DR. SAMELLA LEWIS an ARTIST and EDUCATOR AHEAD OF HER TIME and RIGHT ON TIME

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of watching a YouTube documentary on black art and the lack thereof in the global community. As the host of the documentary spanned different segments and spoke of different artists, there was this one part that showed this ever-so-quiet person with lowered eyes and an even lower voice. The volume of her voice seemed to be held back from underneath a multicolored hat fitted to her head. When she did decide to speak, that same quiet voice became as loud as the roar of a lion. That person was Dr. Samella Lewis. What struck my fancy was her ability to shape-shift from artist to curator, educator, to art activist, mentor, founder, and then shift all the way back to artist again. With the support of other like-minded fellow community leaders, a group of art visionaries, and Dr. Lewis herself, the MAAA Museum of African American Art, a non-profit 50(c)(3) organization, opened its doors in 1976. Lewis passed away on May 27th, 2022. Samella, the artist, painted extraordina