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Kenan Thompson urges Nickelodeon to ‘investigate more’ the abuse allegations exposed in ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary

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Kenan Thompson shared his perspective about the “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” documentary in an interview with Tamron Hall on her show Wednesday. 

“It’s a tough subject. It’s tough for me because I can’t really speak on things that I never witnessed,” Thompson said on the talk show, according to Entertainment Weekly. “All these things happened after I left, basically. Dan [Schneider] wasn’t really on ‘Kenan & Kel’ like that. He got a ‘created by’ credit, but it was a different showrunner.”

Kenan Thompson, shown at a Bloomberg event in 2019 in New York, shared his perspective on the “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV” doc in an interview with Tamron Hall. (Photo: Clint Spaulding/Getty Images for Bloomberg)

While there, he also highlighted his new production company, Artists for Artists, and his long-running tenure on “Saturday Night Live,” plus promoted his new memoir, “When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice From a Professional Clown.”

Thompson began his career as a young actor and comedian on Nickelodeon’s teenage sketch show, “All That.” He then starred in the sitcom “Kenan & Kel” alongside castmate Kel Mitchell. The two eventually became leads in the feature film “Good Burger,” which was also produced by Nickelodeon.

The “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is a five-part docuseries that exposes the toxic work environment and details the allegations of on-set abuse and mistreatment from children’s TV producer Dan Schneider. Schneider is responsible for producing a variety of Nickelodeon kid shows, including “Drake & Josh,” “iCarly,” “Victorious,” “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” “Kenan & Kel” and many others that aired in the ’90s and early ’00s. 

“It’s a good thing that the doc is out, and it’s putting things on display that need to be, stories that need to be told for accountability’s sake,” Thompson told Hall. “But it’s definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place. I have fond memories of my co-stars. To hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that, it’s really tough.”

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Thompson said that he had not watched the documentary, but he extended his love and support for the victims it features.

“All that negativity kind of started happening outside of our tenure [at Nickelodeon],” he continued. “I wasn’t really aware of a lot of it, but my heart goes out to anyone that’s been victimized or their families.”  

“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will air a fifth bonus episode, “Breaking the Silence,” on Sunday, April 7, on Investigation Discovery.

During their conversation, Hall mentioned that her team reached out to Nickelodeon for a comment stating that the network was investigating all allegations. Thompson chimed in, urging Nickelodeon to do its due diligence.

“Well, investigate more,” Thompson said. “It’s supposed to be a safe space. It’s supposed to be a safe place for kids. So to hear all that is like, ‘How dare you.’” 

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Mariah The Scientist Sparks Social Media Frenzy After Altercation with Instagram Model Linked to Young Thug –

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Mariah The Scientist, rapper Young Thug’s girlfriend and musician, is at the center of controversy following accusations of a physical altercation with an Instagram model. A video circulating online shows the alleged assault, which occurred at Cavo Lounge in Buckhead, Atlanta.

The footage shows Mariah The Scientist in a conflict with a woman named Cleopatra, eliciting heated debate and interest among followers and viewers. While specifics about the encounter are scant, it has sparked a rush of debate and speculation across multiple internet platforms.

Initially, speculation circulated that the brawl was over Young Thug. According to The Neighborhood Talk, Mariah ran into the club and swung at Cleo. According to the outlet sources, Mariah was saying something, but the chaos and music made it difficult to hear. The witness believes Cleo won the battle despite Mariah’s apparent sneak attack.

Even with all the publicity, Mariah The Scientist has not responded to the incident or clarified what happened before the fight. Cleopatra has since limited her Instagram comments due to the attention that incident has garnered over night.

Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds, and as more information becomes available regarding this developing situation.

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Leadership Highlight: Alabama State University’s SGA President Landon Hale

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In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Alabama State University and did an interview with Landon Hale the 2023-2024 Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Hale, who is majoring in Rehabilitation Services, is from Birmingham, AL. He is a proud Spring 2023 initiate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

We interviewed Landon Hale, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2023-2024.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

The biggest thing I have learned being SGA President is the work of our universities never stops. It is always something going on to be able to further our campuses further, whether it be with our academics, extracurriculars, or facilities. You truly have to remain dedicated for your entire term with the same high enthusiasm considering your student body is relying on you to make a change.

What made you decide to attend Alabama State University for undergrad?

I decided to attend Alabama State University, considering the specific specialized programs my university has.

How has Alabama State University molded you into the person you are today?

Alabama State University has helped mold me into a person I never imagined I would be. Coming to Alabama State University, I was the low-key quiet kid who would rather just be in the back. After about two weeks on campus of freshman year, I was very active and social. This is all due to the family that was created around me during that time. I blame Alabama State University for all of the success that I have achieved thus far in the previous three years all because of the tools and skills they have equipped me with.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

One major initiative I led this academic school year was a blanket drive during this past holiday season. This was a friendly competition between us and Tuskegee University SGA where we were able to raise over 1000 blankets to various homeless shelters and nursing homes around the Montgomery River Region. This initiative positively affected our surrounding communities by being able to provide essentials to individuals who may not have what is needed but also reminded them that people do think and care about them. This also caused both universities to get in the holiday spirit and remember we can always be a beacon of light in our communities.

How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

One of the biggest goals my administration has set forth was working to be able to implement mental health days on our university campus. This mental health day would be randomly selected each semester and classes would go virtually or canceled altogether. To this day, we would like to offer self-care amenities to students such as haircuts, manicures, yoga, massages, and more. Currently, we are still working to utilize this day in the future.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership to me is being able to lead in times when you are uncomfortable. Acting with integrity when no one else is watching you is a key component of leadership. The most vital piece of being a leader is being able to lead from the back, meaning making sacrifices to ensure the ones around you are succeeding as well.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2023/2024?

In the digital world, schools have to represent themselves the same way online as they do in person. All of the same resources, classes, and activities now have to be offered virtually and face to ensure students are receiving the same quality of education and experience.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard is important to black students and college culture because it gives a platform for students to receive news, information, and spotlights within the HBCU community. This is imperative considering it gives one specific area to receive all of the information we may be seeking around our institutions in one location. Watch the Yard, is also something positive that may come across your feed as lot of times, you only receive the drama or negatives of the things that are occurring in the world we live in today.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduation, I plan on attending medical school and becoming a sports medicine physician. After a couple of years, I plan on opening my practice and mentoring upcoming physicians.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Landon Hale for his work as the SGA president of Alabama State University.

Share this on Facebook and help us highlight Landon Hale and Alabama State University.

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Beyoncé Drops Tracklist for Cowboy Carter: Dolly Parton Miley Cyrus

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With mere hours before Bey is set to usher all her U.S. fans into her country era with her forthcoming album “Cowboy Carter,” fans on the other side of the world are already venturing into the new music territory and putting out spoilers as to what we can expect.

Thanks to listeners in Australia and New Zealand, folks over in the western hemisphere of the world now have a better idea of what Bey’s #YeeHawAgenda will entail. And because we know y’all like spoilers just as much as we do, here’s a rundown of everything we’ve gathered…

Tracklist and Features

On Wednesday, the “Texas Hold’em” singer dropped what many believed to have been the tracklist for her upcoming album. Bey posted a graphic to her official Instagram with no caption (hence why it was initially hard to decipher, but it was later confirmed via multiple outlets.) But what remains to be a mystery is the exact type of mediums these titles are. Essentially, which ones are actual songs and which ones are interludes—and which of these have features on them, if any?

Well thanks to the New Zealand/Australia Beyhive, we now know that artists such as Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Willie Jones, Willie Nelson and Tanner Adell will be featured artists on the song. See their specific songs below:

II MOST WANTED feat. Miley Cyrus

LEVII’S JEANS feat. Post Malone

SPAGHETTII feat. Shaboozey

SMOKE HOUR II feat. Willie Nelson

DOLLY P feat. Dolly Parton

YAYA feat. Willie Jones

BLACKBIIRD feat. Tanner Adell

Brand Engagement/Involvement

Naturally, with anything Bey does, it causes conversation and presents a chance for other people and brands to hop on board and capitalize on the momentum. In the case of “Cowboy Carter,” several brands have already put on their riding boots either in direct connection to the album or inspired actions based off the album. Chief among those brands is Uber, who teased a forthcoming announcement slated to drop on Thursday. The big reveal? 16% (up to $16 off) of Uber rides for those headed to Cowboy Carter listening parties and the like. The promotion likely inspired by Bey’s single “16 Carriages” and runs through 3/28-3/30. However, some fans online were severely underwhelmed with the offering.

