#lashay basnight

Discover: Abena and the Road to Beautiful Blackness

Many of us have a hard time owning who we are, because we don’t know who we are. With so many changes to legislation, it is even more difficult for Black children to learn about American history through the eyes of Black inventors, Black Scientists, Black Doctors, Black Mathematicians, and more. This is why it’s so important to support Black authors who are creating children's literature for the Black child in us and our children.

Lashay Basnight is the newly self-published author of Abena and the Road to Beautiful Blackness; a much needed story for Black children. Abena is an awe-inspiring 10-year old, 5th grade student; who is always eager to share what she has learned, through creative writing and art. This story takes a familiar turn, when Abena finds out that the school’s Black History program is removed from the academic schedule. Basnight may strike a nerve with this plot, but leads us into a pivotal adventure on reclaiming other ways to learn and share Black History.

Abena goes on this exploration of seeking omitted texts of African-American History, such as the women known as “Hidden Figures”, and the multi-faceted lawyer, Mary Ann Shad. The adventurous story mentions historical people of color, who I have learned about—only while reading Abena and the Road to Beautiful Blackness. This book also features activities and games to help children retain their Black History knowledge for life.

Lashay Basnight wrote this story during a standstill moment in her life, during the pandemic; but did not consider publishing it—due to the illustration barrier. Now, right at the height of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and government shutdown; Basnight overcame the hurdle of illustrating by getting a little help from ChatGPT. The publishing of Abena and the Road to Beautiful Blackness, is a milestone for Basnight; and is a note of encouragement for upcoming self-published authors.

Brooklyn hip hop artist, Torae dropped his mix tape Admission of Guilt this month. When the beat of the intro drops you can hear the urgency in what he wants his fans to feel. I’m more a lover of lyrics but an admirer of beats and this mix tape fulfilled this it’s own way. On the track “Burden of Proof”, the feds are banging on his door which kind of reminds me of The Firm’s “Phone Tap.”

The lyrics are a lot more descriptive in regards to the exchange he’s having. He goes into discussing his hustle, what his background story is and how in the midst of acquiring the finer things you forget to be thankful on the track “Forget To Say Grace”.  He discusses his love for hip hop but love don’t pay the bills on the track “What’s Love” which features Pharoahe Monch. This is one of my favorite joints cause he and Pharoahe go in! Torae states, ‘coming up they told me love was the message but somebody ain’t get the memo if they left it.’ Then Pharoahe states, ‘I liberated my life with love and levitated and left every lyric I laid completely obliterated.’ Whew!

I would like to think I have a very good ear for music, especially when it comes to soul. That genre has so many different…

Iron is the most common element in the Earth’s crust but there is nothing common about this metal. It can transition into many other oxidation states therefore making it hard to ignore. King Solomon was regarded as one of the wisest kings in the bible. Hip hop revolves around starting from the bottom and aspiring to reach the top. Many emcees thrive off of battling, spitting the hottest lyrics anyone has ever heard just to receive a piece of recognition worthy of a veteran emcee.

When you think about comic books, you think of Superman, Black Panther, Storm, Batman, etc. All comic books that I loved as a kid and still do as an adult (yes, I’m a female comic head and proud of it :lol: ) of course as an adult I grew to find other means of entertainment and therefore ran across a comic book entitled, The Dog Years.

I received a pretty great education from the HBCU; Morgan State University. But I don’t believe they offered a class as superb as the Art 408: Visual Culture class located at Bowie State University. I was blessed to be able to attend this class upon finding out that DMV’s own blood brother hip hop trio; Gods’illawould be guest speakers there. 

Hip hop is becoming a broader spectrum every day in the DMV area and these two gentlemen are clearly going above and beyond that. Producer/emcee, Awthentik and Violet Says 5 along with front man Ethan Spalding created an album that whets any hip hop head’s appetite for more of what we need.