Black History Month

“The poets, by which I mean all artists, are finally the only people that know the truth about us. Soldiers don’t, statesmen don’t, priests don’t, union leaders don’t…only the poets.” - James Baldwin

Artists have always made unlikely activists, seeing what others overlook and naming what others can’t quite articulate. This year, we’re celebrating Black artists whose voices, bodies, and imaginations reshaped the world into something more accepting and more free.

James Baldwin is one of the most influential writers, philosophers, and activists of all time. Born in Harlem, NY, he lived a life that denied shame and embraced truth and understanding. To learn more about his extraordinary life and works as a writer, click here.

Many know Josephine Baker as an accomplished dancer, but she was way more than that. At the height of her fame in France, she worked as a spy strengthening the resistance movement during World War 2. To learn more about her fascinating international life, click here.

Marvin Gaye took big risks with his music. At a time when Pop and R&B mostly consisted of love songs, Gaye decided to release songs about the world he experienced: over-policing, climate change, and racial discrimination. To earn more about the story behind “What’s Going On”, click here.