Black Excellence: The Pan African Historical Museum USA–Springfield, MA

https://www.pahmusa.org/

PAHMUSA (The Pan African Historical Museum USA) is a hidden gem. It was founded in 1995 by Lujuana Hood. Her mission to help preserve the local history of  African Americans continued today. Executive Director Sam Bradley and his team continue building on the foundation Ms. Hood established by offering educational, performing arts, and socially relevant programming for the immediate and surrounding community. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to the exhibitions and programming offered weekly. PAHMUSA Museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays from Noon to 4 PM and Saturdays by appointment. It is located at 1500 Main Street in Springfield. Contact PAHMUSA by calling  (413) 779-5571 or visit them online at www.pahmusa.org. 

Black Excellence: BLK ODYSSY

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1226124818/tiny-desk-concert-blk-odyssy

The BLK ODYSSY aesthetic ignites all of the human senses and it’s impossible to nail down exactly what type of music he makes after one, two or even three listens. When he arrived at NPR headquarters, Juwan Elcock, aka BLK ODYSSY, pulled out a lifelike severed human head made of silicone and placed it on the Desk. It’s the same head seen in the hands of a woman on the cover of his latest album, DIAMONDS & FREAKS, a project that depicts love and lust as addictive vices.