Of Gods and Men

“As an artist, you have to get outside of the concern with what other people think of what you do. I don’t do what I do to appease people. I do the opposite. I do stuff that makes you uncomfortable, that makes you get up and say ‘What are you saying? James, did you read… Continue reading Of Gods and Men

strings attached

January 2007 (age 22) we had a tangled interaction some sort of twisted attraction and like a hemline i was taken in you stitched a quiltwork straight to my heart knowing i had to depart soon and these strings you stitched still attach me to you i tried my best to just do the homeylover… Continue reading strings attached

¡CUBA VIVA! — Retratos

My first love, the island of my childhood. In 2009, I walked over 100 miles during the course of three weeks in Havana. I walked everywhere, spoke to strangers, sat around for hours in places waiting for the sunset, adults, children, animals. These are portraits of a life that could have been. -Hemley González    … Continue reading ¡CUBA VIVA! — Retratos

Power On, Fist Up: African Amedia

Mainstream American media has a shameful record of misrepresenting black Americans, their lives and stories in ways that are either outright racist or implied through more subtle, coded language and images. Artist Justin Adu’s African Amedia exhibit, at the African American Museum of Dallas, seeks to address these negative portrayals through the use of multimedia art. I… Continue reading Power On, Fist Up: African Amedia

State of Emergency

“Strictly spiritual, no thugs and criminals. Our voice gonna resound like old hymnals.” Many of you know me for being the outspoken protester that confronted Geraldo Rivera during the protests in Baltimore sparked by the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. At that moment, and for a week and a half before that, I… Continue reading State of Emergency

Poc Art

"Artivist" Nia King. Image by Elliot Owen

Nia King is an Oakland-based art activist and author of Queer and Trans Artists of Color, a collection of her interviews. As a long-time admirer of her work, I thought I’d turn the tables and ask her some questions about “artivism,” selling out, and who her queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) icons are.… Continue reading Poc Art

They See Us as Hulks

“They see us as Hulks, and paint us as so, not realizing or refusing to acknowledge that we are more so David Banners…brilliant minds, searching for answers and peace…while we continue to be attacked and prodded by the powers that be…in a world that doesn’t understand that our powers help to save it time after… Continue reading They See Us as Hulks