Aberjhani's Blog: Notes of a 21st Century Digital Scribe, page 13

Text and Meaning in Dick Gregory's 'Nigger' (part 1): Laughter and Revolution

Two icons of the African American Civil and Human Rights struggle: Dick Gregory (left) and Muhammad Ali. (photo credit attributed to Reuters File)
In his lifetime, Dick Gregory (1932-2017) achieved the distinction of becoming a celebrated athlete, conscientious comic, civil rights leader, devoted (in his own singular way) family man, philanthropist, American icon, and author of more than a dozen books.Publisher Harper Collins released his most recent title, Defining Moments in Black Hist...

On J.K. Rowling and Varieties of Angels

Screenshot of JK Rowling on Twitter with tweet showing mega truck driver assisting residents of Texas during floods that followed Hurricane Harvey in September 2017. Please see below for full AFP News Video.
World-changing catastrophes––like the earthquake that struck Mexico on September 8, and the back-to-back twin maelstroms, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, that rocked the United States this month––have a way of bringing to the surface humanity’s innate, but too often dormant, capacity...

Commitment and Conscience in Debates over Removal of Confederate Monuments in America

A few years ago while writing my former National African-American Cultural Arts column for AXS Entertainment, certain bloggers in Hong Kong started referring me to as a writer of conscience and commitment. They saw in my work strong parallels between the mission French authors––like Simone De Beauvoir, Jean Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus-- who emerged during and after World War II, had assigned themselves, and that which I had adopted in a relatively more peaceful time.

The defining eleme...

Biography Presents Compelling Portrait of Life, Times, and Mind of Jean-Paul Sartre (part 1 of 2)

The rich flow of historical details, intellectual insights, and political dynamics that make up the powerful pages of Annie Cohen-Solal’s “Sartre: A Life” are both is primary assets and, for some, its principle liabilities.

In the afterword to the Sartre Centennial 1905-2005 edition of the book, the authors lets us in on her adopted goals and methodology:

“I adopted from the beginning, a different perspective, that of interactionist micro-sociology, which tries to understand society from...

2017 Summertime Reflections of a Skylark Singing Diamonds

Quotation Art on birth , rebirth, and poetry: “Born once of flesh, then again of fire, I was reborn a third time to the sound of my name humming haikus in heaven’s mouth.” Text and Self-portrait art by Aberjhani–– (from The River of Winged Dreams) copyright 2017 (Postered Poetics by Aberjhani @ Bright Skylark Literary Productions 2017)
The diamonds referenced in the above title symbolize two concrete objectives as well as the more metaphysically metaphorical interpretations some might g...

Intensified Creative Vision Requires Maximized Creative Outlets (part 2 of 2)

Part 2: "Intensified Creative Vision Requires Maximized Creative Outlets" essay and art by Aberjhani.For the part 1 introduction to this blog on artwork which has recently become available please check it out right here. Part 2 begins right here right now: Beauty of the World's Fountains
Fountains are among the most admired ornamental man-made structures because they combine the artistic beauty of refined sculpture with the precision of engineering and architecture. Celebrated examples can be...

Intensified Creative Vision Requires Maximized Creative Outlets (part 1 of 2)

"Intensified Creative Vision Requires Maximized Creative Outlets (part 1 of 2)" blog and Postered Poetics art graphic by Aberjhani.
Adding the mantel of visual artist to that of wordsmith requires--aside from repeatedly earning such a title--doubling the secondary function of launching projects once they are either completed or close to completion. Some of us are naturals at it and others, like this author-artist, more likely to rely on the kindness of friends and pros.

With the ongoing soft la...

A Literary Craftsman Re-Discovers His Inner Visual Artist

Postered Chromatic Poetics art graphic by Aberjhani for new store at Fine Art America. Also available as print and in other art formats.
National Poetry Month might strike some as an odd time for an author to debut new work as a visual artist. It is in fact not so strange at all.

If you've had a chance to check out my current essay series at Charter for Compassion, then you know it deals in large part with honoring empowering traditions. But not only that. It is also about extending and tweakin...

Poetics and Jazz of Compassion Presented with a Creatively Maladjusted Twist

Detail of "Big Band" portrait by Leroy Neiman used as part 1 of special series of posters for Jazz Appreciation Month. Among iconic talents seen here are: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, and Louie Armstrong. April, when both Jazz Appreciation Month and National Poetry Month are observed, is always a special time at Bright Skylark Literary Productions.  This year it is doubly special because in addition to featuring several re-posts of classic articles and...

Jarreau Jazz-riff Earth-tunes for the Angel of Compassion: Essay with Poem (part 2 of 2)

"Jarreau Jazz-riff Earth-tunes for the Angel of Compassion: Essay with Poem (part 1 of 2)" Postered Poetics art graphic by Aberjhani.
NOTE: If you missed part 1 of this special tribute to the jazz singer and songwriter Al Jarreau please check it out here. Part 2 begins now. For the past few years, I have been particularly grateful for the technological advances that allowed me to catch online streaming of Al Jarreau's International Jazz Day performances from around the world: Washington D.C,...