“I’m about to download Lift [sic], y’all just pissed me off,” wrote one user.

“Gon girl, give us nothing,” said another.

Even rival rideshare app Lyft chimed in with their displeasure and shade: “Crumbs were left.” (If you don’t know what this phrase means, please go find your nearest “geriatric Millennial or Gen Zer and have them explain. I don’t have time to do it here, Bey is coming!”)

Aside from the rideshare rodeo, other brands like Levi’s Jeans have momentarily changed the spelling of their iconic brand to pay homage to the track “”Levii’s Jeans.”

Even kids toy brand Strawberry Shortcake has entered her Yee-Haw era.

Image for article titled Here's Everything We Know About Beyoncé's New 'Cowboy Carter' Album

Screenshot: Instagram/Strawberry Shortcake

Target has also joined in on the Bey’s cowboy hype by selling an exclusive edition of “Cowboy Carter”, which is set to include an additional bonus track, original demo and new artwork and poster. It will go live on Friday once the album has officially been released.

Of course, this won’t be all the goodness that accompanies this album, so stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled!

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Deborah Ayorinde stars in trailer for ‘Them: The Scare’ from Little Marvin

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Prime Video just dropped the trailer for “Them: The Scare,” and it looks like creator and executive producer Little Marvin has some new tricks up his sleeve. 

Pam Grier, Deborah Ayorinde, theGrio.com
Pam Grier (left) plays Athena and Deborah Ayorinde (right) stars as Dawn star in “Them: The Scare,” which debuts on Prime Video next month.(Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime)

The first edition, “Them: Covenant,” was met with mixed reviews when it premiered in 2021; the performances from its stars like Deborah Ayorinde and Shahadi Wright Joseph were nothing short of spectacular.  

The second installment of the horror anthology series will return to Los Angeles and Ayorinde returns in a lead role. This time, however, we’ve fast-forwarded to 1991, and she’s playing LAPD homicide detective Dawn Reeve, who is assigned to a new case: the gruesome murder of a foster home mother that has left even the most hardened detectives shaken. Navigating a tumultuous time in Los Angeles, a city on the razor’s edge of chaos, Dawn is determined to stop the killer. But as she draws closer to the truth, something ominous and malevolent grips her and her family.

New additions to the cast include Pam Grier as Athena and Grammy-nominated musician and actor Luke James as Edmund Gaines. Joshua J. Williams, Jeremy Bobb, Wayne Knight, Carlito Olivero, Charles Brice, and Iman Shumpert will round out the cast. 

In an interview with theGrio in 2021, Little Marvin explained why he took the approach he did, what kind of story he wanted to tell and why the trauma depicted was necessary.

“The show wasn’t interested in coddling or placating anybody. And, by the way, I mean white and Black. It wasn’t interested in doing that. I think a lot of things coddle, and I think there’s a time and a place for that. We weren’t particularly interested in giving you the easy way out because so often in life, we don’t get that easy way out,” he explained.

“We never set out to make a show about trauma, about Black trauma. We set out to make a show with Black folks that centered Black folks, that was complex, that was nuanced, that was emotionally rich,” he continued. “But the show was always about navigating the terror of whiteness. It was not about exploring Black trauma. It was about navigating the terror of whiteness and particularly the terror of white supremacy in this country.”

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The series that featured Ashley Thomas, Allison Pill, and Anika Noni Rose had some folks singing its praises while others were up in arms over the magnitude of brutality inflicted on the show’s Black characters. 

According to Little Marvin, the gruesome acts of violence we saw in “Them: Covenant” were intentionally awful because that’s the truth about the era it was exploring. 

“I think it’s time we called the Jim Crow South what it has always been: It was a domestic terror regime,” he says. “That’s what it was, plain and simple. We’re talking about a place where lynching was a pastime, a lynching was a sport and a spectacle. This is the history of the country. I don’t think it’s our business as artists to whitewash that history. I think it’s our business as artists, personally speaking, is to bear witness. It’s my job to bear witness.”

