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Black Art Speaks

Black Art Speaks, the creative force behind Cincinnati鈥檚 renowned Black Lives Matter (BLM) mural, unveiled the 鈥淩鈥澨齦etter听from the Letter Monuments Project in vibrant Roselawn on May 2, marking the launch of a citywide art initiative that celebrates diversity and community empowerment.

This听striking new public artwork at the southwest corner of Reading and Section roads by nationally acclaimed artist and听Roselawn Community Council President听Annie Ruth stands 10 feet tall as a bold testament to Roselawn鈥檚 resilience and a reflection of its progressive identity.听听

Inspired by her original artwork for the Black Lives Matter mural, Annie Ruth has re-imagined the portrayal of Black men in her design for the 鈥淩鈥� sculpture. Through her art, Ruth shifts the narrative from misunderstood stereotypes to images of dignity and respect, depicting Black men as dignified gentlemen.听听听听听听

Ruth said,听鈥淲e want others to see the males in our lives as gentlemen with kind hearts and not as thugs and criminals. 鈥業 am a Man鈥� is a prominent theme in the art. The piece highlights the words as a history lesson, emphasizing the importance of reading. The imagery in the design encourages the viewer to see Black men with love, respect and dignity. The father reads a book to his children with a message of 鈥楰now who you are鈥� to remind Black youth to recognize their value and self-worth.

鈥淭he newly designed R continues the theme of promoting Black men as leaders, fathers, mentors, brothers and sons. The circles within the circles on the youthful Black silhouette is an Adinkra symbol 鈥�

Adinkra are visual symbols that represent concepts or proverbs. They originated from Ghana. Saturated with meaning, Adinkra serve as a concise way to convey deep truths in visual form. Their widespread adoption, especially among African Americans and other Africans across the diaspora, has solidified their status as icons of African symbolism and philosophy.鈥欌��

(ADINKRAHENE 鈥� (pronounced A-dink-ra + hen-e)听is the chief of the adinkra symbols) This is a symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership.)听

This transformation embodies the city鈥檚 ongoing commitment to justice and equality.

The 鈥淩鈥� sculpture is the first of 17听letters听that will be strategically placed throughout Cincinnati, with the letter 鈥淎鈥� being erected in Avondale next.听听听听听听听听

Each听letter听is inspired by a line from the poem 鈥淲e Want What You Want鈥� by Alandes Powell, helping to weave the city鈥檚 rich narrative throughout its urban landscape. Powell is Executive Director of Black Art Speaks, which was involved in the Black Lives Matter street mural in front of the Cincinnati City Hall and this art project.

鈥淭he unveiling of the 鈥楻鈥� is a cornerstone event that welcomes all to engage and reflect on the significant contributions of Black artists to Cincinnati’s cultural landscape. It鈥檚 a celebration of how art fosters community ties, challenges the status quo, and makes a lasting impact on societal perceptions,鈥� said Ruth.

Speakers at the event were Alandes Powell, Executive Director, Black Art Speaks; Annie Ruth, Lead Artist; Jan-Michele Kearney, Vice Mayor of Cincinnati; Jonathan Adee, Executive Director, Keep America Beautiful.

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By Caitlin Burke

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The Sister Accord Foundation, the organization whose movement is changing the way girls and women treat, support and interact with each other, has officially launched a new chapter in South Africa in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF). The event to honor this momentous occasion happened April 20 at Sanctuary Mandela in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Festivities held on April 20 brought The Sister Accord Foundation鈥檚 mission of having one billion girls and women learn to love themselves and each other one step closer to reality.

鈥淚鈥檓 so elated that we delivered on our promise yet again to lead with LOVE,鈥� said Sonia Jackson Myles, founder and CEO of The Sister Accord Foundation. 鈥淭he last time I visited South Africa, I was working for Ford Motor Company. Fast forward over 20 years, and I am returning to a place that has left an indelible impression on my heart and soul. I am extremely grateful for this partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which is helping us get even closer to reaching one billion girls and women.鈥�

Saxophonist Nkuli Buri entertained invited guests as they enjoyed breakfast and networking opportunities. Athi Rwexu, the South African Ambassador for The Sister Accord Foundation, was the emcee for the day. Tamryn Sass, General Counsel at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, delivered the welcome address and said that they were proud to be partnering with The Sister Accord.

