Black feminist lesbian writer, scholar, activist and conjurer M. Jacqui Alexander on the web series, Signified. She speaks about the connections between spirituality and social revolution in that they allow one to envision new worlds, to understand one’s purpose in life and to connect with others.
Read More Modern Griots: M. Jacqui AlexanderThis is me reading a couple of my poems at Baruch’s Celebration of Women in the Arts last month. I was so nervous that day! I hope you like it!
Read More Modern Griots: Poetry ReadingCheck out the new song, “Affirmative Action,” featuring rappers Animosity, Kevlar, Apex and my cousin, Rashida, aka Ms. “More Foxy Brown”. Also, go listen to the mixtape, It Was Bitten, by Avatar the Articulate (Avie Fresh and One-Take). From Kevin Nottingham: New York underground veteran emcee Avatar the Articulate pays homage to Nas’s sophomore album […]
Read More Modern Griots Spotlight: Affirmative ActionHave you ever heard of Black Herman? Born in Virginia in 1892, the stage magician, entertainer and hoodoo dabbler, whose original name was Benjamin Rucker, was one of the most prominent of his time. Learning his skills from Prince Herman (Alonzo Moore), Rucker took Herman’s name in honor of him after he died in 1909, […]
Read More Modern Griots: Do You Believe in Magic?Les Fleurs feat. Boston Fielder Baby This Love I Have feat. Leon Ware The Decoders are Los Angeles-based producer duo Itai Shapira (producer/engineer & studio/live musician) and Todd Simon (trumpeter/arranger for Mayer Hawthorne, TV On The Radio, The Lions, Quantic, etc.), with heavy contributions from Quincy McCrary on keys (Mayer Hawthorne) and Blake Colie on […]
Read More Modern Griots Spotlight: The DecodersThe political rap and rock band, Flobots, consists of vocalists Jonny 5 and Br’er Rabbit, guitarist Andy Rok, drummer Kenny O, bass player Jesse Walker, and voilinist Mackenzie Gault. Not only is the group socially aware, but are also influenced by speculative fiction and other avant-garde artists. Jonny 5 likes magic realism and his favorite […]
Read More Modern Griots: FlobotsFrom her website: “I teach but mostly I make journeys. Sometimes I am a photographer; sometimes a painter, writer, historian, documentarian, bohemian artist. But most times, I am all of the above. I am inspired by the magic that occurs when one goes looking for ancestors–those unmapped spaces that are realized on front porches, at […]
Read More Modern Griots: Lynn Marshall-Linnemeier, A Visual MythologistVisual artist Elton Leonard Jr. describes the spiritual, social, and political aspects of his work: My artwork takes a critical view of cultural, political and erotic perspectives. In my work, I reconstruct the American dream and fantasy images that are part of our childhood and adult culture. Having engaged subjects as diverse as black women’s […]
Read More Modern Griots: Elton Leonard Jr.Tunde Olaniran is a Michigan-based artist who “marches to the beat of his own drum.” The singer, rapper, songwriter and social activist has a background that defies any expectation others may have of him. Growing up in such places as Germany, Nigeria and London, Olaniran was raised by an American social activist mother and a […]
Read More Modern Griots Interview: Tunde OlaniranSaidah Baba Talibah is as awe-inspiring as her name. The Canadian artist, described as ” Living Color-meets-Erykah Badu,” recently released her debut LP, (S)Cream. Including songs like “Scream” and “So Cool,” the album is a mix between soul, psychedelic funk and rock. Talibah’s album also combines those influences with musical and community experiences from her […]
Read More Modern Griots: Saidah Baba Talibah
Sherese Francis 