Rhea Combs

— James Baldwin

This is an incredible documentary. Highly recommend. What an individual.

NYPL is giving away 4,000 copies of books by James Baldwin at select branches this summer and fall to celebrate his 100th birthday! Check out where you can get one to take home. Limited to one book per patron while supplies last. on.nypl.org/3YvINDE

The National Portrait Gallery’s New Exhibition Honors The Life And Legacy Of James Baldwin Curated by @rhea_combs, the gallery’s Director of Curatorial Affairs, the show examines Baldwin’s legacy alongside his contemporaries #Baldwin100 essence.com/art/national-p…

Fannie Lou Hamer and Bernice Johnson Reagon perform Freedom Songs at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 with Guy Carawan (left) and Len Chandler (right). Photo by Diana Davies. This archival video is featured in our film, Fannie Lou Hamer's America.

@michele_norris Tell it!

Dems in disarray is obviously an irresistible storyline. But does it have to be the only storyline when democracy is at stake and the convicted felon is out of the spotlight and out on the golf course ?

Before we share Ayo Edebiri's wonderful closet video in full, enjoy her lovely shoutout to favorite films on @criterionchannl. ❤️

@dreamhampton @vulture Yep, it’s beautiful to witness! What a special time this was. 🙌🏾

Another reminder that this artist was incredible. ✨❣️🤟🏾

@_Ash_Clark @criterionchannl @MoMAFilm 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

@lynneedenise Marking calendar! 🙌🏾

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” ― Bell Hooks

Great read: “How Black Librarians Helped Create Generations of Black Literature” —“The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future.” —Arturo Schomburg, 1914 nytimes.com/2024/06/19/art…

via @NYTimes nytimes.com/2024/06/19/art…

#OnThisDay, two legendary literature queens were born. 👑 Happy birthday Gwendolyn Brooks and Nikki Giovanni!

This photograph, taken in Lincoln, Nebraska by African-American photographer John Johnson between 1910 and 1925, shows the home of George W. and Fronia Butcher at 2001 U Street. The taller man is believed to be George Butcher, who worked for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Railroad shops in Havelock, Nebraska. He was born in Philadelphia in 1874, and died in Lincoln in 1958. Fronia Butcher (not pictured) lived to be 100 years old, living until 1974. The dapper man on the right remains unidentified.

@DrFrankRoberts Sublime

Rare photo of Gwendolyn Brooks and James Baldwin, circa 1986. Hear the audio here: loc.gov/item/88752473/

Belated endorsement but absolutely brilliant book! Some of the most exciting and wonderfully written fiction I’ve read in a long while. Reading this was like a Balm in Gilead—a hilarious and brave reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim. ✨

Paraphrasing from Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” book She asked her Mom why she was holding Barack’s hand on election night “His father left when he was 2. He lost his mother to cancer. He was moments away from becoming leader of the free world with no parents. So I took his hand”

My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today. We wanted to offer some reflections on her remarkable life: barackobama.medium.com/statement-on-t…