A highlight from the day included the presentation of The Sister Accord Leadership Award. Sonia Jackson Myles presented this award to Sophia Williams De Bruyn, the guest of honor and the last living leader of the 1956 Women’s March. She addressed the guests and said, 鈥淵our unity of purpose and your blessed mission to improve the lives of a staggering billion women worldwide, to encouraging girls and women, through education, to love themselves, gain respect for themselves, gain self-esteem and confidence for themselves, is a gigantic and most noble leap, which can truly manifest, because of your solid and steadfast belief in the principles of The Sister Accord and its commitments, to the three global objectives of enlightening, educating and eradicating violence and bullying against girls and women.鈥�

Notable guests included Dr. Futhi Mtoba and Nolitha Fakude, both of whom shared words of wisdom, and artist Kganya Mogashoa who painted a portrait of Sophia Williams De Bruyn in real-time. Attendees were also treated to an uplifting musical performance by South African recording artist Carletheia. 

Since its inception in 2013, The Sister Accord Foundation has transformed innumerable girls鈥� and women鈥檚 lives with its many programs, financial support, and beloved YouTube videos, which have amassed 55 million total views and 231 million impressions to date. The Foundation has also expanded into new territories, with chapters already established in Lilongwe, Malawi, Harare, and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

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RLH Pageants Unlimited once again showcased the epitome of Black beauty, intellect and talent, during the recent Miss Black Cincinnati and Miss Black Teen Cincinnati pageants leaving the Tri-State audience in awe as the contestants took the stage.

The event, orchestrated by the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company, produced and directed by Donald L. Sherman and staff, illuminated the stage with the brilliance of the contestants. A few hours later after much clapping, adulation and cheers a winner from each pageant received her crown and sash. 

Soon after the pageant, I had the honor of interviewing the current Miss Black Cincinnati, Ajiana Birchmore, and Miss Black Teen Cincinnati, Jai Walker Tate. Each is undeniably equipped, focused and poised to lead by example. 

Miss Ajiana Birchmore, 24, graduate student at the University of Cincinnati, shone bright as she claimed the prestigious title of Miss Black Cincinnati 2024. Her path to the crown was a shining example of unwavering dedication and exceptional abilities, a journey that can motivate and empower anyone. 

Q: Ajiana, you have a career as an admissions counselor, and you are a graduate student. Why a pageant at this stage of your life, and how did you manage your schedule? 

A: A few amazing women in my life competed in either Miss Black Cincinnati or Miss Black Teen Cincinnati. They each spoke very highly of their experience. Additionally, I could not pass up the opportunity to be part of this organization and to be a role model for young girls. My calendar is my best friend. I scheduled everything in my life, which gave me time to attend rehearsals without stress. 

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the pageant, and how did you overcome the hurdle? 

A: The impromptu question, I was very nervous, not knowing what I would be asked, and having to formulate an answer on the spot was so nerve-racking. I read up on current events, practiced answering different kinds of questions, and I had a list of potential answers I could apply to many questions. 

Q: Ajiana, what moments stand out to you? 

A: This was such an amazing experience, and I am so glad I applied. The moments that stand out to me the most are the ones I spent with my fellow contestants. I found myself looking forward to rehearsals, mostly because I knew I would see them. They are all such amazing young women, and going through the process with them was so fulfilling that I wouldn鈥檛 have wanted to do it with anyone else. 

As Miss Black Cincinnati 2024, Birchmore doesn鈥檛 just wear a crown; she carries a commitment. Her dedication to uplift and empower her community, especially in higher education, is a beacon of hope. Her reign will be a source of pride, inspiring young women to embrace their authenticity and pursue their passions without fear. She imparts invaluable advice to aspiring contestants: 

鈥淪eize the opportunity, step outside your comfort zone and embrace the journey wholeheartedly.鈥� For her, the pageant was not just a competition but a transformative experience that enriched her life in countless ways. 

Jai Walker Tate, 15, High School student Connections Academy 

Q: What inspired you to enter this prestigious pageant at a young age? 

