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20/06/2026

We Were Freedom Fighting: From 1770,Bunker Hill to Juneteenth 1865

America is turning 250. Let’s reclaim both the 4th of July and Juneteenth—because Black people were there from the very start.
Black history did not begin at Juneteenth. That was a great victory. But the long road to freedom started much earlier.
In the 1770s, free Black people, enslaved people, white laborers, and patriots stood together against tyranny. They fought against slavery and slave-made goods being brought to America.
Barzillai Lew was a free Black soldier and musician. He fought at Bunker Hill to help birth a nation. Benjamin Banneker used math and science to help design early America. Nearly 100 years later, Black soldiers called the United States Colored Troops marched into Galveston, Texas, and made freedom real.
These freedom fighters crossed every line—race, religion, and class. They built churches, schools, and groups that helped shape America.
Our Call
Between Juneteenth and the 4th of July, we reclaim our place—not as background characters, but as founders, fighters, inventors, teachers, and nation-builders.
We did not just work with our hands. We built with our minds. We defended with courage. We led with spirit.
Juneteenth was a victory. But the full story runs from Bunker Hill to Galveston—and beyond.
From 1770 to 1865 and after, the story of America cannot be told without us.

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19/06/2026

Ilyasah Shabazz was only a toddler when her father was assassinated. Decades later, she writes about ginger cookies, jazz, butterflies—and the details that still bring him closer.

19/06/2026

We Were Freedom Fighting: From 1770,Bunker Hill to Juneteenth 1865

America is turning 250. Let's reclaim both the 4th of July and Juneteenth—because Black people were there from the very start.
Black history did not begin at Juneteenth. That was a great victory. But the long road to freedom started much earlier.
In the 1770s, free Black people, enslaved people, white laborers, and patriots stood together against tyranny. They fought against slavery and slave-made goods being brought to America.
Barzillai Lew was a free Black soldier and musician. He fought at Bunker Hill to help birth a nation. Benjamin Banneker used math and science to help design early America. Nearly 100 years later, Black soldiers called the United States Colored Troops marched into Galveston, Texas, and made freedom real.
These freedom fighters crossed every line—race, religion, and class. They built churches, schools, and groups that helped shape America.
Our Call
Between Juneteenth and the 4th of July, we reclaim our place—not as background characters, but as founders, fighters, inventors, teachers, and nation-builders.
We did not just work with our hands. We built with our minds. We defended with courage. We led with spirit.
Juneteenth was a victory. But the full story runs from Bunker Hill to Galveston—and beyond.
From 1770 to 1865 and after, the story of America cannot be told without us.

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13/06/2026

What a difference a day makes. 🌈🏀🗽

One day, the city was holding its breath.

The Garden—usually thunderous—sat unusually hushed through much of Game 3 and nearly three quarters of Game 4, carrying the weight of disappointment, frustration, and fading hope.

At halftime, it felt unforgiving:

Spurs 76. Knicks 49.

Then came the deeper gut punch.

With 9:40 left in the third quarter, the Spurs stretched the lead to 81–52.

Twenty-nine points.

Madison Square Garden was stunned. Silent. A city preparing for heartbreak. It felt over.

But New York never truly stops believing.

Slowly…the pulse returned.

A stop.
A three.
A roar.

The crowd, mostly silenced for nearly two games, began rising possession by possession. Celebrity Row swayed with every moment—hope, frustration, disbelief, faith—moving to the rhythm of every shot.

Then came the comeback.

And then—at 1.2 seconds—a moment suspended between heartbreak and history:

A final shot.
A miss.

And then OG Anunoby came flying through the sky, soaring over everyone for the breathtaking tip heard around New York.

Knicks 107. Spurs 106.

Pandemonium.

For a city that has waited since 1999 to host and hope for Finals glory, this wasn’t just a win.

It was release.

No pun intended, but New York partied like it was 1999.

Celebrity Row erupted. Strangers hugged like family. Old Knicks legends reunited. Fans laughed, cried, cheered, jeered, and lingered long after the buzzer—basking in the glow of glory.

Outside the Garden, the city pulsed. Millions watched from homes, bars, phones, rooftops, and watch parties across New York.

For one unforgettable night, basketball became heartbeat.

What a difference a day makes. 🏀🌈🗽

OGAnunoby KnicksNation Basketball NYC WhatADifferenceADayMakes Rainbow

11/06/2026

Fly like an eagle…” 🦅

And in the closing seconds, OG Anunoby did just that.

Soaring over everyone — rising above bodies, pressure, and even the towering presence of the NBA’s 7-foot-5 phenomenon, Victor Wembanyama — OG tipped in what felt like a miracle.

The New York Knicks 29-point deficit -erased!

A one-point victory secured.

“Time keeps on slippin’ into the future…”

Yet for one breathtaking moment, time stood still.

08/06/2026

A young deer resting under a fallen tree. Couldn’t help but notice this enormous fallen tree in the park this morning—the aftermath of last night’s storm that swept through Montclair on Saturday, June 6. At first glance, it looked like devastation: a mighty trunk fractured, branches scattered, leaves strewn like evidence of a battle with the wind.

But while I stood there examining it, I noticed something unexpected.

A young deer, resting quietly in the midst of the brokenness.

Not running. Not panicked. Resting.

07/06/2026

Listening to Tw***ie Clark perform among fellow legendary Howard University artist-alums felt like witnessing a beautiful chapter of musical history still being written.

For those who enjoy musical connections across genres, “You Brought the Sunshine” by The Clark Sisters—written and arranged by Tw***ie Clark—has long echoed far beyond gospel music, even finding its way into Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster (Jammin’).” It’s a reminder of just how deeply Black musical traditions speak to one another.

Tw***ie’s contributions to gospel music are immeasurable. Through her blending of gospel, jazz, classical, and soul, she helped shape a sound that influenced generations across gospel, R&B, and beyond.

It was especially meaningful to reflect on her journey—from studying at Howard University to her extraordinary organ and piano mastery later becoming the subject of academic study at Harvard University, recognizing the depth and complexity of her artistry.

And the legacy runs deep.

From the musical vision and discipline of her mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, to the enduring impact of The Clark Sisters, and family continuing the tradition today, this legacy stretches across three generations.

Inheritance.
Discipline.
Faith.
Excellence passed forward.

You don’t simply hear Tw***ie play.

You feel the reverence.
You hear the years of discipline.
You witness legacy in motion.

Grateful for living legends. 🎹✨

***ieClark

31/05/2026

Happy Sunday everyone. Coming up in July, our annual Jazz By The Water(tm) Concert Series is happening. Save the Date: Sat. July 25th. This year we will have some pre-concert activities along with a great line of up of jazz. Check out our website at www.artsandjazzfestny.com for photos and highlights. Thanks again to everyone for your continued support. Greatly appreciated!!!

25/05/2026

Sister Act fanatics breaking into Joyful, Joyful celebrations after Wemby’s logo 3-point buzzer-beater. Let’s gooo! 😭🏀🙏🏽🎶