American Black Journal – Horace Sheffield Jr.’s Archives, Olayami Dabls, Tylonn Sawyer

This Week on American Black Journal: 

Collection of Horace Sheffield, Jr.’s Archives Coming to Wayne State University 

In celebration of Black History Month, host Stephen Henderson explores the legacy of of Horace Sheffield, Jr., a trailblazer in the African American labor union movement. Stephen talks with the late Sheffield’s son, Rev. Horace Sheffield III, about the influence and impact his father had on the trade unions during the civil rights movement. Plus, Sheffield III talks about upcoming plans to house thousands of items from his father’s archives in a massive collection at Wayne State University and across the Wayne County Community College District.

2022 Kresge Eminent Artist Award Presented to Olayami Dabls 

Each year for the past 14 years, Kresge Arts in Detroit, a local program under The Kresge Foundation, has recognized a local artist with the Eminent Artist award for their artistic works and community engagement. American Black Journal producer Marcus Green sat down with Kresge Detroit’s 2022 Eminent Artist Olayami Dabls at his MBAD African Bead Museum on Detroit’s west side for a conversations about what influences his unique style of art.

As a visual storyteller and muralist, Dabls has received the annual award for the artwork he’s created in the city as well as the contributions, growth and vibrancy he’s brought back to the Grand River Avenue and Grand Boulevard intersection, where his museum sits.

Northwest Detroit Development Named After Artist Tylonn Sawyer 

A new mixed-use development project coming to Northwest Detroit will be named in honor of a local artist some Detroiters might know. The project will be named Sawyer Art Apartments in honor of Detroit contemporary artist Tylonn Sawyer, who plans to provide interior and exterior artwork for the new building. One Detroit’s Will glover sat down with Tylonn to discuss the development’s name, how digital media may help or hurt Black artists, and what the importance of depicting contemporary messages in his artwork.

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