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Quotes and Black Art | Thursdaysº

Jafari Joseph

Jun 04, 2026

Quotes and Black Art

Your Curated Art Museum

“Come for the art, stay for the quotes.”

“‘What do you think folks did a long time ago,’ Uncle Ross said, ‘when there was maybe a whole family of eight or ten sitting around this table? They would laugh and talk.’”

— Virginia Hamilton, Zeely, 1967

A Snippet:

Did you know that Virginia Hamilton’s grandfather, Levi Perry, was born enslaved in Virginia? In fact, once a year, he would gather his children around, ‘Set down,’ he would say, ‘and I will tell you about slavery and why I ran, so that it will never happen to you.’ Ms. Hamilton was named Virginia in remembrance of his flight and, over a distinguished life, she would go on to write and publish 41 books in multiple genres, spanning: children books, folktales, mysteries, science fiction, and biographies.

Learn more . . .

Quotes and Black Art

Thursday, June 4, 2026 (Edition 31)

“Everybody love’s the sunshine!”

91. “The Wanderer” (1933) by Norman Lewis

Harlem-born painter Norman Lewis (1909 - 1979)—an early understudy of the famous sculptor Augusta Savage—on finding your voice:

“I don't think many cats know how to be alone because it requires this kind of concentration, and when you are alone what do you have to say? Do you have anything to say?”
- Norman Lewis

92. “In Memoriam” (2020) by Ariel Sinha

Chicago, Illinois, designer and illustrator Ariel Sinha (b. 1992)—also a multi-talented comedian and musician, who’s portraits honoring the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd went viral in 2020—on describing her style:

“I describe my artistic style as bright and celebratory.”
- Ariel Sinha

93. “Mother and Child” (circa 1932) by Sargent Johnson

Boston-born Sargent Johnson (1888 - 1967)—a painter, potter, ceramicist, printmaker, graphic artist, sculptor, and carver; plus the only West Coast artist considered part of the Harlem Renaissance—on speaking directly to your audience:

“It is the pure, American Negro I am concerned with . . . I wish to show that beauty not so much to the white man as to the Negro himself.”
- Sargent Johnson

“It turns out that dying is not that hard. Didn’t hurt that much. It’s the living afterwards that’s the really difficult part. I mean, why are you still here? You have to ask yourself those hard questions: Are you a good father? Are you a good husband? Are you a good friend? Are you a good brother? Are you a good human being?” Then you have to ask yourself the question that makes the answer null and void - can you be better?”

- Peabo Bryson (RIP 🙏🏿)

Gemini Birthdays!

(May 21st - June 20th)

June 1 - Morgan Freeman
June 3 - Curtis Mayfield
June 4 - El DeBarge, Al B. Sure! (today!)
June 5 - Breonna Taylor
June 5 - John Carlos
June 6 - Tommie Smith

(Breathe In . . . Breathe Out)