Friday News

Art during the Bronze Age was beautiful and diverse. This era of ancient history is characterized by complex civilizations, art, the growth of urban communities, advanced writing, and international trade. Art was found worldwide in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania, etc. Cooper and bronze was used to create artistic masterpieces. There were mass migrations in Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean region. The usage of metallurgy was established to form various objects, tools, etc. Scholars denote the Bronze Age from 3,000 B.C. to ca. 600 B.C. The ancient Egyptian pyramids and paintings back then were crafted with great precision. The Great Pyramids of Giza were finished during the Bronze Age. One of the greatest structures was the image of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. His mother was Queen Anhkenseamun. King Tut wanted to oppose Pharaoh Akhenaten's monotheist movement of the worship of the sun (or Aten). Ancient Egyptian civilization had many complex arrays of architecture, art, and religious infrastructure. Ancient Nubia had great art too. There is the Neo-Sumerian period that had the famous three dimensional Statue of Gudea. Bronze pottery dominated ancient China. Ancient Chinese civilizations back then was based in the Yellow River valley and other villages plus cities developed throughout ancient China too. There were many bronze images from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. There was the priest king images of the Indus Valley civilization of Mohenjo-Daro. Petroglyphs existed in the Nordic Bronze Age (from ca. 1700-500 B.C.). The Americas had large structures and urban communities too during this era of ancient world history. People know about the large heads from the Olmecs from ca. 1400 B.C. during the Preclassic era. The Olmec civilization had advanced roadways, large temples, and other forms of complex infrastructure. The Iron Age of art had more visible images. The Iron Age lasted from ca. 1200 B.C. to 600 B.C. depending on the region. There were creative paintings in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. Greek pottery flourished. Etruscan art existed. Egyptian and Persian art flourished too. There was the growth of human civilizations in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, etc. By 400 B.C., there were Central Mexican and Mayan peoples thriving. The city of Teotihuacan was a city that had great art including Xochicalco and El Tajin. These sites boasted grand sculpture and architecture. Other Central Mexican peoples included the Mixtecs, the Zapotecs, and people in the Valley of Oaxaca. Maya art was at its height during the “Classic” period.

After the age of the Iron Age, the Roman Empire reached its peak. Ancient Rome had architecture dealing with columns and the art. There were also mosaic images throughout Italy and the rest of Europe. Dome structures existed. The Medieval art period (and before that era too) saw early Christian art.  Paleochristian art lasted from 260 and 525 A.D. There has been Christian art found from the 2nd century onward too. Back before 100, Christians were small in number and heavily persecuted by the Roman Empire. Later, Christians used fresco, mosaics, sculptures, and manuscript illuminations. Much of it was found in Catacombs of ancient Rome. They used the image of the peacock, grapevines, and the “Good Shepherd” to signify Jesus Christ. In the Dura-Europos church (in Syria), of about 230–256, which is in the best condition of the surviving very early churches, there are frescos of biblical scenes including a figure of Jesus, as well as Christ as the Good Shepherd. The building was a normal house apparently converted to use as a church. Other symbols like the fish were used to denote Christianity too. Ante-Nicene Period of 325 A.D. and afterwards saw a further expansion of Christianity in Europe and throughout the world. There was Byzantine art, Anglo-Saxon art, Viking art, etc. Islamic art and Gothic art dominated the world.



Yesterday was the Birthday of the legendary Sister Shirley Chisholm. She lived for 8 decades. For a long time, she has inspired women to achieve their dreams involving politics or other ways of living life. She has inspired black people to be open to helping our communities. She was born in Brooklyn, NYC. Her parents were Afro-Caribbeans and she loved her Caribbean heritage. Later, she worked in politics. She was in the NY State legislative branch of government. She was the first black woman Democratic candidate for President. She supported progressive causes from funding Medicare to advancing civil rights. She worked hard in Congress too. Her legacy is lengthy and her wisdom was very extensive. She toured college campuses to speak her mind. She was the living example of courage, ethics, and intellectual power. Rest in Power Sister Shirley Chisholm. Yesterday was the Birthday of the late, great Gordon Parks. He was born in Fort Scott, Kansas. Some of the most iconic African American photographs has been recorded by him. He was not only a great photographer, musician, writer, and director. He was a prominent civil rights activist.He lived through the Civil Rights Movement. He experienced a long life of 93 years. He almost lived one century. He wrote poetry too. Back during the 1940's, he made images of poor Americans including black Americans during the era of the Great Depression. His art depicted real life experienced by many Americans. In 1969, he directed the historic film The Learning Tree. It was a film about Kansas which was semi-autobiographical story about his life. Shaft was directed by him too. He was the co-founder of Essence magazine. The Gordon Parks Foundation records his work. He was a legend and showed the rich power of black creativity.
Rest in Power Brother Gordon Parks.

Russell Wilson is 29 years old. He was the famous Seattle Seahawks quarterback of the NFL. He was born in Cincinnati and was raised in Richmond, Virginia. I have many relatives from Richmond, VA too. He played football greatly in Richmond when he was in high school. Wilson's paternal grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., is a former president of Norfolk State University who played football and basketball at Kentucky State University, and his paternal grandmother, Anna W. Wilson, was on the faculty at Jackson State University. Wilson's maternal grandfather was noted painter A. B. Jackson. He played football in Wisconsin. He came into the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring too. He's a great quarterback with records and other awards. Also, he married the love of his life, who is Ciara. Ciara is also another great woman. Ciara has stood out as not only a great performer, but a great spiritual woman. Their union is a blessing. You can look at both of them and tell that they love each other a great deal. I wish Brother Russell Wilson a great Birthday. Also, the couple has a daughter too. Trump retweet a so vicious anti-Muslim videos from a British white nationalist group, that many people are criticizing his overt bigotry. Trump is a total disgrace. He or Trump has been aided by many GOP members. Also, Trump supporters should feel shame since they voted for him and they still support him to this very day. Trump supports Roy Moore, whom more than 5 women have said that he abused teenage girls. Also, we know that Matt Lauer was fired, because of sexual misconduct. We certainly honor the brave people (and the brave victims) who publicly talked about this issue since people have to keep their hands to themselves. The Golden Rule is true and it's eternal, which means that we should treat people with dignity and with respect.

Change never comes by submitting to the interests of the oppressor. Change comes by activism by the oppressed to fight back against injustice. Many states even refuse to pass a bill of rights to hold crooked cops accountable. Many of the "good" cops make it their duty to refuse to tell on the bad cops for the sake of promoting the evil blue wall of silence. It has gotten to the point that the Right today would consider an extremist like Reagan a "moderate." That is why the Right today wants to eradicate the Great Society and the New Deal social reforms including any progressive measure that enriches human lives. They (as in the racists) want bread and circus without social development beneficial to our people. It's as real as that. The ironic thing is that they know the truth. They know about American history, the racist anthem, and the real problem of police terrorism against our communities. They just don't care and desire a sick conformity to the status quo (where athletes are silent and just get a check at the expense of these athletes' human dignity). That is why I respect Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Althea Gibson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, etc. They not only are some of the greatest athletes in human history. They went into public to promote social justice, they helped the oppressed, they worked in charities, and they have spoken their minds. They or the bigots certainly want the players to be silent. I don't understand how anyone can be offended by a peaceful knell to disagree with a racist national anthem.

By Timothy