For Black History Month we chose to honors many influential black people who have done so much for our freedom and our culture. The Greats are my own personal collection of great black leaders in music, injustice and freedom.
Dr Martin Luther King
Rosa Parks
Malcolm X
Ella Fitzgerald
Nat King Cole
The Black Nouveau honors these great influential leaders and all of their contributions to our culture.
“The Little Rock Nine were a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The ensuing Little Rock Crisis, where the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and then attended after the intervention of President Eisenhower, is considered to be one of the most important events in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.”
The Black Nouveau Honors:
Thelma Mothershed
Minnijean Brown
Elizabeth Eckford
Gloria Ray
Jefferson Thomas
Melba Beals
Terrence Roberts
Carlotta Walls
Daisy Bates (NAACP President)
Ernest Green
Their pride and bravery to oppose injustice and oppression will live in our hearts forever. Their legacy will live on.
James Field
How do you show pride? Is it hanging your favorite team’s flag outside your bedroom window? Is it placing an “Honor Student” bumper sticker on your car? Is it getting a tattoo of your loved one? I believe pride is not external, pride is what’s inside you, what you fight for, what you show every day of your life. And Dr Cornel West has shown me that this pride is something you should never forget. Dr West is and was one of the most influential African-Americans involved in the Civil Rights Moments post 1960’s. His political views on “white supremacy” and living in a “white America” are both controversial and praised. I recently watched Dr West on the Today show one morning, as he talked about African-American men and the lack of fatherhood in many households. It was profound to watch this man speak, his eloquence, knowledge and insight on what makes our culture so special and touched me in a deep way. He is a member of the Democratic Socialist of America, a noted author, actor, critic and philosopher. Much of Dr West’s work focuses on the roles of race, gender, class and how many people react to their “racial conditiondness” Dr West is without a doubt among the pantheon of great African-American leaders in history, and as such I honor him in during this great month of our culture, pride ,and legacy.
”The country is in deep trouble. We’ve forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it. We need the courage to question the powers that be, the courage to be impatient with evil and patient with people, the courage to fight for social justice. In many instances we will be stepping out on nothing, and just hoping to land on something. But that’s the struggle. To live is to wrestle with despair, yet never allow despair to have the last word.”
— Cornel West
James Field
Few woman had a bigger grasp on my heart when I was younger than Lisa Bonet. Her stricking beauty, cool vibe, and free spirit attitude, seem to all blend into the perfect woman to me. Since the Cosby Show days, her wit and irresistable charm drove men wild. Her distinct fashion style and sexy low lid eyes, were all I needed to develop an undying crush. The “Bonet Beauty” seems to run in the family also with her daughter from rocker Lenny Kravitz, being a stunning beauty as well. She has continued to grow as a true icon in pop culture, and though she may not be in the spotlight as much as she was in the Cosby era, she still is a beauty to be reckoned, and a brilliant actress.
James
“I collect clothes like people collect cars, or stamps” -Daphne Guinness
The woman. The Icon. The Honourable
Daphne Guinness is a true Fashion Icon and is probably best known as being the Heiress to the Guinness beer fortune. She is also known as one the most avid collectors of Haute Couture fashion in the world. I have such a fascination with this woman who consumes my interest. She is beautiful, intriguing, mysterious and of course glamorous. I recently came upon a September Vogue Italia spread featuring Guinness entitled “The Honourable Daphne Guinness” and shot by Steven Klein and was actually styled by Daphne herself. It is a futuristic, 80’s Glam, twisted, high couture, visual masterpiece that blew my mind….and I loved it.
