Ming Smith: Been Here for Years

Ming Smith prefers to keep things organic, natural, candid. Her decades-long photography career includes scores of street photos, not many studios or models or lighting rigs. She photographs people living their lives, and, as a black photographer who got her start in the 70s, she focuses on the community around her. 

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Octavius Terry: Where Formal Meets Casual

You might remember the iconic moment at the 2014 Grammy Awards where 33 couples got married by Queen Latifah during the Macklemore and Madonna’s performance of “Same Love.” Two of the men were sporting all-white suits as they married each other on television. Those white suits became the launch of GROOM, a gentlemen’s ready to wear clothing brand, by fashion designer Octavius Terry who also married film director and choreographer Jamal Sims that same night. 

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BENEE: An Overnight Alt-Pop Sensation

Stella Bennett, better known as BENEE, had an explosive arrival to the music scene. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand became internationally known over just a few years, following the release of a handful of singles and 2 EPs. Her 2018 single “Soaked” garnered millions of streams via Spotify and YouTube, and her 2019 single “Supalonely,” was an even bigger hit, reaching the top 100 on multiple music charts.

Perhaps more importantly, her music also became an international sensation on the social media platform TikTok. The song gained popularity on the app after a dance challenge emerged for it, leading to 12.2 million videos being posted with the track, with the most popular videos garnering upwards of 8 million likes.

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JOABG: The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Growing up in the wide-open spaces of Denver, Colorado can be an isolating experience. For a young Black girl, though, the silence can be even more stifling. Courtney Brooks, an artist, and the first curator-in-residence for the Atlanta Beltline, as well as the first Black woman public art curator in Atlanta---took inspiration from her surroundings, like her parents’ love for Black culture magazines like Ebony and Jet and soul vinyls. Now, she is eager to share her story -- and the story of other black women -- through her three-part art exhibit Journey of A Black Girl.

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Thomas Romain: The First Family of Anime

What passions do you share with your parents? Have those passions been passed down to your children? For me, my love of museums and African American history comes from my parents. It’s something that my oldest daughter hasn’t gotten too cool for yet, and my youngest daughter is growing to love as well. For me, it’s important not only to continue passing this love of history down to future generations but also to build a bond outside of the parental bond. Thomas Romain’s love for animation has been passed down to his sons, and as a result, they’ve drawn lots of attention to their Patreon page, and their dad’s YouTube channel. 

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