A: I always loved the thought of participating in a pageant, but I didn鈥檛 want to risk stepping outside of my comfort zone. When I was presented with the opportunity to enter, I realized that my comfort zone would get me nowhere. So, I left my fears behind and took a chance on myself. 

Q: Which approach did you take to prepare for the competition? 

A: This is my first pageant, but luckily my mother did extensive research and spoke to previous pageant participants. As an author, I was thrilled to have the opportunity in the talent category to highlight my love for scriptwriting with the comedic monologue I wrote. 

Q: How did you manage your time effectively as a high school student? 

A: The beauty of Ohio Connections Academy is that the curriculum is challenging, scheduling is flexible, and the teachers are incredibly supportive. 

Q: Reflecting on your experience competing in the Miss Black Teen Cincinnati pageant, what were some memorable moments for you? 

A: I鈥檒l have to say the fun I had with my pageant sisters during technical rehearsal, the care given by the pageant alumni on competition day, and, last but not least, hearing myself announced as the new Miss Black Teen Cincinnati. 

Q: How did you enjoy the overall competition experience? 

A: It was a challenging and rewarding experience.” 

Q: You won the sash and crown. Please share your goals and aspirations during your reign. 

A: It is an honor to wear the crown, and during my reign, I will dedicate myself to my platform, literacy. Through events, workshops, and collaborations, my mission is to promote a culture of life-long learning while upholding the values Mr. Robert L. Humphries set forth. 

Q: What impact do you hope to leave as a legacy once your reign as Miss Black Teen Cincinnati concludes? 

A: I want to be impactful in a way that inspires young and old to pursue their dreams fearlessly. 

Robert Humphries’s words will always ring true: 鈥淭here can only be one contestant crowned Miss Black Cincinnati/Miss Black Teen Cincinnati but to me, my staff, your parents, relatives and friends, you all are winners in the 鈥楥ontest of Life.鈥欌�� 

All MBC and MBTC contestants are now and forever a part of a legacy and a family of beautiful, brilliant and talented young ladies and women under the organization of RLH Pageants Unlimited Alumnae.听More than 30 alumnae dating back to the first pageant in 1980 took the stage. If you are an alumnae, call 513 368-8108.听

Event hosts included Courtis Fuller, Jan Michele-Lemon Kearney, Dr. Shelly Hamler, P. Ann Everson Price and Bomani Tyehimba. The judges were LaVieena Campbell, Jermaine Hill, Meichelle Gaines Gibson, Tish Norman, Iris Showes-Roley, Wanda Wallace and Lincoln Ware. Title sponsors were Closing the Health Gap, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, All-In Coalition, LifeCenter ‘Donate Life,’ GCNK African American Chamber, First Financial, Tru Partner Credit Union and 欧美AV as media sponsor.听

The escorts were Alpha Phi Alpha Esquires Aaron Bees, Caleb Griffin, Jermaine Dudley and Eddie Perry Jr. 

The Cincinnati Public Library System has archived the history of both pageants in its time capsule. 

Please support the tangible future of the legacy of the pageants also seeking 2025 contestants. Donate to the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company at . 

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COLUMBUS 鈥� Governor Mike DeWine has released the 2024 State of Ohio Travel Guide produced by TourismOhio, inviting visitors and residents to explore must-see attractions and offering inspiration for dining and overnight stays, in addition to Ohio trip-planning resources. Travelers can view the guide online or receive a free copy mailed to them directly.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to see all of Ohio鈥檚 unique and exciting destinations and also learn about some creative and truly innovative Ohioans showing the spirit of our great state,鈥� said Gov. DeWine. 鈥淔ran and I hope the guide encourages people to come experience the heart of it all for themselves 鈥� because we know when they visit Ohio, they鈥檒l fall in love with it.鈥澨�

The travel guide also features can鈥檛-miss attractions, local places to eat and travel inspiration for outdoor adventure. Whether giving travelers a bird鈥檚-eye view of Ohio鈥檚 breathtaking natural wonders from wooded hikes to sandy shores, exploring the capital city like a local, or feast-worthy looks at Ohio鈥檚 culinary scene, there鈥檚 something for everyone in the family in Ohio, the Heart of it All.听听

