Yo, I’m Marshall, I create art, spaces, and messages to empower Black creatives and those who want to see us win. I am the founder of Artfluential and Co-Founder of Creative Control Fest & Maroon Arts Group. If you like what you see follow along connect with me. 

The idea of doing a manifesto came to me years ago after reading an essay by  Larry Neal titled “The Black Arts Movement” written in the summer of 1968.  In that essay, he proclaimed “Black Art is the aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept.”  This inspired reflection about the role of the black artist today. The Black Creatives’ Manifesto was created in 2017 to inspire and affirm Black Creatives and our collective contributions to the world. In it, are principles that I believe every Black Creative from the street to the academy who is creating can be inspired by. It is ever evolving in an ever evolving world.

It was originally published and presented in 2017, during a lecture I did for Scott Woods, HOLLER: 31 days of Black Art in Columbus, OH.