Lynch...Here and Now a play by Michaelangelo Davis and co written by Laurinho Walch

Lynch…..Here and Now a Review by J. Wesley Beeks




When the song “ Strange Fruit “ plays with Billie Holiday’s haunting resonance, one is taken to the deep south with the apparitions of dangling bodies from sycamore trees a lullaby of those lynched because their skin was too dark. The play Lynch …Here and Now directed and written by playwright and composer Michaelangelo Davis and co- written by Laurinho Walch takes one into the pathos of lynching, profiling and the rebirth of self identity. This limited run at the Black Box Theater in New York City, a Mecca of ethnicities forging ahead in spite of polarities and disparities , became a platform for this tale to be told.

Willie Lynch is conjured up to discern if he really was a slave owner in the early 1700’s who came to the colony of Virginia in 1712 to share his methods for controlling Black slaves. Portrayed as a gothic, macabre and mentally unstable man by Michaelangelo Davis his cryptic dissertation of strategically controlling the African slaves flows forward with contorted desperation and gleeful madness. From this point the anthology of Lynch’s madness continues in a series of characters chronologically parlayed to institute his separatist and divisive tactics on the descendents of African slaves. An elderly woman enters the stage plodding with the elasticity of dead wood to plead with Willie Lynch and his wife to work in peace. She is contemptuous of the lynching of her husband and the selling of her children by Lynch but sings with praises for a better day. Witty and sarcastic the interplay of the old and young slave as they each discussed the merits of their position to end with the irony of an empty inheritance. The audience was kept from drifting into slumber with compositions from Michalelangelo infused with driving rhythms, syncopated rifts and old fashioned stomping grooves.

The multitude of characters ranged from eccentric, androgynous, ridiculous, pathological, amorous to the sublime. One character dressed in 60’s garb rolls out with the admonishments of vampires but that the really dangerous ones are the ones who suck energy as opposed to blood! Physically demonstrative and acrobatic this character screams for one to beware! Poignant and dynamic was the man who lost his job with his pregnant woman telling him he must leave before Lynch Corporation approaches. Diminished and distraught he confronts his woman with rage and angst as she reels back with sadness, fear, and survival to request that he leave the home. It would be unfair to infer what happens next as your interpretation will lead you to your own conclusions and contemporary definitions of relationships. The ensemble cast went beyond mediocre to mastery to bring the words to life and present entertainment, education and history exciting to capture the attention of the techno generation without one cell phone going off during the show!

The showcase of relationships explore the sexuality and boundaries of individuals and personal sacrifices. The image and stereotypes of African- American men are exposed in their interaction with society and towards one another. A daunting subject to deal with much less display but is done with charisma, energy and love. The bounty of female empowerment is expressed without hesitancy and distinguished celebration. The message is received with the audience dancing at the freedom of celebration of a past to the acceptance of the power to change the present and inspire the future. I do mean dancing as the audience ended the show with a gleeful call and response dancing standing up leaving with an inspired feeling that one change their condition.

If you want to see a play go to Broadway but if you want an experience that infuses talent, storytelling, dancing, and music then you have to see the play Lynch….Here and Now.

Does it really Matter who is on the Masthead? by J.Wesley Beeks

College is a testing ground of synthesizing values and the process of their disintegration and accumulation. One crosses the threshold with expectations of enlightenment and the possibility of mass Fortuna. The process of college is akin to the journey and the content learned becomes the template for expanding a landscape of opportunities.




Entering a campus requires a sacrifice not unlike the Romans who did so to Nike, the Goddess of Victory. The sacrifice can be a conscious litany of resolves and with time illuminates the actual sacrifices that must be made. College at its simplest level is an opportunity to network, create and fashion your unique place for yourself in the grand scheme of life. The bounty is set at a sliding scale dependent upon motivation, investigation, diligence, curiosity, and aptitude.