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By Josephine McKenrick 

Director of Marketing & Communications 

Cincinnati Country Day School

Wednesday, April 10, was a big day at Cincinnati City Hall with the Cincinnati Country Day School InvenTeam (CCDS). The team attended a Cincinnati City Council meeting to receive a proclamation from the City Council, sponsored by Councilmember Mark Jeffreys, recognizing their work to advance bicycle safety. Jeffreys introduced the team and described how impressed he was with them and their work after he visited with the team earlier this spring. The team demonstrated its patent-pending invention to council members and explained the invention’s purpose. Council members gave the team a standing ovation for their work and several council members congratulated them on their dedication to solving a problem that impacts the community.

The CCDS InvenTeam also met with the head of the Department of Transportation and Engineering, John Brazina, and civil engineers on his staff to learn about the department’s bicycle safety efforts and give a demonstration of the invention. Several staff members who are bicyclists approached the team and were very interested in using the device when it’s ready for market.

As Councilmember Jeffreys said,听“Sometimes young people in our community do really exceptional things.”

In 2023, Cincinnati Country Day School was awarded a Lemelson-MIT (LMIT) InvenTeam听grant听to create an invention geared towards improving road bike safety. Country Day听is one of only eight high schools nationwide to be selected to have an InvenTeam for the 2023-24 school year.听In June, the team will travel听to Cambridge, Mass. to present its听invention at EurekaFest. According to the LMIT website, “EurekaFest is an event that empowers student inventors, empowers role models, and encourages creativity and problem-solving.”听

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By Rev. Norman Franklin

欧美AV Contributor

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) tracks the progress of gender equality in government services. Women are evolving as a new power dynamic. 

CAWP data reveals that women hold 30.5% of elected offices in municipal governments across the nation, 30.9% in state legislatures, and 26.5% in the U.S. Congress. 

Although this data reveals significant improvements when contrasted with late twentieth-century data, current state-by-state data reveals women are underrepresented in municipal government, and state and federal elected offices. 

Some forerunners cut swaths through Napier grass like isms impeding race and gender equality. Shirley Chisholm, an African American woman, resisted the status quo and sowed seeds of progress along the 鈥淐hisholm Trail.鈥� 

She opened pathways for others to travel. 

Chisholm began her career in public service in 1960. She earned a master鈥檚 degree in early childhood education from Columbia University and became a recognized expert in early education and child welfare. New York City would benefit; she served as a consultant to the Division of Day Care. 

Prolonged strivings in a milieu of injustice birth a desire for something better; desire cannot lay dormant, it fuels actions. 

Shirley Chisholm joined the NAACP, the Urban League, the League of Women Voters, and the Democratic Party Club in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. In 1964, she became the second African American in the New York Legislature. In 1968, she was elected to represent New York in Congress. A court-ordered redistricting created a new district in her neighborhood. She co-founded the National Women鈥檚 Political Caucus, and in, 1977, she became to first Black woman and second woman to serve on the House Rules Committee. 

The ambiance of 1972 America was race and gender biased; Chisholm bumped up against it in the Democratic primaries. She was excluded from participating in televised primary debates. The skilled debater graduated cum laude from Brooklyn College in 1946; she won prizes on the debate team.

Legal action was taken. Chisholm was allowed one speech. She entered 12 primaries and won 152 delegates. 

She exemplified the 鈥淕olden Rule.鈥� George Wallace was an avowed racist. His platform, when he ran for Governor of Alabama, was 鈥淪egregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.鈥�  He stood on the steps of the University of Alabama in 1963 to block Black students from attending.

Wallace met Rep. Shirley Chisholm on June 8, 1972. Both were running for president.  The Democratic party favored the Wallace candidacy; a gunman altered his trajectory.  Wallace was shot five times at a campaign stop in Laurel, Maryland. He was permanently paralyzed. 

Chisholm paid Wallace a visit at Holy Cross Hospital. The fifteen-minute visit, his paralysis, and kind words from an African American woman had an impact on his stone racist heart. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 want what happened to you to happen to anyone,鈥� she told him. Profuse weeping followed, it may have endured through the night; his perspective changed. I鈥檓 not certain that it was by the next morning. 

Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 30, 1924. Her parents were immigrants. Her father, Charles St. Hill, was from Guyana; her mother, Ruby Seale, was from Barbados. They had four daughters; Shirley was the oldest. She married Conrad Chisholm in 1949. They later divorced. She married Arthur Hardwick Jr., a New York State legislator, in 1977. 

Shirley Chisholm served seven terms in the House of Representatives. She died on January 1, 2005. 

She blazed the 鈥淐hisholm Trail.鈥� She charted a path that many women have followed. 

An all-woman city council took the oath of office in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 1, 2024. It鈥檚 not an anomaly. Women are entering public service across the political spectrum. 

A record number of women were elected to federal and state office in the 2022 midterm elections. The 118^th Congress is the most gender diverse in U.S. history. 

But there is more work to be done. 

The U.S. was outranked by 25 other countries in the global parity index. This index benchmarks national gender gaps on political, economic, and social criteria. 

Gender equality owes a debt of gratitude to the 鈥淔ighting Shirley Chisholm 鈥� Unbought and Unbossed.鈥�

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By Nicole Armstrong, Bridget Doherty, Michelle Hopkins

Local employers committed to pay equity for women at the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls鈥� 3rd annual Pay Equity Commitment Signing Day on April 9. Commissioner Vice President Denise Driehaus formed the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls several years ago to address gender inequities. This class joins an impressive list of more than 80 organizations and businesses that have taken the pledge already.

One such employer, the Michelman Company, shared a firsthand account of how the Pay Equity Commitment helped a single mother make a living wage. The Michelman Model is called, 鈥淚ntegrating Pay Equity Into a Culture of Engagement and Belonging.鈥�

In 2022, , a global developer and manufacturer of eco-friendly materials and an Ellequate-certified employer, signed The Hamilton County Pay Equity Commitment, a voluntary initiative sponsored by the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls, to help close the gender wage gap in Hamilton County.

A year into their commitment, Melissa Young, Michelman’s Director of HR, participated in the first Pay Equity Learning Series. This innovative program, a partnership between , , and , is designed to offer employers practical tools for fostering pay equity. Young shared, 鈥淚 went to the Pay Equity Learning Series primarily because we had signed the Pay Equity Commitment with Hamilton County… I was going with the intention of collecting as many tools as I could to make sure that we were living up to the commitment that we made.鈥�

One of the sessions, led by Nicole Armstrong, Founder & CEO of Ellequate, highlighted the undervaluation of roles typically held by women and people of color, a revelation that deeply impacted Young.

Motivated by the session, Young embarked on a pay equity audit鈥攁n analysis to identify and address discrepancies in compensation structures. She uncovered that despite competitive pay rates, the company鈥檚 lowest paying positions were predominantly occupied by women and people of color. She dug deeper, exploring the real-life impacts of pay decisions on her team members, including how minor pay increases could unintentionally create financial hardship due to the loss of government benefits鈥攁 phenomenon known as the “cliff effect.”

Determined to address these challenges and with research in hand, Young proposed a new minimum living wage of $24 an hour at Michelman. The proposal was approved by the leadership team without hesitation. Rick Michelman, President & CEO explains, 鈥淚mplementing a minimum living wage was motivated by our commitment to social responsibility, fairness, and ethical business practices. It ensures that all of our associates receive a wage that not only allows them to cover basic living expenses, but also provides a dignified standard of living for themselves and their families. Linking the minimum living wage to a broader DEI Initiative begins to address economic disparities and systemic inequalities that exist throughout our community. It鈥檚 just another way that Michelman is Innovating a Sustainable Future.鈥�

The introduction of the new living wage at Michelman has had a profound impact on its employees, fueling hope and providing them with the means to chase their dreams. One single mother shared her transformative experience: 鈥淏efore, I was living paycheck to paycheck, just working to pay my bills. But now, I am able to save some money. This is a huge benefit for me. I wasn鈥檛 able to do that before. I can walk through a grocery store and buy something without having to think about it twice. This is a big change in my life and my little girl’s life.鈥� With this financial uplift, the future shines brighter for her and her family: 鈥淚 feel a sense of relief because I don鈥檛 have this financial burden anymore鈥� I feel like my work is valued now and I鈥檓 doing it even with more passion and dedication鈥� The wage increase gave me hope. I feel more powerful now. I feel like I can reach all my goals now.鈥�

