Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes (June 28, 1905 – September 26, 2001) was an African-American fashion designer and costumer. Valdes grew up in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She began her professional career working in her uncle's White Plains, New York tailoring shop. Around the same time, Valdes began working as a stock girl at a high-end boutique. She eventually worked her way up … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: Black Fashion Designers
Arts and Culture
Monday Open Thread: Black Fashion Designers
Willi Donnell Smith (February 29, 1948 – April 17, 1987) was an American fashion designer. At the time of his death, Smith was regarded as one of the most successful African-American designers in the fashion industry. His company, WilliWear Limited, launched in 1976 and would go on to sell $25 million worth of clothing a year. After Smith's death, his business partner continued … [Read more...] about Monday Open Thread: Black Fashion Designers
Sunday Open Thread: Protest Songs of the Civil Rights Movement
Martin Luther King knew that the Civil Rights movement needed a soundtrack. The Civil Rights movement incorporated jazz, folk, R&B and gospel to use music that everybody could relate to and be inspired by to help change America in the 1950's and 1960's. Here are some of them: "Oh, Freedom" is a post-Civil War African-American freedom song. It is often associated with the … [Read more...] about Sunday Open Thread: Protest Songs of the Civil Rights Movement
49th NAACP Image Awards Open Thread
Early winners at the 49th NAACP Image Awards, as announced a pre-telecast gala dinner Sunday (Jan. 14) in Pasadena, California: … [Read more...] about 49th NAACP Image Awards Open Thread
Saturday Open Thread: African American Photographers Part 2
Good Morning POU! “Shamayim is a major talent as a global fashion photographer. He has a knack for making both the fashion and model seamlessly one and beautiful. Not unlike a 21st century Gordon Parks, Shamayim often shoots at exotic locations to create not just an environment but a backstory for the fashion and a lifestyle for the beauty.”” — Aaron Bryant, curator at … [Read more...] about Saturday Open Thread: African American Photographers Part 2