Written by Dennis Harvell Chapter 4 The Olive Branch The Power of the Final Reach An Inner Shift Reflection There is a quiet, unmistakable power in being the last one to reach out. When you extend the olive branch and it’s ignored, you’re no longer the one carrying the weight of what if. You handed… Continue reading The Olive Branch
Tag: Sovereignty
Black HERstory: Bessie Coleman
(“Sovereign Portrait features Bessie Coleman in a vintage leather aviator’s coat and flight cap, her face set with a gaze that transcends the horizon. She is framed by the swirling, golden-hued propeller clouds of a 1920s airfield, where the sky is rendered in deep, archival ambers and sepia tones. Behind her, the Sovereign Eye watches from a… Continue reading Black HERstory: Bessie Coleman
Black HERstory: Nina Simone
(“Sovereign Portrait features an elegant Nina Simone at a grand piano that seems to emerge from a sea of deep, royal indigo. She wears a towering, intricate headwrap that resembles a crown, and her expression is one of fierce, unblinking intensity. Surrounding her are swirling, rhythmic musical staves that transform into jagged bolts of lightning—representing… Continue reading Black HERstory: Nina Simone
Black HERstory: Miriam Makeba
(“The Sovereign Portrait features Miriam Makeba in a in traditional Xhosa beadwork—necklaces of intricate black and white patterns that cascade like armor. Surrounding her is a rhythmic, golden aura composed of sound waves that morph into the silhouettes of the African continent symbolizing her role as “Mama Africa,” a woman whose sovereignty remained intact even… Continue reading Black HERstory: Miriam Makeba
The Performance of Outrage
Written by Dennis Harvell Chapter 1 The Performance of Outrage An Inner Shift Reflection We live in an era where everyone is an actor on a stage they didn’t build, performing for an audience that doesn’t actually care about them. The world demands that you stay “tuned in,” permanently “connected,” and—most importantly—constantly “outraged.” Every headline… Continue reading The Performance of Outrage
Black HERstory: Maya Angelou
(“Sovereign Portrait” features Maya Angelou. She is draped in a vibrant, multi-colored kente cloth wrap, her hands folded in a gesture of profound stillness. Surrounding her is a rhythmic, ascending flight of gold-leaf birds—a reference to her “Caged Bird” who finally found the sky. The background is a texture of stacked, ancient books that transform… Continue reading Black HERstory: Maya Angelou
The Mask of the Syndrome: Authenticity vs. The Alias
Written by Dennis Harvell Chapter 2 The Mask of the Syndrome: Authenticity vs. The Alias An Inner Shift Reflection In my quest to understand the “Inner Shift,” I keep running into a term that has become the ultimate get‑out‑of‑jail‑free card for the digital age: Imposter Syndrome. It’s the trendiest label in the room. Everyone from… Continue reading The Mask of the Syndrome: Authenticity vs. The Alias
The Turning Point
Written by Dennis Harvell The Turning Point The Silence of Sovereignty Why I’m Trading Drama for Peace We’re told family is a “two‑way street,” but what happens when you’re the only one doing the paving? Lately, I’ve been reevaluating the value of my time and energy. I’m no longer asking, “Why didn’t they call?” Instead,… Continue reading The Turning Point
Black HERstory: Major Charity Adams Earley
(Featured Image: The “Sovereign Portrait” of Major Charity Adams, surrounded by the swirling letters and the discipline of her command) Written by Dennis Harvell Major Charity Adams: The Commander of the Six Triple Eight In the Beyond The Bronx library, we honor those who built bridges across impossible divides. Today, our Black HERstory series spotlights Major Charity Adams Earley—the highest-ranking… Continue reading Black HERstory: Major Charity Adams Earley
Black HERstory: Ida B. Wells
(Featured Image: The “Sovereign Portrait” of Ida B. Wells, holding her lantern and book of truth) Written by Dennis Harvell Ida B. Wells: The Truth-Teller of the Gilded Age In the Beyond The Bronx library, where global heritage meets a Bronx-rooted philosophical lens, we illuminate the architects of change. Today, our Black HERstory series turns its gaze to Ida B.… Continue reading Black HERstory: Ida B. Wells