Forays, Frontiers & Flags Is among the Schomburg Center's latest additions to the library's permanent Manuscripts, Archives & Rare Books Division

I am pleased to announce the addition of Forays, Frontiers & Flags to The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s Manuscripts, Archives & Rare Books Division. This book, 12 years in the making went through many changes, especially in its title - from Telemachia to I Once Had a Home, Joe Cochran’s Fourth World, and finally, Forays, Frontiers & Flags. 

It is safe to say that for every artist, some aspects of their lives permeate their practice, even if we try to hide it. I could never shy away from it, and this book is evidence of this. 

 My life has been full of miracles, full of outcomes that if I listed them all, you wouldn’t believe em. It’s also been full of setbacks, tragedies, and near-death experiences. Through it all, I’ve always been steadfast in my belief that this path I am on was the right path. 

To have my name, the name of my father, the surname of my grandmother and sister be present in a space as prestigious as the Schomburg is evidence that my family crawled so that I may walk and is a testament to the process of ending generational cycles of violence. I never thought I would be in a position to make art, let alone produce volume after volume of my life and the lives of others in books - but here we are, and it is only the beginning. 

Thank you, Sam Sutcliffe, of Uncensored New York, Craig Mathis of Printed Matter, my printers, family, my team who make what I do possible, my people and subjects who have trusted me, and most importantly you, the audience who continue to support my work.

More announcements to come very soon, but for now, I just want to bask in this. 

Love, 

J

Note:

For those interested in more information about Forays, Frontiers & Flags’ creation, you can listen to my presentation held last year at Printed Matter’s location in Chelsea, New York City here and download its accompanying PDF here.