“Them: The Scare” will hit Prime Video on April 25.

Check out the trailer: 

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Naomi Osaka’s Hana Kuma & Modern Health Unveil Mental Health Focused Video Podcast Series ‘Can’t Wait to Hear From You’ –

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A new podcast video series is scheduled to debut on the digital airways thanks to revolutionary cooperation between Modern Health, a leading worldwide workplace mental health platform, and Naomi Osaka’s Emmy Award-nominated media firm, Hana Kuma. Titled “Can’t Wait To Hear From You,” the series promises to delve deep into the psyche of high-achieving individuals, shedding light on their daily connection with their inner voice, pivotal moments shaping their self-expression, and effective mental health strategies used to nurture their identity.

The series boasts two rotating hosts, featuring New York Times bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones and renowned YouTube influencer Franny Arrieta. “I am so excited to be officially launching Can’t Wait to Hear from You,” expressed Naomi Osaka. “It’s such an impactful series where we openly talk about mental health. Since speaking out about my own experiences, I’ve felt so much empowerment in my vulnerability and I’ve received so much love and support from my close circle, my fans, and Modern Health. I want others to feel the same, and I hope this video podcast series will encourage them to have open discussions and feel less shame.”

Alyson Watson, founder & CEO of Modern Health, echoed Osaka’s sentiments, highlighting the ongoing mission to destigmatize mental health. “Mental health as a topic has always faced stigma, and that is something we are on a mission to change,” stated Watson. “By showcasing vulnerable and intimate conversations with high-profile business leaders, sports personalities, actors, and activists, we aim to normalize this topic and underscore the power of aligning your inner voice with your personal purpose.”

The series is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, March 28, on Hana Kuma’s YouTube channel, featuring entrepreneur, author, and former Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix, Bozoma Saint John, as the inaugural guest. Future episodes will welcome a diverse array of guests, including actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, entrepreneur Mike Cherman, founder of Lyons Wines Chris Lyons, and a special edition episode hosted by Osaka featuring the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

This initiative marks a continuation of Modern Health’s partnership with Naomi Osaka. The company has previously launched a series of children’s meditations developed and narrated by the tennis champion, covering important topics such as conquering overwhelming feelings and applying skills like self-compassion. Osaka was also featured in Modern Health’s first-ever Family Huddle series, designed to empower families and caregivers to discuss strategies for building positive mental health habits.

For more information, visit Modern Health to learn more about this groundbreaking endeavor.

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Leadership Highlight: Morris Brown College’s SGA President Syquan Hobes

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In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Morris Brown College and did an interview with Syquan Hobes the 2023-2024 Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Hobes, who is majoring in Business Organizational Management & Leadership, is from Warner Robins.

We interviewed Syquan Hobes, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2023-2024.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

The biggest thing I have learned as being an SGA President is that balancing responsibilities is very important. Being an SGA President especially at an HBCU is a huge task that will take up most of your time which means you have little opportunity to make sure your on top of your work as a student. It’s a huge honor to hold this position at your school, but you have to make sure you’re prioritizing yourself and things you have to do personally in order to always stay ahead!

What made you decide to attend Morris Brown College for undergrad?

I decided to attend Morris Brown College because of the rich history that follow behind the school. Morris Brown College is a very sacred and phenomenal place to go no matter what career field you decide to choose. From losing our accreditation many years ago to gaining it back 2 years from now shows the great drive and ambition that Morris Brown has that I just had to be apart of! The great administration and awesome alumni is just a plus.

How has Morris Brown College molded you into the person you are today?

Morris Brown College molded me into the person I am today by teaching me how to be a responsible adult and preparing me so well for the real world. Under the great leadership of our President Dr. Kevin James and our Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Dr. James Allen, they have both did an phenomenal job molding me into a professional and successful, young black educated man!

