ARTIST OF THE MONTH: GIL SCOTT-HERON

Photo via rollingstone.com

Gil Scott-Heron was one of the most important spoken word poets of the 20th Century. Born in Chicago, Illinois and later relocating to the Bronx, NY, Scott-Heron was deeply influenced by the jazz and blues traditions. His writing opened a window into the conditions of Blackness and poverty in America. One of his biggest influences was Langston Hughes. He is best known for his piece "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which became an anthem in Seventies Black America. He is also known for the blues "Pieces of a Man."

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Decolonizing Culture

THE DECOLONIZER
January 2016

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ARTIST OF THE MONTH: JULIA DE BURGOS

(via claridadpuertorico.com)

Julia de Burgos is considered to be one of the greatest Puerto Rican poets of all time. Born in poverty in Carolina in 1914, Julia  persevered and became a renowned poet in Puerto Rico. By the time she immigrated to the United States in 1940 she had  published two collections of poetry. Julia's poems were a precursor to feminist anti-colonial politics. She herself became a vocal advocate for Puerto Rican independence. Her more famous works are El Rio Grande de Loiza,  Poema para Mi Muerte (My Death Poem), and Yo Misma Fui Mi Ruta (I Was My Own Path). 

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Decolonizing Culture

THE DECOLONIZER
December 2015

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ARTIST OF THE MONTH: EMORY DOUGLAS

Emory Douglas was the minister of culture for the Black Panther Party beginning in 1967 until the group dissolved in the 1980s. His artwork was featured consistently in The Black Panther newspaper and he was the art director, designer, and main illustrator for the publication. His iconic images represented the struggle of the Panthers as whole. His posters and flyers brought the revolution to people and allowed them to visualize resistance. A comprehensive collection of his work can be seen in the book Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas.

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Decolonizing Culture

THE DECOLONIZER
November 2015

Read the full newsletter here »