Armstrong offers guidance for those starting out on their pay equity journey: 鈥淚t鈥檚 essential to craft a thoughtful compensation philosophy that aligns with your organization’s goals and values while also addressing the realities of market-driven disparities. Recognizing the internal value of a role is just as important as understanding its market value. This ensures that pay is not only fair but also reflects a genuine commitment to creating a workplace where all people can thrive.鈥�

鈥淗amilton County鈥檚 Pay Equity Commitment and this collaborative community initiative, go beyond basic fairness. They lay the foundation for a stronger community by addressing systemic poverty, employee satisfaction and retention, and lead to business sustainability,鈥� says Mary Maune of the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls. 鈥淲hich is why more and more businesses in Hamilton County are signing on and using this as a recruitment tool to build and grow their organizations.鈥澨�

Young was a speaker at the signing event at Memorial Hall, with 40 area businesses in attendance to publicly commit to furthering their equitable pay and hiring practices with their organizations. For those interested in deepening their commitment to pay equity, by participating in the next Pay Equity Learning Series, reach out to Mary Maune of the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls, or Nicole Armstrong of Ellequate, for more details.

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By Leticia Callista

<leticia@curzonpr.com>

Cristiano Berti鈥檚 new book, Boggiano Heirs, tells the stories of the Boggianos, a group of enslaved people owned by Antonio Boggiano, a wealthy Italian merchant residing in Cuba in the early 19th century, whose surname was imposed upon many enslaved people and transmitted to their descendants up to this day.

In the early 19th century, slavery was widespread in Cuba. Racism was also a rampant issue as the Cuban society was divided into classifications according to one鈥檚 proximity to Whiteness, defining a woman of mixed African and European descent as a mulata, of mixed Indigenous American and European descent as a mestiza, of mixed White and mulata descent as a tercerona, a descendent of mixed White and tercerona descent a cuarterona and so on in the numerous possible combinations.

By the time Antonio Boggiano arrived in Cuba, it was fairly easy for him to amass enough money to purchase a coffee plantation near the city of Trinidad 鈥� in an area named San Jos茅 de los Puriales 鈥� along with slaves who were forced to exert labor to cultivate it.

The enslaved people endured poor living conditions and harsh treatment, particularly those who worked in sugar plantations. Poor sanitary conditions, scarcity of medicines and overcrowding made the enslaved people more vulnerable to epidemics. Due to the hardships the enslaved faced, their lifespan was cut short 鈥� those in sugar plantations had a lifespan that averaged around 10 years, while those in coffee plantations had a comparatively higher lifespan.

Those who attempted to flee, known as cimarrones, were often captured and returned to slavery after being subjected to terrible punishments. According to customary law, the only reliable way to freedom was through its purchase. As few had the means to do so, many had their fates sealed as slaves. Fortunately, some of Boggiano鈥檚 slaves did precisely this: They bought their own freedom.

While the Cuban Boggianos of this era carry Antonio Boggiano鈥檚 surname, they do not directly descend from his lineage. Instead, the book explores other possibilities, such as the customary practices in Spanish colonies that baptized enslaved people under the surname of their enslaver.

Today, the only tangible relic of Antonio Boggiano鈥檚 many businesses and properties is a white marble altar found in Sant铆sima Trinidad鈥檚 Church. However, the author emphasizes that the marble altar is not particularly interesting compared to the immaterial legacy constituted by the transmission of his surname that can be found among many Afro-Cubans to this day.

The result of five years of research, Cristiano Berti鈥檚 鈥淏oggiano Heirs鈥� is primarily an artist鈥檚 book but takes the form of a historical essay. His recent projects involve the publication of an artist鈥檚 book, along with works created using the typical mediums of contemporary art. 