A college degree is posted on a resume perched as a masthead beckoning one to consider the appropriation of proficient skill level. Some institutions are lauded with ivy laurels, others enriched with generous generational philanthropic donors. Sprinkled about are those that defy matrimonial and patrimonial shackles and a few that deign themselves as progeny of contemporary design in constant motion. Yet a special anomaly exist that continues to thrive on the undercurrent of social phenomena from the reserves of vigilance and actualization. African-American universities and colleges hold this prestige as a social and intellectual phenomena in the western hemisphere that survived past pondering naysayer’s and political thwarts. From this a “brain trust “ was documented and developed that integrated all strata’s of society and generations. The influence of this creation was the fuel for other population segments to begin to conceptualize that they could create a template of education for their own.



Boricua College holds the distinction of the first accredited post secondary institution founded by Puerto Ricans who were incensed by divisive and separatist issues of nationality, state hood and the failure of a system to embrace their own. This same spirit was preceded by the historical contributions of African Americans educators, strategists and politicians. Each group holds the mirror of hypocrisy and disenfranchisement in their psychological, sociological, and economic history but it is not held captive by it.



The myths of entitlement and social familiarity are no longer viable or realistic grounds to stand upon for African Americans and Hispanics. Civil rights laws and Affirmative Action were tools to pry open opportunities to enter the race but not the guarantee of equal access to education and training to win the race. Therein lies the detracting element of denominator. “ We will let you compete but you have to first qualify!” It is the dedication to craftsmanship that allows one to shave off the denigration of sloth and the tattered illusions of entitlement.



In a lifetime there are pivotal and defining moments that last past our recollections that seep into one’s character and pours into wisdom. Financially the cost of a home, a wedding, children, automobiles are landmarks in our lifetime. The cost of a college degree is a premier investment in one’s self regardless of who is footing the bill whether it is your parents, scholarship, grants, fellowships or for some of us ourselves. This cost should not be taken lightly and the application of it can provide future opportunities for those who are visionaries in sight. I state this to illustrate the tenacity one must have in determining if this long term goal is applicable for you. If you seek the path of riches and wealth, there are other ways to get there. If one is willing to appreciate the long term goals of an education and develop the integrity of values that facilitate transformation then one can appreciate education. The most important values one receives are derived from how one’s parents or primary care givers extend their own lives, culture and cognitive development to their offspring.



For African- Americans and Hispanics especially, there is disparity in the continual development of inheritances. The inheritance does not have a monetary value but rather intrinsic values that propel one past lucre. This is not determined by race, but by class. One must change the focus of remaining consumers to copyright the intellectual properties manifested on a daily basis and take hold. Technology is a tool and unfortunately many will live thread bare to keep in tune with the most current applications and services but have no clue how or the motivation, to create them. I found it appalling that some students can download a song or go on Face-book but cannot be bothered , or don’t know how to locate a blog or research sites for grants. Yet these are the same pedantic students who are not able to compete in the job market. Unprepared and unmotivated, these students maintain a false sense of entitlement and furthermore no appreciation for the history and achievements of their families.



The opportunity to close the gap on high dropout rates can be greatly lowered at a smaller college with fewer students. In fact the colloquium has the potential to unearth the leadership and talents of students with active participation. Learning the art of interpersonal and group communication is a powerful tool. The learning contract to my experience has had little value except for engaging those students without vision or motivation. I have attended a larger institution in which the class size was proportionally larger and have experienced the smaller class size as well. The benefit of the small class size allows the student to communicate more freely but does not diminish their lack of motivation or preparedness. It can magnify the affect placing the student in the vicinity of accountability with no shields to hide behind. The intimacy of an individualized class offers the student infinite possibilities to explore and challenge themselves. One’s intellectual prowess and strategic planning, coupled with logic has the potential to become a paramount force in the intellectual competencies.



