360 Degrees: January 2015

January 25, 2015

'Cause Sunday is fa-Soul: Toni Braxton

Before 'Braxton Family Values' I didn't know Toni had sisters and that they at one time were a group. The show, implicitly, shed light on why it was Toni who initially emerged as the solo star. Generally, I find the reality show format irritating (e.g., scene-repeating in each episode). And I sometimes feel that "reality stars" are selling their souls to remain relevant. Nevertheless, the Braxtons are genius for continuing to make their careers a family affair.

The beautiful thing is how there is no "hateration" (as my favorite, Trina, would say) among the sisters and brother of this famous family.

January 19, 2015

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we remember the contributions of one of the most well-known, well-regarded, and cherished civil rights leaders in American history, let us reflect on the principles and values for which he stood.

Black, brown, and other peoples of color were not included in the Constitution of the United States. To date, this founding document has not been amended to embrace the dignity and humanity of non-white persons.

How, then, can this nation move forward to ask new and interesting questions about the progress of its citizens as the malignancy of racial injustice metastasizes.

Does the present state of race in America signal a failure on the part of Dr. King? No. Does it indicate that the civil rights leaders of the 60s have failed blacks in America? No. Does it suggest that 20th century activists did not risk all for freedom? No.

What it means is that the perilous march to freedom is an arduous process against a system of oppression that continually renews itself on the resources and spilled blood of the downtrodden.

It means that the sacrifices of yesterday produced a force inclusive of highly-educated, socially conscious, and determined activists who have a strong legacy from which to draw strength, courage, and examples of adaptability for today's challenges.

It means we must build upon rather than dismantle our legacy of audacity in the face of insurmountable odds and brace for what vestiges of injustice may lurk in our future.

About Dr. Z. Hall

Hall is a researcher, artist, and art writer whose published scholarly writing and art writing focus on visual art, literature, visual and material rhetoric, race, identity, gender, performance art, media, and intersections of these. She has blogged about these since 2011. She is a poet, photographer, and emerging visual and performance artist. Ekphrasis is her poetry specialty.* Her performance art exhibitions include ‘Freedom is a Constant Struggle’ (Jan. 2016) for the Dialogue Institute’s Martin Luther King birthday celebration and ‘Intersession’ (Apr. 2016) at The Riverfront Readings Special 'What on Earth?' in celebration of Earth Day. Her art works articulate social and political realism as critique.

Hall began curating visual and performance art as a vital part of dialogic events in 2015. She is the Executive Director and Producer of Salon~360, a monthly event that brings together artists, business people, scholars, activists, and community members in dialogue around society’s most pressing issues in a safe and responsive space. Hall’s passion for creating room for genuine dialogue stems back to the 2011 online version of Salon~360, 'Shaken Not Stirred: Conversations with Friends,' here on her blog.

Themes of Salon~360’s inaugural 2015 season included: forgiveness, anger, suicide, humane capacity, and grief. The first year closed with a benefit show based on its five themes. Highlights can be seen on their website.

The connection between Salon~360 and Hall’s scholarship, artistry, curating and art writing is her interest in the relationships between artistic expression and dialogue and how these shape culture within societies.

*To read, listen to, and view some of Hall's ekprasis poetry collaborations go to Palisade of Poetry under the Blog Posts tab.

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360 Degrees

Pages

January 25, 2015

'Cause Sunday is fa-Soul: Toni Braxton

January 19, 2015

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 2, 2015

Nas: "Not Cool For the U.S. to Look Like Apartheid South Africa"