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

Some specific initiatives I have been working on or planning to work on includes adding a easy tool for our students to apply to scholarships on a daily basis, making sure our students that stay in student housing away from campus have consistent transportation, and also making sure every student has every tool they need to be successful while at Morris Brown College

How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

We are currently identifying the issues that most of our students deal with while also creating more opportunities for our students that struggle mentally to feel comfortable with voicing themselves so we are able to help them effectively and efficiently.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership to me means responsibility, accountability, direction, and most importantly LEAD! As being a leader, you have to make sure you’re leading your people into the right direction at all times. Also being a leader means you have to practice what you preach. You cannot guide others or tell others how to do things when you’re not doing it yourself.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2023/2024?

In order for schools to represent themselves online it’s very important for school’s to prioritize social media. Social media play a huge role and has a major influence in today’s world. Therefore, incorporating social media with the school’s success and everything else, will benefit in every way possible .

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard gives HBCU’s and Black student the platform to not only highlight the success of our Black students, but also share the amazing stories and legacies that some of us share. Not a lot of media outlets and magazines touch on the success of our Black students and schools so it’s a huge deal that Watch The Yard continues to do what they do because if they don’t who will?

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I plan on pursuing my Mastor’s in Business Administration while also working for a major cooperation in the Atlanta Area.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Syquan Hobes for his work as the SGA president of Morris Brown College.

Share this on Facebook and help us highlight Syquan Hobes and Morris Brown College.

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Evolution of Beyoncé

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Beyoncé – Drunk in Love (Explicit) ft. JAY Z

Don’t forget who started the trend. On December 12, 2013, Beyoncé dropped her self-titled surprise album. That’s right, no promo, no announcement, just an album full of songs. Every song on the album had a music video. Many of the songs became bangers, noticeably “Drunk in Love,” “Flawless,” “7/11” and “Partition.”

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9 Black women artists who have broken barriers

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When former first lady Michelle Obama’s official portrait was unveiled on Feb. 12, 2018, at the National Portrait Gallery, the crowd present and all who looked on virtually were witnessing major history for Black women artists. 

The painter Amy Sherald, who was commissioned alongside painter Kehinde Wiley to paint the official portraits of the former first lady and former President Barack Obama, respectively, was the first Black woman to ever be commissioned by the institution. Wiley was the first Black man. 

“As soon as I got that phone call, I realized I was going to be the first,” Sherald told Time magazine. “Then I had to forget about it because it’s just a lot to carry around, like having to make this painting basically for the world.” 

She continued, “Having the opportunity to leave behind that kind of legacy is something that I never thought I would be able to do.” 

Sherald, known for her often whimsical, intimate, and elegant portraits of Black people with the enduring motif of their skin rendered in grayscale against colored backgrounds, also opened up to the publication about how representation in the field of visual arts deeply matters. 

“Not seeing yourself can lead you to not loving yourself,” she said.  

Sherald is among a growing group of Black artists presently making serious inroads in the field of art. Some of her peers include Ethiopian-American contemporary painter Julie Mehretu, fiber quilt artist Bisa Butler, the viral self-described “artpreneur” Uzo Njoku, and artist A.M. Darke who has singlehandedly spearheaded diversity in digital art and video games. 

While Black women have been underrepresented in the visual arts for generations, they have still been breaking the mold of the traditional white male artist throughout the field.

As Women’s History Month nears its close, we would be remiss if we did not pay tribute to some of art history’s most celebrated Black women pioneers. 

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Toyin Ojih Odutola (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Toyin Ojih Odutola

Sherald may have been the first Black woman commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, but she was not the last. In 2022, the Nigerian-American contemporary artist Toyin Ojih Odutola was commissioned to craft an original portrait of none other than tennis champion Serena Williams. Some may know Odutola’s name from Fox’s “Empire,” which famously featured her work and gained her a substantial following. Odutola is known for pushing the boundaries of traditional portraiture through her uniquely whimsical multimedia drawings and works on paper. Much like her portrait of Williams, many of her works invite the viewer into vivid scenes of Black life.  

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Kara Walker (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Kara Walker

Considered in many art circles one of the most important artists of our modern era, Kara Walker is a rare talent who daringly challenges themes around race and gender. She works in many different mediums, including large-scale public art. Walker, who has been a celebrated artist since the ‘90s and was previously best known for her often brutal silhouettes of antebellum life, went viral in 2014 for her first-ever large-scale public art piece, “A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby.” The work, installed in the former Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn, was a massive sugar-coated sphinx-like figure with exaggerated features evoking a “mammy”-like caricature of an antebellum Southern Black woman. 

