New Generation Scholars is a study abroad leadership institute under Muse 360 Arts, founded by Sharayna Christmas, and Bashi Rose in 2007. It provides Baltimore city youth ages 13-21 with the opportunity to gain knowledge of self through studying the influences of the African Diaspora. Scholars grow as strong leaders, understand the importance of collectiveness and community, and learn to grow as creative people.
We use photography and videography to tell our own story and show the world from our perspective as black youth. We study political education and radical texts to further our knowledge. To gain a greater understanding of the influences of the Diaspora, scholars have the opportunity to travel. This year, we visited the beautiful island of St.Croix and experienced the rich culture and history of our people.
We are a dynamic group of Baltimore City youth from diverse backgrounds on a mission to change the narrative and broaden the perspective of community.
We will take pride in the history of our ancestors and use the knowledge gained as the foundation to build our individuality.
We will increase our intelligence through scholarship and commit to our creative development.
We will persevere through any obstacle and always challenge the status quo.
We will lead with substance and hold ourselves accountable.
We will signify our passion by exuding the power that lives within us as people of the African Diaspora.
We will take advantage of every opportunity and exemplify growth.
We are a collective of independent thinkers, artists, activists, and social entrepreneurs.
We are New Generation Scholars.
In Baltimore City, there are many problems that dwell within our community, one being the gap between youth and elders. Our zine "LOR RADICALS: A Lor Radicalness for my Dummies" highlights different perspectives of this problem and works towards a solution. Featuring a 9 point program for transformation, a lesson on Baltimore slang, interviews with respected elders, and much more, our zine paves the way towards a better Baltimore.
Cover Drawn by A'Mahayah Calloway
With the theme of “Knowledge of Self” in mind, we created a visual illustration of who we are as individuals through musical albums. This was done with the guidance of Mr. Kyle Pompey in photography and Ms. Nia June in creative writing. Each scholar created an album cover and title that portrays the overall message of the album along with 5 other photos and songs. Then, we wrote a detailed description of the albums meaning. These albums will allow you to put yourself inside each scholars’ shoes and witness the vulnerability into the making of how they have become who they are.
Self: Express, Find, Become, illustrates the spiritual and up and down journey of becoming unapologetically herself. The progression of this journey of self discovery is broken down with each song. With the first songs, Confrontation and Breaking Past, she shows her acknowledgment of insecurities while diving deep into those thoughts and feelings that hold her back. Leading into the last 3 songs Pride is Trust is Love, Freedom, and Who I am Really, she describes the feeling after accepting and releasing these things, and learning to love herself.
METAMORPHOSIS
Kennedy wrote this album to represent her lowest and highest points of her childhood and teenage years. The photos in this album feature different flowers to represent how fragile and yet significant her memories are to her. They highlight her simple but profoundly beautiful moments. Each song is named after a flower that represents a deeper meaning. “Camelia”, like the flower, represents Kennedy's reputation for perfection. “Fungus”, which represents loneliness, a time when Kennedy was in a dark place where she started to lock her own feelings away from the world. Welcome to the Metamorphosis.
RE/IN/ACT, a project commenting on the current, previous and future of African people living in the Americas. The trauma and the impact. In the awake, the reawakening of our state, America; she has erupted. She is full of energy, energy going in all directions, convoluted, clustered, and sometimes careless. We all hear names, we all know names, a name we sounded ourselves, names sounded by others, again and again; some call them victims. A martyr? A spirit, a sacrificial lesson? An example? In the awakening, Black people, Black families are clueless, lost, displaced, distraught, desolate. George Floyd, a (hu)man, heightened the sensitivities and insecurities that curtain Black livelihood. His death, forced contemplation on the reactions, actions and inaction of Black people. The first track “VIEW”, speaks to the spectatorship of Black scenes, which we surveil, internalize and identify with. Scenes which may be provocative or calmly evocative. “SHIELD”, Black caregivers try to shield the young from the dangers of her, but it is impossible. “HOPE”, a better world, a better future for the youngins, a better life, far fetched but still sanguine. “CARE”, caring for ourselves and no one else, because it seems that no one care for us. “(UN)CONTROL(LABLE)”, the control, the lack of control, Black people have over our own; our own lives.
