranging from pop culture, to social issues, race, and more. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Budda Oeuvre.
What does it mean to be a comedian in 2020? The etymology of comedy is derived from 14c., it was "narrative with a happy ending; any composition intended for amusement," from Old French comedie (14c.), "a poem" (not in the theatrical sense) and directly from Latin comoedia. Comedic styles have differed throughout the ages, some more performative in execution, some story driven, and others purely satirical.
Comedians have become the layman’s philosopher, they tackle topics, personal, relatable, controversial. They dissect our societal norms and provide a humorous analysis on our values. Brandon Ash-Mohammed is part of a new generation of comedians carving his own lane in stand up. For starters, he is the first ever queer black Canadian comedian to release a comedy album, Capricornication. Brandon is also the creator of The Ethnic Rainbow, Canada’s first and only comedy show for LGBTQ comedians of colour. Please read our exclusive interview to earn more about Brandon Ash-Mohammed.
This week marks two months of straight Black Lives Matter protests in New York City, and in many other places across the United States. In the midsts of a pandemic, people from all over the world have come together to support the black community and fight against police brutality. People are waking up and learning about systemic racism and what it actually means to defund the police. But there is always more to be done. Please check out our BLM Resource Book for more information.
This has been a unique time in history because everything has been closed and boarded up and artists are without work. So, the streets of SoHo have had more empty canvases for the incredible and relevant art sprouting up everywhere. Artists are listed last on the list of essential businesses, but as history is happening around us, we are busier than ever. It is the art people will look back on to document the past, and that art is screaming to be heard, for justice, and for change.
At 18 years old, Montana is an accomplished actress, musician, and writer. As a musician, she is a multi-instrumentalist, skilled in the electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano, alto saxophone, etc. At the mere age of seven years old, Montana created her first play, in honor of her brother, Arizona, who is autistic. Her call to advocacy runs deeper than familial ties. She can be seen working hard to assist children and adults with special needs via the Special Olympics, 401 A League Of Our Own, and Power Of You Teens, an organization that helps young women in New York City plan their future through mentorship. Montana and her brothers even created an organization, Children’s Voice, which gives kids a platform to speak out about issues that affect them. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Montana Jascobowitz.
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Music has a strange way of conveying emotions. Our memories, conversations, relationships with people, and their personalities, can be permanently etched into hearts, even if just fleeting. Kenny Sway has an innate ability to evoke these feeling, whether it be joyful, sorrowful, or contemplative. As a student of musical greats, he grew up listening to the likes of R&B and soul legends like Whitney Houston, and Marvin Gaye.
Now Kenny has adopted his own style and approach to music and performance. He was known as a street performer, sharing his grassroots performances directly with audiences. So, it was no shock when he took his voice to the Washington D.C. police brutality protests and inspired the crowd to sing along with him as he sang the Bill Withers classic, "Lean On Me". Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Kenny Sway.
Music is well known to have a significant beneficial impact on mental health — both for creator and listener. The therapeutic aspects of composition and soothing harmonies are thought to engage a variety of brain areas involved in emotion, motivation, cognition, and motor functions. Musical interventions have been used to increase socialization and cognitive, emotional, and neuromotor functioning. North London musician, Treasure, utilizes his passion to explore the therapeutic and creative components melody. Coincidentally, he works for a mental health hospital, which is a valiant testimony to his authenticity and intrigue in psychology and mental health.
The nine track EP “Suffocation & Air” is a revelation to emotions held close — it’s an entry into the psyche, the trauma, and ego. It chronicles his journey to coexist with his demons. The release skirts on modern genres of R&B, pop, with a blend of funky synthscapes. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Treasure.
Dr. King called riots the language of the unheard. That "unheard" is too passive a description. This element of society isn't unheard, it's forcibly silenced and held in place with a knee on its neck. The murder of George Floyd resonated so deeply because it wasn't like so many of the swift, brutal incidents we've grown so shockingly accustomed to. There was no sudden spray of bullets into unarmed black bodies. This was a slow, merciless, brutal suffocation. A killing horrifying not because it illustrated indifference, but rather the enjoyment taken in slowly snuffing out a life.
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Whenever news breaks of another black man falling victim to police brutality, part of me wants to despair at the futility of justice. I feel most people subconsciously share, at least partially, in my defeatist, encroaching on nihilistic, sentiment. A George Floyd will almost undoubtedly happen again and, as unproductive as these thoughts are, it is based in reality. It is a sempiternal threat that constitutes heightened prudence when interactions with police occur — civil or otherwise. Continually, we see black men (Charles Kinsey, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, etc.) face deadly or near deadly encounters with law enforcement.
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In light of the injustices and protests going on right now, Jejune has decided to pause this week’s contents in respect and solidarity of Black Lives Matter and African American rights. Instead, we will be focusing our content on sharing resources on how to support and help the movement and on different ways one may educate themself on the situation. Please join us this week as we further educate ourselves on how we can help and support the African American community as the Black Lives Matter Protests continue in the midst of Covid-19.
Attached below are some photos and a brief video from the protest in Brooklyn, NY. Jejune stands with you and wants the world to know, the protesters we have seen in NYC are peaceful, passionate, and beautiful human beings. We fight with you to be heard and seen.
Please stay tuned for our IG Live Interviews with voices from the African American community and reference our #BLM Reference Book. Thank you and be safe!
Amid the Black Lives Matter protests going on worldwide, there’s no better time to educate yourself on racial injustice then now. Please use the presentation below as a resource to learn how to support and help the black community during this time, and to continue to spread the message.
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Actress, singer, Zahra Bentham continues to convey her fervor for equality off-screen. She supports causes close to her heart which include “Black Women Film! Canada”, a leadership program and new collective dedicated to forwarding the careers, networks and skills of filmmakers and media artists who are Black female identified of the Canadian African diaspora. Zahra also teamed up with Karena Evans (award-winning director and actor) to use her voice as a platform for awareness and change amidst fears welling during the 2016 burgeoning stages of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Zahra and her works.
Ninety-one years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. In the course of a too-short life, ended by a gunshot in Memphis 39 years later, Dr. King would spend nearly half of it fighting for the equality of all people. The movement he led was catapulted to national notoriety when he, along with fellow activist E.D. Nixon, organized the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, an event which eventually led to the end of segregation of Montgomery public buses, an enormous triumph for African Americans at the time. But where are we now?
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The American Justice System needs work. We are constantly arresting and wrongfully accusing individuals for crimes they never committed. What is worse is this is much more common for people of color. This is why it is important that movies like Brain Banks helps bring this to light so that we can be more aware and work towards a more fair system. We spoke with the talented actress Mystie Smith about her role as Marilyn in Brian Banks and her experience as an African American female in Hollywood. Please read our exclusive interview here!
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What happens when your justice system is unjust? David Pratt speaks on the incarceration problems of The United States of America.
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Asheea Smith writes about being proud as a African American woman in the USA, and so much more..
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