There is no magic formula in this measure. The taxonomy of Bloom and the affective skills have the innate ability to segregate cognitive skill sets that are limited only by the student’s dedication to the process. Piaget refers to cognition in the general population on the pre-operational level with associations with primitive or folklore based thinking. Piaget states that most people will not reach the formal thinking as they may be only concerned with survival and happy in complacency. The possibility of formal thinking can be opened by use of the affective skills only if the student is willing, able and committed to the value. In regards to the learning contract, its value is based on the acceptance of a value from the student. As with all systems there are criteria and if one is challenged with logic, elements of sound, communication and low motivation there is no magic spell to get it. If the student is deficient in areas of but not limited to, language, logic, philosophy, critical and creative thinking then it is their personal responsibility to get prepared and this can be done in tandem with academic support not charity! This is an opportunity to go past pre-operational thinking and master formal thinking. Hispanics and African Americans have the cultural, linguistic, social and cognitive lineage to assimilate this with preparedness and willingness to receive and respond.



Does it really matter whose name is on the masthead? Yes it does! Your name conveys ownership and relays a standard of competency that speaks before, during and after you leave. The legacy has been defined by your work and commitment to a value and that is worth placing your name at the masthead in which the family and community can all share.

Carletta Joy Walker- Artist Profile

Carletta Joy Walker


Text and Photography By: J. Wesley Beeks

We celebrate the diversity of the Boricua College staff with a profile on Carletta Joy Walker an artist, creator, intellectual moderator , poet, and surveyor of cultural, experiential, and theoretical studies. Graciously sharing her artistic installations the Boricua College community was invited to take an elaborate journey inside her visual perspectives of the world at large.


What is your position at Boricua College? What makes Boricua College unique from other institutions of higher learning?

My “position” is one of seer, contributing to illuminating and honoring the mission of Boricua College and its founders. I work in the Manhattan Library and maintain the Instructional Modules Library.



How do you see library science changing with technology and electronic media?

I see Library Science in the role of facilitating order in this vast new expanse of information made available as a result of technology. Also, integrating and co-relating the cataloguing systems made for maintaining order in physical buildings and spaces to the evolving types of electronic publications existing in virtual realities.



How did you develop your artistic perspective?

It is more that my artistic perspective developed me: an acute awareness of the elements comprising my internal and external sight and sense wanting expression.



Did you incorporate the Taxonomy of Bloom in the creation of your art and the placement of it in the gallery?

No, not in a conscious way since my art existed and started being expressed long before I had an intellectual awareness of the Bloom Taxonomy

You work is being featured at the Gallery in the school can you describe the elements in your art work and it was received by the students and faculty.

The physical elements are paper, leads, fabric, oil pastel, paint, ink, wood, canvas, computer, thread, glue and then there are things used which help create the art but are not seen in the finished piece, i.e. scissors or a brush. The elements of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and sense are in my art work. The work often, perhaps most often begins, is initiated by a feeling in concert with—with a sight, a sound, a sense of something wanting expression. The art is a manifestation, perhaps sometimes a translation of a feeling or a vision.

The reception: what I saw was engagement with the “elements” and their composition that made them my particular artistic expression and engagement with the tone, spirit and informational substance--form and content engagement. It was very moving seeing, hearing and feeling the various responses.



Name three individuals in that have inspired you from their works in Black History and how contemporary society can learn from them.

Fredrick Douglas, Fannie Lou Hammer, Aesop with directness, simplicity, nuance, spirit illumination in concert with action.



Name three individuals that have impacted Hispanic History.

Arturo Schomberg, Frieda Kahlo, Pedro Pietri with directness, simplicity, nuance spirit illumination in concert with action.



What is the correlation between art, technology, and education?

Art manifests inside technology and education; in it most beautiful functioning technology and education are art forms. Art thinking facilitates the learning of the various disciplines contained in Education and Technology.



What role does the Arts play in the continuity of community and global development?

Art is elixir, art carries cultural story that contributes to words written and not written. Art unites, creates individuality and community. Art helps heal microscopic splits and wounds as well as macroscopic explosions and devastations.



What are some of the elements you incorporate in your art.?