I have contemplated and came close to attempting suicide several times in life. Death is the only absolute in life, and nothing comes back from death. Thus, if you are still breathing, then you still have a way to keep on pressing on. "I Ain't Dead Yet" depicts one’s transition of mental states throughout life. Inspiration was taken from legend Donny Hathaway for the track "Reality is Real" - a soulful and relatable song about growing up and realizing things that weren't noticeable as a child. "I Ain't Dead Yet" is an upbeat mixture of soul and hip-hop, reminiscent of Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap. Take this walk through the maturation and development of the psyche and hopefully learn something about life or yourself. Life will always have its ups and downs but when the dust settles and Life is getting ready to go another round, tell yourself "I Ain't Dead Yet".
For A long time Sha-Shonna struggled and debated what she wanted to be vs. what other people wanted her to be. "Home of Ever-Changing" does a perfect job at capturing that reality, with the first track”MY MUVA SAID'' opening up her story in with a very nostalgic feel and the track “NVM WHO KNOWS” giving the feel of unsureness. It’s clear the emotional connection Sha-Shonna placed in this album as well as the way her musical influences played in to play.”shifting as usual” embraces the same raw and timeless feel JAY-Z’s politics as usual had. Overall "Home of Ever-Changing" is piece of comfort for everyone’s experience with constant self change.
This an album that is for all my black kweens. A reminder that, your crown may tilt but it never falls. This means that in the midst of a bad situation, that has disrupted and discouraged your vision and course, you have to understand that you are better than that and your perseverance is outstanding.
The title of this EP is Random Thoughts Pt 1. Random Thoughts Pt 1 is a Journey through the mind of Munir (that's me) and all of my thoughts. You'll here songs with emotion like Sean, happiness like Pink Barbie, and nonsense like Cloudz. Listen to all my random thoughts and you'll get Tyler the creator and 99neighbors vibes. So come on, become as confused as me... Or even more confused! That's fine. I hope you enjoy my random thoughts.
Aphelion. The point in the orbit of a planet when it is furthest from the Sun. This album represents a part of my journey – the turning point between pain and healing. With a theme of a passage through space, Aphelion beautifully tells my story to finding self-love and acceptance. Songs like “Nebula,” which details the struggle of finding yourself, “Zodiac,” which tackles socially outcasting yourself, and “Comet,” who talks about fast-paced emotions, all explode into “Supernova,” a powerful ballad about changing oneself for the better. The album uses influences of pop, R&B, and acoustic genres to convey emotions of sadness, anger, and hopefulness. This album is incredibly vulnerable and personal and is sure to touch anyone’s heart.
This album will be about events that happened in my life. “True Story” will tell the story of the death of my father. “Dark Motivation” is about growing up in a poor neighborhood and having to do dark things to survive. “Broken Promises” is about the experience of my first heartbreak. “Soldier Mentality” is about overcoming all of these obstacles in my life. “ Believe in Me” is about where I am now in life and how good I am doing.
Nia Bryant created her first album, named Glossy Bébé in July 2020. The cover of the album features a Black aesthetic that represents the importance of body positivity and self-care within her community. Bryant wants young melaninated women, who are always over-shadowed to not only feel pretty when they are called “you’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl”. Her photos are an embracement to beauty, inside and out within the soul and demeanor. The colors purple and gold are a representation of strength and courage. Bryant wants to show youth that they are BEAUTIFUL and they are worth Everything! Enjoy!
Auroras (Wilted) R0ze (cover) is a juxtaposition of beauty and destruction. As roses fall and liquid gold descends down to the bottom it turns into raven black oil. The rose petals begin to tarnish in its beauty due to the lack of confidence one has for itself. The gold is the confidence. It’s hard to completely control, one cannot fully grasp success but you know it’s close. The more you look into the picture the more destructive forces you see being done.
This is an album of getting over your lack of control in life and taking a step to over power it. The music will be warped and pulled in the beginning since there is no telling what will happen next in life. When you’re scared and confused for your own self it’ll be more dark and somber until you reach out for help and support, this support pulls you up to the light. It makes you wonder if this is who you really are yet you deny this fact. Yet you push it through in order to become something that makes YOU happy.
"Amani” started as a scramble of my name “Naima” both originating and meaning peace in Swahili. Having focused on inner peace through recent stages of life, the correlations between my name and the title depicts peace and mindfulness in chaotic situations or times for my personal well being while also connecting to my current place in life. 2020 being a very chaotic year it has been difficult to be centered with everything from COVID-19 to even simpler things that may throw me off balance from my day like not drinking enough water or eating as I should. The album “keep yo peace'' specially is very dear to me because dance is so important and healing, it brings an indescribable peace that lasts in the moment but leaves me wanting more no matter how painful or tiring it is. This album reflects how I feel and keep my peace, it hasn't been something that I project because it isn´t for anyone else. My peace is for me.
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