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P Patron Profle
Just Men, Just Drums, Just Free by Roederick Vines
Black art should be appreciated not only for its beauty
but as a powerful infuence connected to our history and our
future. Black art depicts our past, often through the drive
and determination of the characters and scenes portrayed,
the same drive and determination that continues to be critical
for our future. Black art should be used to educate our
youth, to pass on to them the history of struggle, survival,
joy and beauty of a people whom they are connected to
and on whom they should draw for strength as they lead us
into the future. Black art also serves as therapy in times
of depression and joy. It’s a source for those who seek
to reafrm their blessings and to witness the energy and
creativity that exists in our community. Black art is essential African-American art is indispensable as an
for our well-being as individuals and as a community. expression of the highest spiritual, artistic and emotional
gifts of genius. How would we know who we are without
Ernest L. Wright our art? What constitutes the colors, rhythms and styles
Art Patron of our people if not the creations of our artists? They
Philadelphia, PA are the keepers of the faith of our fathers and mothers
and they give life to the things that we dream, think and
hope. Without artists to paint the pictures, to sculpt
the images, to immortalize the feelings of our people,
we would be nothing-–we would be like someone who
came to the earth and left no record. We have always
believed it is essential for African-American families to
encourage young people to purchase African-American
art as a way of remembering the best qualities of our
people.
This is the way we strengthen ourselves and teach
values, humor, joy and rituals of sadness and happiness,
so let us rejoice that we are a people of artists. My wife
and companion, Ana, and I have always felt that our
homes and places of business should be decorated Against the Wind #2 by Eugene Thomas
with African and African-American art.
Molef Kete Asante
Professor, African American Studies at Temple University
Elkins Park, PA
405
404 405
Just Men, Just Drums, Just Free by Roederick Vines
Black art should be appreciated not only for its beauty
but as a powerful infuence connected to our history and our
future. Black art depicts our past, often through the drive
and determination of the characters and scenes portrayed,
the same drive and determination that continues to be critical
for our future. Black art should be used to educate our
youth, to pass on to them the history of struggle, survival,
joy and beauty of a people whom they are connected to
and on whom they should draw for strength as they lead us
into the future. Black art also serves as therapy in times
of depression and joy. It’s a source for those who seek
to reafrm their blessings and to witness the energy and
creativity that exists in our community. Black art is essential African-American art is indispensable as an
for our well-being as individuals and as a community. expression of the highest spiritual, artistic and emotional
gifts of genius. How would we know who we are without
Ernest L. Wright our art? What constitutes the colors, rhythms and styles
Art Patron of our people if not the creations of our artists? They
Philadelphia, PA are the keepers of the faith of our fathers and mothers
and they give life to the things that we dream, think and
hope. Without artists to paint the pictures, to sculpt
the images, to immortalize the feelings of our people,
we would be nothing-–we would be like someone who
came to the earth and left no record. We have always
believed it is essential for African-American families to
encourage young people to purchase African-American
art as a way of remembering the best qualities of our
people.
This is the way we strengthen ourselves and teach
values, humor, joy and rituals of sadness and happiness,
so let us rejoice that we are a people of artists. My wife
and companion, Ana, and I have always felt that our
homes and places of business should be decorated Against the Wind #2 by Eugene Thomas
with African and African-American art.
Molef Kete Asante
Professor, African American Studies at Temple University
Elkins Park, PA
405
404 405
