N o matter how high temperatures soar, we push away the notion of ICE, and lean into the searing power of Black women artists this fiery July. Heat, friction, sparks, and consuming flames are the focus of this month’s featured art that reflect the passion and combustible force of members of our society who are too often told to keep their cool. These radiant artists and their work remind us that now is the time to feed the forces of liberation and freedom.
“Some women fear the fire. Some women simply become it.” — Unknown
Music
Listen to “Keep the Fire Burning.”
Remembering Gwen McCrae
Disco, funk, and soul singer Gwen McCrae passed away in February of this year. Her gospel-infused R&B hits of the early 1970s featured upbeat, dance-floor-ready grooves that lit up clubs in her native Miami and paved the way for disco. In 1975, her smash hit “Rockin’ Chair” reached number nine on Billboard’s Hot 100 and claimed the top spot on the R&B chart. She continued her run with a string of singles that spanned funk, disco, and soul. Her music was later sampled by nearly 300 DJs and hip-hop artists, including Lady Gaga and Jaylib. McCrae also cultivated a devoted following in the UK’s rare groove scene throughout the 1980s and remained beloved by dance music artists around the world. New York Times
Film
The Fire Inside
The Fire Inside has a little more going on under the hood than your average sports movie.
The Fire Inside tells the powerful true story of Claressa Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who rose above family trauma and economic hardship to become the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the sport. The film follows her climb to the top of a world that still fails to offer a level playing field—especially for women of color in sports. Off screen, Shields continues to fight for women’s boxing to receive the recognition and respect it deserves. Directed by Rachel Morrison, written by Barry Jenkins, and starring Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, and Adam Clark.
Film
The Fire Inside
The Woman King is about strong, dynamic Black women, their souls, minds, and bodies.
The Fire Inside tells the powerful true story of Claressa Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who rose above family trauma and economic hardship to become the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the sport. The film follows her climb to the top of a world that still fails to offer a level playing field—especially for women of color in sports. Off screen, Shields continues to fight for women’s boxing to receive the recognition and respect it deserves. Directed by Rachel Morrison, written by Barry Jenkins, and starring Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, and Adam Clark.
Art
Traci Mims
Traci Mims is an Atlanta-based contemporary artist and former art teacher skilled in a variety of artistic forms, including printmaking, painting, drawing, quilting, sculpture, and graphic design. Though her forms vary, Mims’ work is connected by her affinity for culture and social justice. Many of her works are personal reflections of her upbringing and the plight of Black people. The winner of the Atlanta Printmakers Biennial, Mims’ “Rooted” was recently acquired by the EJI Legacy Museum.
Art
Traci Mims
Traci Mims is an Atlanta-based contemporary artist and former art teacher skilled in a variety of artistic forms, including printmaking, painting, drawing, quilting, sculpture, and graphic design. Though her forms vary, Mims’ work is connected by her affinity for culture and social justice. Many of her works deal with her face and reflections of her upbringing, and the plight of Black people. The winner of the Atlanta Printmakers Biennial, The winner of the Atlanta Printmakers Biennial, Mims’ “Rooted” was recently acquired by the EJI Legacy Museum. Black Art in America
Featured Writing
Black Fire This Time is a two-volume anthology series, celebrating Black voices in literature and the arts, edited respectively by Dr. Kim McMillon (Volume I) and Derrick Harriell (Volume II). The series features a diverse collection of poems, stories, and essays, showcasing the work of both established and emerging writers, including Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, James Baldwin, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Margaret Walker, Lucille Clifton, Henry Dumas, Askia Touré, Lenard Moore, Lamont Lilly, and Camille T. Dungy. Volume 1 focuses on bridging the gap between the Black Arts Movement (1965-1975) and contemporary writers, while Volume 2 continues the conversation, exploring themes of “Black is Beautiful, Black is Powerful, Black is Home.” Willow Books
Featured Writing
Black Fire This Time is a two-volume anthology series, celebrating Black voices in literature and the arts, edited respectively by Dr. Kim McMillon (Volume I) and Derrick Harriell (Volume II). The series features a diverse collection of poems, stories, and essays, showcasing the work of both established and emerging writers, including Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, James Baldwin, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Margaret Walker, Lucille Clifton, Henry Dumas, Askia Touré, Lenard Moore, Lamont Lilly, and Camille T. Dungy. Volume 1 focuses on bridging the gap between the Black Arts Movement (1965-1975) and contemporary writers, while Volume 2 continues the conversation, exploring themes of “Black is Beautiful, Black is Powerful, Black is Home.” Willow Books