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Carrie Mae Weems (Photo by Jeremy Chan/Getty Images)

Carrie Mae Weems 

Often, photographers are famous for their work behind the camera. In the case of the prolific photographer and interdisciplinary artist Carrie Mae Weems, the artist became known for her work in front of her own camera. In the early ’90s, Weems gained recognition for a photo series that featured herself and others engaged in everyday life, such as Black women and girls’ time-honored tradition of “pressing” their hair, which she called “The Kitchen Table Series.” Weems continues to work in themes around documenting and witnessing history. 

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Betye Saar (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

 Betye Irene Saar

Black American culture has seen many movements and revivals in its day, including the Black Arts Movement of the 1970s. The pioneering artists spearheading that era included visual storyteller and artist Betye Irene Saar, best known for her mystical and radical work in assemblage, or art made by gathering and assembling a variety of different elements together. One of her most celebrated works is “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima,” a 1972 shadowbox that features multiple caricatures of Black women stacked up against each other. 

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Ming Smith (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Ming Smith 

In 1979, Ming Smith became the first ever Black female photographer to have work acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Since then, her work has only continued to thrill. From intimate black-and-white photographs taken at curious vantage points to warm, vibrant cinematic shots of celebrities, Smith’s work is often compared to scenes from dreams. Perhaps her talent behind the camera stems from the fact that she was also a barrier-breaking model alongside none other than Grace Jones. 

Kara Walker, Amy Sherald, Carrie Mae Weems, Betye Irene Saar, Ming Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Edmonia Lewis, Black women in visual arts, women's history month, theGrio.com
Elizabeth Catlett (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Catlett

Elizabeth Catlett was a sculptor, painter, and artist who, after studying art at Howard University in the 1930s, eventually settled in Mexico. Despite living and working in Mexico, she was a vocal supporter of the Black Civil Rights Movement, so much so that her work and advocacy resulted in her citizenship being revoked by the U.S. government, and she was barred from ever returning to her native country. While her citizenship was eventually restored in 2002, ten years before her death, the artist didn’t let anything get in her way. She famously said, “I have been, and am currently, and always hope to be a Black Revolutionary Artist and all that it implies!” 

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Alma Thomas

It is never, ever too late to start doing something you’ve always wanted to do. The late artist Alma Thomas, for instance, did not start painting until she was nearly 70 years old, and has since become known as a major artist of the 20th century. Thomas, who died in 1978 at the age of 86, was known for intricate designs and patterns painted in vibrant abstract watercolors. She was the first graduate of the fine arts department at Howard University, worked as a high school art teacher, and left behind a body of work that is discussed to this day. 

Edmonia Lewis

It’s hard to pinpoint the first Black woman artist in the history of America, but many agree that Edmonia Lewis, who lived from 1844 to 1907, is the first Black woman sculptor the American art world recognized. Not much is known for sure about Lewis’ life, largely because she reportedly had a penchant for stretching the truth. However, she moved around frequently, was educated, and eventually made it to Rome, where other Americans were settling at the time. In 2022, Lewis was commemorated with an official stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. Most of Lewis’ work did not survive the 20th century, although her legacy of daring to depict Black life and indigenous people with dignity and elegance endures through the few works that remain and can be viewed at some of the most important museums in the country. 


Kay Wicker is a lifestyle writer for theGrio covering health, wellness, travel, beauty, fashion, and the myriad ways Black people live and enjoy their lives. She has previously created content for magazines, newspapers, and digital brands. 

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Books By Black Authors April 2024

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Image for article titled April 2024 Books by Black Authors We Can't Wait to Read

Photo: AnnaStills (Getty Images)

Spring has officially sprung and with the arrival of longer days and warmer temps come a great crop of new books by Black authors old and new. A romantic comedy about a fake relationship turned real, a touching memoir on how to live while planning for your death and a historical novel about the friendship between the daughters of Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt are just a few of books we’ve got on our radar this month. These are the books we can’t wait to read this April.

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