The State of Black Art

The Washington Post’s Style section featured a lengthy piece on the state of Black art and how new, contemporary black artists are trying to break through.
Allure, success, big prizes, prestigious shows — if cutting-edge black artists have so clearly got it made, why are they almost unknown outside the little world of contemporary art where [...]

Wanna Get Away?

One of the perks of having a blog is the ability to sign up for all types of affiliate marketing programs,  While it’s cool to make a 3-4% commission on the occasional $20 purchase, it’s even better to take advantage of some of these deals.
But as much as I’d like to fly off to the [...]

The President’s Taste in Art

Or perhaps First Lady Michelle Obama’s taste in art. Whatever the case the President and First Lady had a wonderful collection to select from while decorating their new home. One of the many perks of being Commander-in-chief is to have the entire Smithsonian and its myriad of galleries and museums as your own private art gallery. On [...]

(Afro) Hispanic Heritage Month

No, Black History Month has not been moved.  It’s still in February.
September 15th – October 15th celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.
Why should this be of interest to African Americans?  Because the African diaspora spreads throughout the Western Hemisphere from the Canada to Chile. We just got dropped off at different slave ports throughout the hemisphere.  Afro-Latinos [...]

Save $$: Restaurant Weeks Across the Country

Just because the economy is in the dumps doesn’t mean you can’t dine well for a special occasion (or no occasion at all). Restaurant “weeks” have become ever more popular in major cities trying to cajole diners back into their restaurants. Open Table keeps a running list of restaurant weeks/specials for the frequent diner. Listed [...]

R.I.P. Ernie Barnes

It may take awhile for some to recall who Ernie Barnes was, until you see his art.  Barnes passed away last month and left behind his incredible and iconic art to be appreciated in his absence. As October Gallery writes,
Americans became familiar with the art of Ernie Barnes via the television show “Good Times,” and his [...]

Culture Club – April

Culture Club is a periodic posting of cultural events which may be of interest to readers. Events are limited to the Washington, DC area.

Importance of Learning A Foreign Language

I graduated with my degree in Spanish, with my mother shaking her head wondering if I’d ever find a job. Fortunately for both of us, I remain gainfully employed 12 years later. But my diploma assigning my Bachelors of Arts in Spanish neglected to fully realize the incredible lessons that language has taught me, and that continues to guide me today. Those lessons are passion, perspective and place.

History In Our Midst

The Washington Post highlights the history of the civil rights movement in Alabama. One of the iconic moments of the civil rights struggle was the 1965 Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The television coverage of white cops beating down non-violent and peaceful black demonstrators attempting to exercise their voting rights was seared into the nation’s consciousness.