It’s been almost ten months since George Floyd was murdered as a result of four police officers' blatant disregard for yet another black man's life. It’s been almost a year since the shooting death of 25-year old Ahmaud Arbery by neighbors who felt that him jogging in his own neighborhood was suspicious. It’s been over a year since Breonna Taylor was shot to death by police officers while she slept in her Kentucky home. In all three of these instances and many more which have not made headlines, no charges were initially filed. This did not sit right with black America nor did it appease activist Tamika Mallory who’s managed to articulate the pain that black people are feeling in such a way that it leaves her audience jaw dropped every single time she speaks.

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I love reading stories of resilience, especially the ones that highlight a person’s troubled past. It’s a story that many can relate to, but through the lens of a black man from the inner city, it’s a different level of compelling. Having seen firsthand so many of my friends grow up with one foot in the streets and the other in the classroom, these are stories that I relate toTo see people overcome immeasurable odds throughout their lives and come out on top is inspirational. Civil rights attorney and activist, S. Lee Merritt, is one of those people whose triumphant story needs to be told. 

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Last month I was scheduled to attend an Art Show and hopefully get an interview or just a few moments to chop it up with artist and sculptor Alfred Conteh here in Chicago. I’m sure by now you’ve seen that our mayor is not having any of it, and unfortunately the show was canceled. So although I was unable to attend, and Conteh was unable to give us a show in person, he did give the public a view of his workspace. On May 7th, Conteh was live on Instagram for Virtual Visits with Art Noir. There he showcased some of his paintings while fielding questions as the viewers posted them. 

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