The book closes with a conversation with American art critic and author Seph Rodney on art and the representation and memory of slavery:

鈥淵ou turned toward the mystery of the Boggianos to see what they could tell you about the wider developments within the Caribbean. I think it鈥檚 valuable that you have uncovered a hushed history of entrepreneurship, travel, exploitation, enslavement, aspiration, intermixing of cultures and ethnicities, and laborious self-possession.鈥�

Boggiano Heirs is distributed in the U.S. by IDEA Books and produced thanks to the support of the Italian Council鈥檚 programme for the international promotion of Italian art, under the General Directorate for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture. 

Cristiano Berti (Turin, 1967) is a visual artist who mainly works with the mediums of photography, video and installation. Using an array of sources, Berti weaves together the stories of Boggiano and the people he owned as slaves. Uniting everything is the surname Boggiano, imposed on the slaves and still widespread in the Afro-Cuban community. 

The book uses the mystery of the Boggianos to understand wider developments within the Caribbean, uncovering a hushed history of entrepreneurship, travel, exploitation, enslavement, aspiration and intermixing of cultures and ethnicities.

The book is part of a larger project titled Futile Cycles: Boggiano, which include two other works developed by Berti: a wall installation depicting two large family trees, in which the people born in Africa stand at the apex, branching out through marriages that took place in the first half of the 19th century, and a video in which some stories collected by the author in the area where Antonio Boggiano’s coffee plantation once stood intersect with the conversation a family of Afro-Cuban Boggianos.

The result of five years of research, Boggiano Heirs is primarily an artist鈥檚 book, but takes the form of a historical essay. 

Berti found the inspiration for Boggiano Heirs from the research conducted on Gaggini, which led him to discover the existence of Antonio Boggiano, who was an intermediary in the commission to the sculptor of two fountains for the city of Havana.

Due to its historical and artistic relevance at an international level, the book won the support of the Italian Council programme operated by the Italian Contemporary Creativity Directorate General of the Ministry of Culture. 

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By Audrey Peterman

As recipient of the听National Park Conservation Association鈥檚听听鈥渇or outstanding contribution toward ensuring our national parks are ready for their second century of service,鈥� I embrace Black History Month as an opportunity to take you on a tour to some of the glorious places in the听 where our forebears helped turn the tide of history. I take it as a point of pride that I have literally walked in the majority of these places, which is why my thirst to share them may never be quenched.

I could take you geographically from the southernmost point of the continental United States at the听, where enslaved Black men helped build the massive Fort Jefferson as part of America鈥檚 coastal defense system in the 1830s. We could go all the way north to the highest peak on the North American continent, where George Crenshaw left his footprints on Mount Denali in Denali National Park on July 9, 1964.听Because in every facet of American life -from exploration; conquest, defense, economy, resistance, conservation and the pursuit of human rights 鈥� I can show you a unit of the National Park System where the event took place, where African Americans made the difference, and the park is the means of protecting the story.

The legacy is so extensive I might have to share it in multiple pieces, and the best thing of all is that the contributions of every race and ethnic group is similarly protected in units of the Park System at the places where it happened. Literally, the National Park System 鈥減reserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values鈥� of our country 鈥渇or the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations.鈥�

Let鈥檚 begin at听 in Virginia, marking the site where the first Africans were traded onto American soil in 1619. The plantation economy subsequently built upon the labor of millions of enslaved Africans, and its impact on their lives can be experienced at the听in South Carolina 听(he being a signer of the US Constitution) and the听outside Jacksonville, (where the plantation mistress, Anna Madgigine Jai was a Senegalese princess whom the Florida planter Zephaniah Kingsley married in 1806 when she was 13 years old). Their offspring include Johnetta Betsch Cole, legendary educator and former president of Spelman College.

The first shot to ring out in the Revolutionary War took the life of Crispus Attucks, and the place where he fell is still identified as the site of the Boston Massacre in听in Philadelphia contains the encampment site of General George Washington鈥檚 Continental Army in the dire winter of 1777-78 when, lacking a supply chain, soldiers were forced to forage for food, heat and clothing. The anguish suffered by Black and brown men and women in the encampment was visible from the bloody footprints left on the snow. Yet the ragged band persevered and emerged 鈥渁 cohesive and disciplined fighting force鈥� that went on to secure the new nation.

