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PRESS ROOM: Inaugural Black Fine Art Month this October opens with press conference and Salon Talk at DuSable Museum of African American History

CHICAGO CRUSADER — Pigment International, the Black Art Collective is partnering with the DuSable Museum of African American History, a Smithsonian affiliate, on the international launch of Black Fine Art Month. The kickoff Press Conference for the inaugural event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 3, 2019 in the Ames Auditorium at the DuSable. A launch celebration will be held, at the same location, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 p.m., that acknowledges the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the first African slaves in the then British colonies in America, and the artistic impact of the African Diaspora event. Additionally, the artists of Pigment International and invited artists will debut a special exhibition of work in the Museum’s Harold Washington Skylight Gallery. The Salon Talk is free to the public.

Published

6 years ago

September 30, 2019

Oakland Post

Press Conference at 10 a.m.; Art & 1619 Salon Talk at 5:30 p.m.

By The Chicago Crusader

Pigment International, the Black Art Collective is partnering with the DuSable Museum of African American History, a Smithsonian affiliate, on the international launch of Black Fine Art Month. The kickoff Press Conference for the inaugural event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 3, 2019 in the Ames Auditorium at the DuSable. A launch celebration will be held, at the same location, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 p.m., that acknowledges the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the first African slaves in the then British colonies in America, and the artistic impact of the African Diaspora event. Additionally, the artists of Pigment International and invited artists will debut a special exhibition of work in the Museum’s Harold Washington Skylight Gallery. The Salon Talk is free to the public.

Black Fine Art Month, held each October, is a global celebration of the Black Fine Art aesthetic, an annual recognition of artists, innovators, collectors, curators and those vested in the Black Art tradition, and an opportunity to commemorate and elevate these contributions through art programming. The celebration lies at the intersection of the past, present, and future of Black Art, and affords us a moment to toast the bold gallerists and esteemed art purveyors who revere the aesthetic, drive the value; and invest in artists who are making a cultural impact. Black Fine Art Month is an initiative of Pigment International.

“Chicago has been the epicenter of numerous art movements, including the Works Progress Arts Movement that birthed the South Side Community Art Center, The Muralist Movement, led by Bill Walker, AfriCobra in the 70’s and Afrofuturism, the Black Art Movement (BAM), and others,” said Pigment Founder Patricia Andrews-Keenan. “It is fitting that this celebration begin here and spread globally.”

“As an institution co-founded by the late artist and activist Dr. Margaret Burroughs, we are pleased to partner with Pigment International for this inaugural event,” said Perri Irmer, President & CEO of the DuSable Museum of African American History. “This is another way to highlight Chicago’s vital role in the Black Art movement and to share the historical contributions of Black artists, collectors, and curators to the world.”

Each Thursday during October, Pigment International in partnership with the DuSable Museum will host a Salon Talk exploring Chicago’s unique contribution to the on-going historical narrative documented through art created by African American artists. The Salons will be streamed live via YouTube and on social media. The celebration will be documented in Pigment Magazine, an Ozzie Award Finalist for “Best Design for New Magazine.”

Partners for this event include the Chicago Reader, Black Art in America, Hummingbird Press, and the Business Leadership Council. More than 30 supporters across the country have also joined in the inaugural celebration.

Details for the Press conference and Salon Talk are as follows.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

BFAM Press Conference and Exhibition Opening – Ames Auditorium

10:00 a.m. – Press Conference announcing the inaugural Black Fine Art Month as an annual international celebration. The press announcement will introduce an exhibition of artwork by Pigment International .

5:30 p.m. – The 1619 Project Salon*

The commemoration of the beginning of American slavery in the U.S. is a story of the contributions of Black Americans to the building of this nation and allows us a moment to examine how artists interpret this unique anniversary and what it means at this pivotal point in our history. Among the Chicago specific areas to be covered during this Salon are “Negro Day” at the 1893 Columbian World Exhibition and The Negro World’s Fair of 1940 held at the Museum of Science and Industry. The conversation will also examine how the African Diaspora event continues to shape and inform global art movements.

Introduction: Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Founder Pigment International and Devorah Crable, CMO Pigment International

Moderator: Lolly Bowen, Reporter Chicago Tribune

Video Introduction:

Ted Ellis, Fine Artist and Pigment Intl. nominated Commissioner 400 Years of African-American History Commission

Panelists:

Daniel Duster, Great-grandson of journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells,

Christopher Reed, Professor Emeritus of History, Roosevelt University

Clinee Hedspeth, Hedspeth Art Consulting

Exhibition Artists: Paul Branton, Tyler Clark, Ted Ellis, Lesley Etherly, Gerald Griffin, Michael Gunn, Jason E. Jones, Barrett Keithley, Blake Lenoir, Angelica London, James Nelson, Raymond Thomas, Dana Todd Pope, Martha Wade, Eddie Santana White, and Dwight White, Kevin Williams.

About Pigment International

About The DuSable Museum of African American History – A Smithsonian Affiliate

As the oldest independent African American History museum in the United States, the DuSable Museum is important not only to Chicago, but the nation. Our mission is to educate all people on the achievements and contributions of African Americans through our art, history and culture. Awarded Smithsonian Institution Affiliate status in 2016, the DuSable has proven not only to be inextricably woven into the cultural fabric of our great city, but also continues to stand as a global destination for tourists, educators, artists, historians and people of all cultures.

This article originally appeared in The Chicago Crusader.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

16 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: