This issue has taken from this past week what I’ve found to be most urgent. Read closely.

Inform yourself on MOCAD Resistance

Check out Asmaa Walton’s 30-Second Book Review for Pressed Coffee, where Asmaa discusses the Black Art Library’s curated list of Children’s Books.

Find a friend to match a $5 donation toward Children’s books and art supplies! Every $5 donated will enter you into a raffle for a nox library shirt and book <3

Above: steps on how to participate in nox library’s raffle fundraiser in support of Hey Y’all Detroit’s Children’s Book Fair!

Arts & Culture

July 8

MOCAD Director Placed on Leave After Staff Allege Racism and Sexism

Reported by Claire Voon for ARTnews

FOLLOW AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH MOCAD RESISTANCE, THE GROUP GALVANIZING ART WORKERS (SPECIFICALLY MOCAD WORKERS) FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

MOCADRESISTANCE.COM

Community and Former MOCAD Staff demands:

The Executive Director must cede her role and the Museum must conduct a national search for a new director, emphasizing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) candidates, who will work for the city in which it stands.
The Board shall allocate one seat to an employee of the Museum who will be elected by all employees of the Museum to better represent employee experiences and interest to the board.
The Board shall allocate at least 1/3 of its seats to economically and racially diverse individuals from local communities, including youth.
The Board must actively re-engage with resigned/terminated employees. Said former employees should receive rehiring preferences should any positions that were eliminated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic become reinstated.
MOCAD must provide meaningful parental leave options and help foster an environment that is supportive of working families.

Read their latest posts, which come out every day at 8pm:

Affirming our Commitment to MOCAD

Politics & Society

June 8

No masks, no coughs: Robots can be just what the doctor ordered in time of social distancing

Please read this article. or at least look at the photos. I promise you will not regret it.

PDF version available here (for all you non-subscribers)

By Simon Denyer, Akiko Kashiwagi and Min Joo Kim for Washington Post

Harvard, MIT sue Trump administration over ICE foreign-student rule, deeming it cruel and reckless

Reported Jorge L. Ortiz for USA Today

30-Second Book Review: Asmaa Walton and the Black Art Library on Children’s Books

Page 1 of Black Art Library’s Children’s Book List

My name is Asmaa Walton and I’m the founder of the Black Art Library. I recently created a list of all the children’s books I have been collecting for the library so I could share it with teachers, parents, and really anyone who was interested.

Children’s books have been some of my favorite to collect because I’m drawn to the illustrations! All of the books are about Black artists or were created by Black artists. Every book I added to the list was wonderful but I will give some short reviews on a few of them!

Bronzeville Boys and Girls

By Gwendolyn Brooks and illustrated by Faith Ringgold

Ages 7-10

This book is honestly great for not only kids but kids at heart! I loved reading it so much. It is a collection of poems that tells the stories of different boys and girls in Bronzeville. This illustrations are by Faith Ringgold and they are fantastic.

Jacob Lawrence: In the City

By Susan Goldman Rubin

Ages 2-4

This one is a board book for younger children and it is one of the only board books I’ve come across about a Black artist so I think it’s very special. Jacob Lawrence’s paintings illustrate a bustling city for the young readers.

American Struggle: Teens Respond to Jacob Lawrence

Edited by Chul R. Kim

This is one that I didn’t put on the list because it’s one of the few YA books that I have. In this book multiple teens share their perspectives on the timeless work of Jacob Lawrence. This is a really unique book to me but it is not often that we’re able to hear from teens about how art speaks to them.

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

By Javaka Steptoe

Ages 6-9

The illustrations in this book are so beautiful. It takes us through a young Jean-Michel’s journey to becoming an artist and we’re introduce to members of his family and the roles they played in introducing him to art. It’s a great story.

View the Black Art Library’s list of Children’s books here.

Donate to the Black Art Library here!

nox library fundraiser raffle in support of Hey Y’all Detroit’s Children’s Book Fair!

Donate to help us collect books and art supplies for Hey Y’all Detroit’s Free Children’s Book Fair on July 25!

Find a friend to match your donation, and be entered in a raffle for a nox library shirt and one of the books listed below for both you and your match. Every $5 will be counted as an entry into this raffle.

Be sure to include your name, your email and your match’s email (or IG handles!) in the Venmo or PayPal note.