At nearby听听let鈥檚 tune in to the words of the Declaration of Independence ringing out July 4, 1776: 听鈥淲e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal鈥︹�� The dramatically flawed and cracked Liberty Bell, that unbowed symbol of the drive for freedom stands sentinel outside, reminding us that the job is not yet finished.

I hope your appetite is sufficiently whetted. Next time, we鈥檒l start at Fort Sumpter and Fort Moultrie National Park in Charleston Harbor, where the first shot of the Civil War rang out, signifying the rejection of slavery, and conclude at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia, where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. In a meeting reportedly so cordial it was dubbed 鈥淎 gentleman鈥檚 agreement,鈥� Lee accepted the gift of rations for his starving troops and told them to return home and resume their lives as Americans.

Black history is inextricably interwoven with American history, because we are an indispensable part of everything that happened here. Our Herculean efforts in the face of rabid racism helped make America the beacon she remains today.

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NEW YORK 鈥� Searching for Augusta Savage, a 22-minute film that tells the story of an inspiring and enterprising artist, who in the 1920s and 30s, created a pipeline of creative opportunities for Black artists, kicked off American Masters Shorts, a new digital series from PBS鈥� flagship biography series, American Masters. Narrated by art historian and curator Jeffreen M. Hayes, Ph.D. (traveling exhibit and book, Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman), with Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black; The Glorias, The Equalizer) providing dramatic readings of the words of Augusta Savage, Searching for Augusta Savage premiered Thursday, February 15 on American Masters YouTube channel, PBS and the PBS App.听

Sculptor Augusta Savage opened the first gallery in the U.S. dedicated to exhibiting the work of Black artists in 1939. She also founded several organizations that provided free art education and training to 2,500 people, and mentored many celebrated artists, including Romare Bearden, Gwendolyn Knight, Jacob Lawrence, Selma Burke, Norman Lewis, and Kenneth B. Clark. Savage was the first African American elected to the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, later renamed the National Association of Women Artists, and was the only Black artist, and one of four women commissioned to create an exhibit for the 1939 World鈥檚 Fair in Flushing, New York. While Savage was both active and prolific, only half of the approximately 160 pieces of sculpture she created have survived today, and little is known about her extensive accomplishments.

Searching for Augusta Savage investigates why evidence of Savage鈥檚 life and legacy appears to have been erased. Dr. Denise Murrell, Merryl H. and James S. Tisch Curator at Large, and Associate Curator of 19th- and 20th-Century Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides analysis in the film about why Savage鈥檚 work is missing from most museum collections, stating that, 鈥淸In] the museum market, the art market, the galleries, the critical attention was given to male artists.鈥� Murrell is curator of the Met鈥檚 exhibition, 鈥淭he Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism,鈥� which opened February 25, and includes two of Savage鈥檚 works of art.

Searching for Augusta Savage is written, produced and directed by Charlotte Mangin and Sandra Rattley, the makers of UNLADYLIKE2020, the award-winning series of animated documentary shorts distributed by American Masters, which profiles 26 little-known, diverse women history makers, whose acts of courage changed this nation before women had the right to vote.

Mangin says, 鈥淪earching for Augusta Savage continues our dedication to bringing untold stories to life. Savage’s life has contemporary relevance, as a 2019 analysis by Williams College of more than 40,000 works of art in the permanent collections of 18 major museums revealed that 85% of the artists exhibited in the most visited U.S. museums are White, and 87% are male. Just 0.5% of acquisitions were of the work of Black women.鈥� Rattley adds that, 鈥淎udacious Women Productions is proud to revive Augusta Savage鈥檚 work and legacy as one of her best known works, 鈥楲ift Every Voice and Sing鈥� commissioned for the 1939 World鈥檚 Fair, was bulldozed when the fair ended, and only exists today in souvenir miniatures and archival photographs.

Complimentary U.S. history and social studies educational materials for grades 6-12 based on the Searching for Augusta Savage film, produced by The WNET Group鈥檚 Kids鈥� Media and Education team, is now available via PBS Learning Media.

Websites: , , @PBSAmerMasters, ,

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