Penny Candy Books Anthology - It's out!

So I can finally write about and show y'all a bit of the process for my recent piece in the Penny Candy Books release "13 Ways of looking at a Black boy". This is a great book! It's hardbound, about 30 pgs total, and matte color finished. The book is an anthology of artists who each get a piece of Tony Medina's poem about Black Boys. Tony Medina is a dope poet from NYC that has not only published a bunch of poetry books, but he's also published many picture books, and his graphic novel "I am Alfonso Jones". The artists that Penny Candy picked are an awesome array of experience and technique. There are digital illustration, collage, oil, watercolor, acrylic, and ink. Here is my piece.

Here you can see a bit of process.I generally start with thumbnails, then move on to refined sketches and color ideas. Once those are approved I paint!

If you're interested in getting a new book for your classroom, office, school, or library please support this company and the story. Also, check out the amazing artists featured in the book. 

LINK

Black is Beautiful (2018) 13 - Greg Liggins

Greg Liggins is a BMX Rider from Hayward California. He came to prominence in the mid 80s for his speed and abilities on the track. He was so fast that he was called "lightning". He won hundreds of  trophies in his teens and early twenties. He would go on to break a record as the first rider to win four ABA (American Bicycle Association) races. He would ride for large bike companies such as Hutch and Jag. But, in the 80s his team for Hutch was invited to ride in South Africa. Although he was excited to travel he declined in protest once he found out about the apartheid and how Black folks were being treated. For this act of protest, much like Kapernick, he was let go and black balled from racing and his team. But, he stood by his principles and later went on to be a newscaster for KTVU. If you have any connections to Greg, please show him this piece.

As a kid who loved to ride my BMX bike, my GT, I was really excited to learn about Greg!

You can purchase a print for $20 (includes shipping) , email at info@robdontstop.com 


Sources: Home Turf, BMX Life, 38th Notes, and Super Kids

Black is Beautiful (2018) 12 - Pam the Funkstress

The Bay Area lost a legend this past December. I'm fortunate to have met Pam in person while she catered a youth focused event. There I told her how much I respected and appreciate her to which she was super nice. I also got to see her perform with The Coup many times. She was a incredible DJ, always clean with the cuts, timing, and as I understand it, a great musical selector.

Pam started as a battle DJ entering competitions on KMEL and the DMC (Disco Mix Competition). She later became the DJ for the Coup which she remained for nearly two decades. In later years she did not tour with the band but she was always there for special shows. Pam added tracks to Coup LP's and vicious scratches for each album; always appearing on the covers with Boots and E-roc at first, then just Boots and Pam. I am huge fan of The Coup, and always loved their blend of funk, mob music, political satire, and wit. Pam also DJ'd in the club scene becoming a part of Bay Area Sound System or BASS with several ladies. She did weekly and monthly parties on top of making food and running a catering company (soul food). She later also DJ'd for the one and only Prince, who would later dub her Purple Pam. Read up on her, listen to the music, and count her among the world's hip hop greats. My condolences to her Family, Boots, The whole Coup fam, and her fans. I am still in disbelief. She definitely got respect from hip hop lovers, turntablists, party DJ's and the greater Hip hop community at large.

Sources: Life, Coup LPs, San Jose Mercury News

Dig this? See this portrait of Shock G (rip)

M is for Movement - Duncan Tonatiuh

Just did an interview for "M is For Movement" blog where we try to speak on children's books that feature social justice/progressive narratives.Go check out my interview with author/illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.

LINK

Black is Beautiful (2018) 11 - Marlon Riggs

Marlon Riggs was a pioneering Black gay filmmaker. He was born in 1957 in Fort Worth Dallas and  grew up there as part of a military family and moved around a lot. He lived in Georgia and Germany as a result. Always an incredible student and queer he faced discrimination, racism, and alienation from both many people. In the mid 70s he got a scholarship to Harvard University and although he excelled academically was hiding his true sexuality. Then Marlon moved to the Bay Area where he attended UC Berkeley study film and Black history. He became a filmmaker and shot his first documentary "Long Train Running" about West Oakland blues history in 1982. He also began to embrace his sexuality and bean what would become a life long relationship with Jack Vincent. They were among the first gay couples in the Bay to apply for domestic partnership. He went on to become a faculty member at UCB an self funded and produced another film called "Ethnic Notions" about the historic portrayal of Black folks which aired on PBS. He went on to join a group called the "Black Gay Men United" and made a film called "Tongues Untied" which was revolutionary in its portrayal of queer Black men. The film received wide acclaim and criticism. Riggs would go on to make several more films, to win international film awards, to become a young tenured UCB faculty member, and to receive an honorary degree from CCAC (now CCA). Marlon learned after having kidney failure that he was HIV positive. He would later die from complications of AIDS and he vowed to not stay silent about the disease which was ripping apart both queer and straight communities across the US. Marlon was a pioneer in film, Gay pride, and Black history.


Sources: MarlonTRiggs.com, Current.org, I Shall Not Be Removed (film)

Roxanne Roxanne Film

Looks dope!

Black is Beautiful (2018) 10 - Ruth E Carter

Ruth E. Carter was born in 1960 and is from Springfield Massachusetts. In her early days of college she wanted to be an actress. Once after auditioning for a play and being passed over for the part she was offered the job of doing costumes for the play and she loved it. She loved it so much she began to design countless costumes for dance shows and theater productions at her school Hampton University. After getting some more schooling at USC and an internship for the Los Angeles Theater Center she would meet a young filmmaker named Spike Lee. In her early career she worked with Keenan Ivory Wayans, but it was with Spike that she would work on more than 12 of his projects. Films such as Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Do the Right Thing. Carter described her process with a ton of research using photographs, oral history, and books. She uses many references to make a mood or inspiration board in her studio, set trailers, and online that is both physical and digital. Ms Carter has worked on over 40 films and TV shows to date with projects such as Being Mary Jane, Love & Basketball, Selma, The Five heartbeats, Meteor Man, Empire, Serenity, and most recently she designed costumes for Marvel's Black Panther. She has been nominated for an oscar, an academy award, an emmy, and she has won the "career achievement" award from the American Black Film Festival. Word has it she is training new costume designers as well.


Sources: Slate's Represent podcast, Fashionista, Imdb, Black Reel Awards

Dig this? Check out this piece about Brenda Banks

Black is Beautiful (2018) 9 - Kye Allums

Born in 1989 and hailing from Circle Pines Minnesota Kye is a ground breaking trans activist and former athlete. He went to college at George Washington University and played basketball for the team; the Colonials. Kye had long been queer and in his 3rd yr decided to come out as a transgender male making him the first NCAA athlete to do so (transition from female to male). He has since left basketball. Despite being taunted, called names, and being questioned repeatedly he has become an advocate. Kye now is a public speaker and mentor to LGBTQ youth. He also wrote a book of poems titled "Who am I".

You can purchase a print for $20 (includes shipping) , email at info@robdontstop.com 

Sources: The T Word, Wikipedia

Prof Aliyah Dunn-Slahuddin - Black struggle in the Bay Area

She drops some great gems about Black Freedom struggle here in the Bay

Ilias ft Sylvia - Nantes City Sanglante

Really feeling this song today