MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
Greetings TBAAL Patrons!
The cherished Nobel Laureate, acclaimed author and Fellow of the New York based Black
Academy of Arts and Letters, Toni Morrison once said, “If you can’t imagine it, you can’t have it.”
Forty three years ago, I began to imagine what it would be like to birth an arts institution where
people would come and celebrate their humanistic values, cultural experiences and artistic ex-
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ing and established artists, from all walks of life, would come and solidify an African, African
American and Caribbean aesthetics synonymous to the trials and achievements of its people.
As a place for sharing and learning, I began to imagine where young students from urban communities
and inner-cities, the socially and economically underserved neighborhoods, would
all backgrounds and cultures. I began to imagine the emerging and promising young artists
rising to unprecedented heights as they glean the skills and competencies of world-renown and
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Now, forty-three years later, I can only imagine what The Black Academy of Arts and Letters
(TBAAL) would be like another forty-three years from now when the young talented artists of
today take the artistic leadership baton to continue to make great art memorable. I take to heart
the probability of knowing that TBAAL will be in good hands so that many patrons will come to
feast, discover, explore, exchange and be mused, knowing that what was imagined over four
decades ago continues to come to pass!
Come dare to imagine and celebrate with us as we present
some of the best programming in our 43-year history!
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In memory of my Mother