Animals, orbs, bikes, cars, beings, geometric shapes, motion, color, spirit, story…



Would you describe your artistic style as unorthodox?

In the creative atmosphere very little is unorthodox. There is balance, harmony, color and tone sensibility form evolved out of creative soup content: content being shaped by material substance… iAmArtIsTheUnity.



What are some of the advantages a graduate of Boricua College may have over traditional academic systems?

Boricua College graduates have been encouraged to value their thought in relationship to existing bodies of knowledge and information. The educational method encourages and supports thorough intellectual understanding in the context of a necessary and evolved cultural, physical, spiritual mores. This is a tremendous asset because Boricua College endeavors to graduate whole/humanistic human beings.



Who are three artist that we should know of and their relevance.

I’m not big on “shoulds”… my thinking about artists to know, hmm. Know oneself, ones own art expression, which, in my way of thinking will open one to the unity of the art one is in the midst of. Next, look at the different art that arises from and is integrated into the cultures of different geographical areas and historical periods, learn the named and unnamed artists.





When did you know that you were an artist?

I fully claimed being an artist when it felt safe, when I was able to separate being that from some of the prevailing baggage like poverty and insanity.

Black History Month Celebrates- Esperanza Spalding

A Tribute to Talent and Diversity by J. Wesley Beeks

What sounds tastes like ambrosia and cascades across Brazilian landscapes as gossamer winds? Esperanza Spalding that’s who! This breath of much needed tropical air breezed in and with languid pools of heavenly chords brought in a new era. She won the best new artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The nominees for this category were Drake, Mumford and Sons, Justin Bieber and Florence and the Machine were also nominated. The other nominees were in the genres of Pop and Rock but Esperanza Spalding made history as the first Jazz artist to win in this category. Justin Bieber was the favored contender as his meteoric rise in Pop music rippled throughout the industry and being a protégé of Usher did not hurt either. When the winner was announced a thunder shocked the audience and a new pioneer emerged. As she approached the stage she bathed everyone with her uncomplicated demeanor, luxurious beauty and radiant talent all bundled in a magnificent swath of emerald elegance.

A child prodigy she learned to play the violin at age five and plays the oboe and clarinet. Her primary instrument is the bass and she sings in English , Spanish and Portuguese. A career highlight was performing at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies in 2009 in honor of Laureate President Barack Obama. Clearly her passion for music is understated by mature and elegant demeanor which resonates to an appreciation of life and all its challenges and gifts. She wears her lineage proudly as a woman of African descent with a Welsh, Hispanic and Native American background ,a conglomerate of diversity and cultural bounty. She is bringing Jazz to the urban and contemporary genres with her unique brand of musicality. Let’s all invite her in to sit a spell and dream of fonder things.

BLack History Month- Celebrates Grace Jones

A template for style, savvy, ingenuity, and power Grace Jones is an official icon. Born May 19, 1948 she is the epitome of ageless grace and beauty. A fashion model, actress, dancer, and singer she took the 1970’s by storm with her androgynous façade and legendary close cropped hairstyle. Jamaican born with Caribbean lineage bringing tropical heat and fierce independence she blazed trails for ethnic women whose beauty went past fairy tale long flowing golden locks to hypnotic eyes and copper bronzed skin.

Her most notable hits are Pull Up to the Bumper, My Jamaican Guy, and I’m Not Perfect but I’m Perfect for You which heated up the charts and lasted for weeks in the top positions. Not content to sing she became an actress in non traditional roles for women exerting power, prestige and sexuality. Starring next to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the highly successful Conan the Destroyer she slayed minions and enemies alike with a bold stance and warrior like precision. In the movie A View to Kill she was lethal as an assassin and enchanting as a lover dealing the ultimate blow after a betrayal.
For those who are looking for the highest sense in style and couture one must study the transition of visionary style by Grace Jones. She is a study in how creativity , business acumen and talent present women to lead the pack. As an woman of African descent and Caribbean lineage she brings honor to Black History Month!

                                                                                                  by J. Wesley Beeks