Cultures and Politics.

Art is always important. It is important to realize that American art existed for thousands of years. There were pictograph images in the Southwest part of America created by the indigenous people thousands of years ago. Jonathan Eastman Johnson was one of the most gifted artists in American history. He was a painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He painted famous people like Abraham Lincoln and everyday people. He studied art in Germany and in America. Johnson painted the Ojibwe people with the help of Stephen Bonga (who was of African American and Ojibwe heritage). He painted images of African Americans too. His most famous painted was the A Ride for Liberty-The Fugitive Slaves (1862) which was about a black family riding for freedom from slavery. Grant DeVolson Wood was an American artist who used Gothic imagery and shown places of rural including Midwestern locations. One of my favorite artists was Sister Loïs Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998). She was a well-known sculptor and teacher of art for many years. She was born in Boston and lived in Paris to develop her skills. Later, her work included the praise of Africa and the Caribbean.

Her usage of designs, illustrations, paintings, and other artistic forms of expression represent glorious excellence. She was influenced by three of some of the greatest black American scholars in history: sculptor Meta Warrick Fuller, composer Harry T. Burleigh, and novelist Dorothy West. Lois Mailou Jones earned a BA in art education from Howard University. Her husband was the Haitian man Louis Vergniaud Pierre-Noel. The African American artist Archibald Motley created great works. He painted works of black Americans in the 1920's and in the 1930's during the Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro movement. Jazz was part of his imagery. He was born in New Orleans and passed away in Chicago. James der Zee was another great artist who made portraits of both famous and unsung human beings (like Countee Cullen, Bill Robinson, Joe Louis, Florence Mills, etc.) for a long time. During the 21st century, art is focused on the environment, technology, digital paintings, and other forms of human expression.

It is always great news when people of the African Diaspora work together as a team. Recently the Afro-Brazilian singer Iza has worked with Ciara to make music. Ciara came to Rio to perform her music there as well. Iza has hits done in English too. Iza She has been a judge on The Voice Brazil. Ciara and her husband Russell Wilson celebrated the Carnival festivals which is common in the Caribbean and in South America. Iza performed for the first time in America at NYC during October of 2019.


This time is very similar to the Watergate era. You have an administration caught in multiple lies and members of the intelligence community testifying against it. Now, the House completed a vote on the impeachment inquiry already. Impeachment investigators want John Bolton to testify under oath. Bill Taylor is willing to testify publicly in the impeachment probe. Windman said that the Ukraine aid and White House meeting were contingent on the Ukraine issue. Windman basically is saying that it was quid pro quo. He said that there were omissions in the transcript of the conversation. John Bolton's lawyer said that he won't testify voluntarily. That means that he will only cooperate when an subpoena is issued to him.

Today is a very historic day in the history of America. The House has passed a resolution that promotes an impeachment inquiry. Now, the House plans to create public hearing on impeachment. Tim Morrison (the Trump top Russia adviser) just finished his sworn testimony on Capitol Hill. Either a President can do what he or she wants or she or she can't. The truth is that President now can't do what he wants to. Trump may act like an authoritarian bigot, but the truth is superior to lies and fiction. Alexander Hamilton is rather clear in his Federalist Papers that there are limits to the powers of the executive branch. That is why possible impeachment is on the horizon against Trump. The Washington Post reported that the White House lawyer moved the transcript of the Trump call to a classified server after Ukraine adviser raised alarms. Vindman said that Eisenberg moved the Trump/Ukraine transcript to restrict access. The blatant cover ups, the resistance to subpoenas, and the other forms of evil make us aware that this current administration has no respect for the rule of law. Testimony from credible whistleblowers has expounded on the nature of the Ukraine related call that Trump has participated in. There is no ambiguity about this time. We should always show the zeal and the passion to defend and enrich our democracy. Trump promoting financially compensation to Ukraine in exchange to find dirt on a political opponent is truly abhorrent. We contributed heavily in making this country. Our ancestors built up this nation in great measure brick by brick literally. Therefore, it is right to mention that no man is above the law.


By Timothy