ART EXCELLENCE

Submissions from Garfield’s Black artists.

The Fruits of Humanity

By Brian Watson

When the fruits of humanity fall from the tree, I pray it won’t contaminate the air or the sea.

Ironically,

The Blues is scarred with rough streaks of Red Yet the color black was often used to purpose bloodshed.

But instead, Of single-narrative focused oppressive rash present or past, I consider hope hasn’t had it’s last Lady Day.

Periodically, Inspired, I think ahead, about when the fruits of humanity will have us all together break bread, like Colors of the canvas where all walks of life tread, like every instrumental, every spoken-word word said

When the fruits of humanity go from bitter to ripe, Go beyond black and white and fight or flight and fear.

These will be the fruits of our current collective labor As we get our bootstraps strapped, creativity and consciousness tailored, See the small, big picture through mediums that lead the way

So we can celebrate change beyond each Billie Holiday.

My Multiracial Hair Journey

By Kiana Gladney

Kinky tangled frizzy mess Unbroken weighed-down big and poofy stress Black dad, Asian mom. Black barber, Vietnamese salon. HairdresserHair straightening, heat damage, frizz control. Hair here, hair there, culturally misunderstood and unaware.

BarbershopBox braids, butterfly locs, protective hairstyles. Undercut, buzzcut, close shave, The beautiful styles of my culture I admire but my mixed hair texture is all wrong