The Nakba- historical video by Vox

 

video link

One of the most strategic things those in power do to shape public opinion is to control the narrative, They do this by omitting, blocking, and often erasing the history of the oppressed peoples. This video shows what has been left out of most history books and discussions of freedom when it comes to Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel. It is not anti-semetic to discuss the true history of how this state came to be through the British and the United States involvement and support. It is anti-semetic however to deny that the Jewish people were not persecuted and murdered during WW2! History is powerful yall.

Please watch and share

Dig this? Check out this video of how apartheid works today in occupied Palestine aka Israel. 

Police Gangs of LA

 

This shit is ill, and I've heard the same about the NYPD. Best believe that I support getting rid of the entire system of policing as it stands today in the US. no amount of reform will change how they bully, disrespect, target, and murder folks here; especially Black folks, people of color, mentally ill people, and poor people. We need to take the millions each major urban city spends on policing and put it into whhat would actually help people, reduce crime, etc. Quality housing, education, mental and physical health care, jobs. 

You see this and understand why The Black Panther Party for Self Defense was created. Peep this post from a few years ago: 

Brutality over the years

Respect to journalist Cerise Castle! 

VIDEO: "Umber" crowdfunding

 

Yo, i'm excited to be a part of this new publishing venture and I'd like to invite you to be a part of it too. Umber started as a magazine, and has grown to be a nationally respected journal-a creative thinkers journal focusing on Black and Brown peoples. 

Now, Mike the founder along with a team of writers, designers, marketers, artists, technologists, and journalists are expanding from one journal to become a publisher of 4. Each one (Umber, Tone, Slumber, and BBP) will focus on a different area and we need creatives to contribute. Not only to the campaign but to making the content as fresh as it can be.

Watch the video, share it, and please contribute. LINK

If you'd like to know a bit more about the founder , here's a short video

If you'd like to get more in depth, please listen to this podcast interview with Print Design to hear how he makes it happen and how it all started. LINK

Waxpoetics - Inspiring look back

Yo, just got an email from Waxpoetics with a link to this short doc about the magazine. This shit is really a dope magazine if you love hip hop, funk, jazz, soul, electronic music, etc. At the time when WP came out I bought the first or second issue (Berkeley Ca 2001?) because it had some art from Style Wars on the cover (classic graff film). And when this video was filmed I was actually living in NYC and contributed an illustration of 9th Wonder to the Hip Hop issue. Peep that here.

To see John Carlucccio's (Battle Sounds Doc) higher quality version of the video, go here.

In case you missed it, WP left the scene for awhile and now they're back. Not only with new magazines fresh off a kickstarter, but also with new videos. Peep this one about Chicago DJs and musicians.

Curtis Mayfield, Ron Trent, Crate Diggers record fair.

Distortion 2 Static -Bay Area Hip Hop TV Show

Legends

I remember seeing this. You never know who on the street is a part of hip hop history. Respect everyone. These cats used to bboy out there on Market st in SF all the time. Style Elements? Before I even knew who he was Doooom Rocky!

1619 Podcast - Bad blood

If you're not a reader, podcasts can also be a great way to get the info. 1619 is a ground breaking new piece curated by Nikole Hannah Jones at the New York Times. The podcast has 5 episodes so far. The one about the legacy of medical mistreatment called "bad blood" is incredible. Take a listen:

Inspiration board 30

Some inspirations on my mind for the past 6 months, from top to bottom, left to right.

1. Arlan Hamilton-First Black woman to start and run a successful venture capitalist firm 2. Art of Alex Ross 3. Journalist extraordinaire Nikole Hannah Jones 4. Ghost-written by Jason Reynolds 5. From Far Away - Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar 6. Legendary house music producer Larry Heard 7. Art of Little Red House/ Aggie Cheung 8. By Chance or Providence - Becky Cloonan 9. Etsy Conversations Podcast for business 10. Genevieve Santos- Incredible artist/ entrepreneur (Thx Nidhi!) 11. Black Thought vs 9th Wonder - Streams of Thought 12. Jessica Jones - Netflix/Marvel show 13. Benny Doesn't Like to be Hugged - Zetta Elliott picture book about an autistic boy 14. Dani Diez- Illustrator 15. The Feminist on Cellblock Y- CNN Documentary 16. Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap LP

Here is the previous board 29

What's this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life's trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I've been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.

Who am I? My name is Rob and I'm an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube.

You can purchase my book "Art of Rob" here

Jamilah King

Had the pleasure of working with journalist Jamilah King for the new year. She's an amazing journalist who has worked for Al Jazeera, Mic.com, The California Sunday Magazine, and now Mother Jones. Please support her and read more about her here at www.JamilahKing.com

Dig this? Check out this portrait of Moses Sumney