It is the month where we celebrate freedom of African Americans with Juneteenth. In light of the protests that have taken place around the country, this piece I titled Protests.
A protester has been peppersprayed.
Art of the Month
Blog
What Will We Do
In June we will do things that make us better. This month pray for the Supreme Court of the United States. Pray that they will do what is right and just and fair. Pray that everyone in the United States will also do the same.
Welcome to JuneTeenth Month
In June, I will celebrate with photos of art that allow us to reflect on our history.
This is a Boli Fetish Figure from the Bamana people of Mali in West Africa. It is referred to as a fetish because it possessed a magical power representing a spirit that controlled some aspect of their life. It would get rid of disease or punish someone doing wrong in the community.
It was created of animal bones, feathers, vegetable matter, metal, mirror, and other organic matter.
Mesmerizing Images
Our world is changing. The riots in cities across the United States have me mesmerized. Anger and frustration is being released but is building up to something else.
The year 2020 is showing to be a pivotal year. It is a year unlike any I have experienced. It will be remembered as a year of impeachment, pandemic and riots. We are only half way through it.
All these images are from CNN covering the riots that have taken place in the last couple of days.
The artistic way the photographers tell the story puts the viewer front and center.
This is Worth your Time
I don’t really like true stories in tv or movies because the endings are seldom the way I want them to end. But sometimes the actor leading the show is pretty compelling.
Fell in love with Martin Freeman as Watson in Sherlock so I had to at least check out this new series, Confession. It tells the story of Detective Superintendent Stephen Fulcher as he looks for a missing young woman. Confronted with the killer, Fulcher has to make a decision that haunts him the rest of his life.
The Brits really understand short term attention because my favorite series have about 5 episodes. So does this one. Confession is a little confusing as it uses flash backs trying to explain the circumstances for several individuals. But it is thought provoking.
I have to fight the urge to want Freeman to be the character I had come to know him as, Watson. There were times I wanted him to fight back or have all the right answers. I had to let it go. I had to recognize his purpose in this story.
Actresses Siobhan Finneran and Imelda Staunton carry the weight of this series and it is refreshing. They each play a mother of a missing girl and take the viewer on an interesting ride. I saw portions of myself in each of these mothers. These actresses told a compelling story.
I recommend this series for those who like to binge over a couple of days. It is British, well written and told.
Let This Motivate You
With the Pandemic and recent killings of African Americans by police in the United States it is easy to become depressed or seek move away from this type of news. Folks want to avoid talking about it or watch something to take their minds off of it.
Resist the urge to ignore this. Now is the time to have a conversation about how you feel about injustice. It is also time to learn more about these things and how they impact you.
Art has been a great expression of how some people are dealing with unjust situations. I have found comfort in how artists use their creative minds especially to express their pain and fear and translate it onto a canvas.
George Floyd was an African American man who was arrested by Minneapolis Police on Monday, May 25. This situation was video taped by people who watched four police officers hold Floyd down. One officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck which restricted his breathing. Floyd died.
After the world watched this man die on the internet and television as the video was replayed, grief and angry filled the nation as we were faced with the chickens coming home to roost. Since then riots broke out around the city, with even a police department building being burned down.
Over the last couple of months life has become very precious as we have watched the numbers of people dying of the pandemic climb to 100,000. Yet this singular death of one man by a police officer has been the proverbial straw.
I have seen people who have been quiet during other situations like this speak loud and often. I have seen people throw themselves in between police and people they are pursuing.
If we are going to stop this, everyone has to do their part. You have to figure out where you belong and go to it. But everyone has to be a part of this if we are going to stop this. We are going to stop this.
Art of the Month
Self Confidence
Awake
Keep up with what is going on around your surroundings
Sometimes Bitter Is Savory
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Book of the Month
Privateers
A single young woman is tricked by modern day pirates losing everything she owned. As she tries to figure out what happened to her belongings, her world crashes around her as government and private agencies treat her as a suspect. Determined to find the man who did this to her, she stumbles onto a government top secret. Finding this modern-day pirate turns into a race against lethal forces.
Available on Amazon
and Books2Read.com
