(“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
Tag: Sovereignty
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) 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 Black woman officer in… 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) 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. Wells—a woman who wielded… Continue reading Black HERstory: Ida B. Wells
The Bronck’s River: Where The Name Began
Written by Dennis Harvell The Secret Sovereignty of Jonas Bronck: The Edge of the World The “End Place” Before it was the Bronx, it was a rugged, untamed frontier known to the Lenape as Ranachqua — the End Place. To the Dutch in New Amsterdam, it was simply the wild north. But to a sea… Continue reading The Bronck’s River: Where The Name Began
Black HERstory: Toni Morrison
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” The Architect Artist of Words: Toni Morrison The Lorient Legacy in Lorain, Ohio. Growing up in a household filled with African-American folktales, ghost stories, and songs, she developed an early reverence for the oral tradition.… Continue reading Black HERstory: Toni Morrison