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The “black” Marilyn/

Smoldering sexiness ruled/

Silver-haired legend.

Singer Joyce Bryant (b. 1928), by Van Vechten, 1953. 

Gown by Zelda Wynn Valdes.

A Potent Woman

To sit in judgment/

Requires compassion and/

A temperate mind.

Edith Spurlock Sampson (1901-1979), by Van Vechten, 1949.

Pioneer Woman

With power and grace/

She slammed through barriers but/

Died broken and poor.

Althea Gibson (1927-2003), by Van Vechten, 1958.

So Much To Paint

His retrospective/
Fame and honor came too late/
Find this pauper’s grave.

Ellis Wilson (1899-1977), by Van Vechten, 1947.

Here is a link to a documentary on Ellis WIlson, who was buried in obscurity: Ellis Wilson: So Much To Paint

Reproduced below are two works, "Breaking Down Fences" and "Funeral Procession."

Breaking Down Fences

Funeral Procession, ca. 1950s

 

Portrait of the Artist as Fragile, Yet Strong

 

Black bohemian/
With Modernist disjunctures/
And life’s discomforts.

Beauford Delaney (1901-1979), by Van Vechten, 1953.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman

Ladybird’s portrait/
Subdued luminosity/
Revealed in color.

Ladybird Cleveland (b. 1927), by Van Vechten, 1954

Reflections On a Genius

Her savage conscience/

Is like an invasive weed/

That roots out evil. 

Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) 

I always think about the brilliant Octavia Butler during this time of year--she died on February 24, six years ago. I have, in the past, posted passages from her works--especially her speculations on leadership. It seems as if folks are in the mood to ruminate--on local leadership, on the fate of Muhlenberg hospital, and on the future of the PMUA. I think very seriously about all the issues that come before the council. Here are my favorite Butler quotes, once again.

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by the thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery." 

 

"All struggles are essentially power struggles. Who will rule? Who will lead? Who will define, refine, confine, design? Who will dominate? All struggles are essentially power struggles,and most are no more intellectual than two rams knocking their heads together."