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Inspiration

A curated collection of quotes, photography, and wisdom that shapes perspective and inspires growth.

Black and white photograph of Jimmy Baldwin and Lena Horne laughing together at a social gathering

Jimmy & Lena [pure joy, I love this photo]

photographyjoyJames BaldwinLena Horne
Black and white photograph of young Nas pointing at camera with a bright smile, wearing a collared shirt and watch

Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones, Queensbridge Projects, Queens, NY

photographyhip-hopNasQueensbridge
"A healthy man has many goals, a sick man only has one"
— Unknown
healthgoalsperspectivewisdom
Black and white photograph of Marvin Gaye relaxing shirtless on a leather recliner in a sunlit room with large windows

Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. aka Marvin Gaye, 4/23/39 – 4/1/84

He was killed on April Fools Day by his father with two gun shots, one piercing the heart.

photographymarvin gayemotownsoul
Black and white photograph by Fan Ho showing a solitary figure in a dress standing against a large concrete wall with dramatic triangular shadows creating geometric patterns of light and dark

"Poetic Photographer" Fan Ho, born on 10/8/31 in Shanghai, China – 6/19/16

He excelled as a photographer, film director, and actor, renowned for his stunning black and white street photography that captured the essence of Hong Kong in the 1950s and 60s. A master of light and shadow, his iconic images often evoke a sense of timeless beauty and contemplative solitude.

photographyfan hohong kongstreet photography
"For all in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause:"
— William Shakespeare, Hamlet
shakespearemortalityphilosophyliterature

Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free

The High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon 2/21/33 – 4/21/03 This may be my favorite video of hers. What Happened Miss Simone? Thank you.

musicnina simonesoulcivil rights
"When you're born, you look like your parents; when you die, you look like your choices"
— John C. Maxwell
choiceslifecharactergrowth
"When you're not changing, you're still choosing, but what you're choosing is something that makes you feel familiar & comfortable. Because the moment you decide to change, it's going to feel uncomfortable, it's going to be immediate"
— Dr. Joe Dispenza
changecomfort zonegrowthtransformation
Black and white contact sheet showing six portraits of Erykah Badu in various poses with different head wraps, from her 1997 Baduizm era

Erica Abi Wright [aka..] Erykah Badu, Baduizm, 1997

photographyerykah baduneo-soul1997

"Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (the pledge)"

by Jay Electronica

I hope the only companionship that finds me is filled with the same feeling that Erykah speaks with about Jay [if he would have only given me this in his lifetime, I might have been ok, thank you]

musicjay electronicahip-hopeternal sunshine
Jay Electronica standing in front of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, wearing traditional Middle Eastern clothing with a red keffiyeh

Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah aka Jay Electronica

photographyjay electronicaegypthip-hop
Black and white photograph of Muhammad Ali training in the early morning streets of London with two friends, all wearing hooded sweatshirts and training gear

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. 1/17/42 – 6/3/16

He was willing to give up what he was put here to do for what he believed in, for that, he will always stand alone for me. I love this photo of him in the wee hours of the day training with friends in London, UK. The greatest of all time, thank you.

photographymuhammad aliboxinglondon
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."
— Joseph Campbell
authenticityselfidentitypurpose

Kanye West on Later with Jools Holland (2013)

Kanye Omari West aka Ye Two powerful performances from Kanye West's 2013 appearance on BBC's Later with Jools Holland, showcasing tracks from the groundbreaking album 'Yeezus'.

musickanye westyeezuslive performance
"4 Questions: 1. Are they kind? 2. Can you tell them everything in your heart? 3. Do they help you become the best version of yourself? 4. Can you imagine yourself having kids with them?"
— Life List [movie]
relationshipslovequestionspartnership

Gal Costa - Sua Estupidez

"You know, a knife tearing me apart, a world ending, I don't know, Gal Costa the singer, Gal Costa the terrible woman, the beautiful woman and the bride, the dead woman, the widow, the wonder, it's very difficult to talk about these things, I don't know, Gal always treats me with electric shocks, I arrive to see her and I get carried away by her, I break down for her, I get messed up for her, I don't know, it's always surprising, each time something strange happens, it's as if life were breaking apart, ending, beginning, Gal Costa is very wonderful" [intro translation] 9/26/45 – 11/9/22 Thank you, Gal.

musicgal costabrazilian musicbossa nova
"Every relationship is made up of my relationship to myself, as I am with you, and my relationship with you, while I don't lose myself. It's how do I hold on to me and hold on to you and vice versa. How I hold on to you without losing me and how I hold on to myself without losing you."
— Esther Perel
relationshipsselfbalancepsychology
Black and white still from Federico Fellini's 8½ showing a man in glasses and suit sitting in a car with dramatic lighting, with text at bottom reading 'Of any artist truly worth the name we should ask nothing'

Federico Fellini 1/20/20 – 10/31/93

Revolutionized cinema with his "Felliniesque" style, which blended fantasy, dreams, and baroque imagery with earthy realism, making his films instantly recognizable. considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, known for masterpieces like "La Dolce Vita," "8½," and "Amarcord." This still from 8½ speaks for itself. Thank you.

photographyfederico fellini8½cinema

Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles

"Mr Show Business" Sammy Davis Jr., born Samuel George Davis Jr. on 12/8/25 in Harlem, NY. He excelled as a singer, dancer, actor, comedian, and musician, starting his career in vaudeville at age three. A member of the "Rat Pack" and used his prominent platform to advocate for racial equality. This is my favorite video of his, talent personified. Thank you.

musicsammy davis jrrat packtalent
"Your mindset literally creates your ceiling or removes it"
— Carol Dweck, Mindset
mindsetgrowthpotentialpsychology
Black and white photograph from the Kind of Blue recording sessions showing Miles Davis in the background and John Coltrane in sharp focus playing trumpet in the studio

Miles & John [Kind of Blue]

photographymiles davisjohn coltranejazz
"Either you can play the hand you're dealt or mourn the one you've lost"
— Harlem, TV Show
resilienceacceptancechoiceperspective

Frank Ocean Live Performances

Christopher Edwin Breaux aka Frank Ocean [I could have seen him live during the Channel Orange rollout, I still regret it to this day]

musicfrank oceanlive performancechannel orange
"Einstein had realized in 1905 that space and time are intimately connected with each other, thus one can think of space and time together as a four dimensional entity called space-time. Time is just as good a dimension as space is, as no matter how you boost yourself through space, you must always move forward through time… If time weren't a dimension with the exact properties it possesses, special relativity would be invalid, and we could not construct space-time to describe our universe"
— Unknown
physicseinsteinspace-timescience
"We have to build our own financial infrastructure. It takes all of us to do that, investing in our own, creating our own opportunities"
— Unknown
financecommunityinfrastructureinvestment
Black and white photograph of Amílcar Cabral, Cape Verdean revolutionary leader, wearing glasses and a traditional cap, with a soldier visible in the background

Amílcar Lopes Cabral, 9/12/24 – 1/20/73. He was killed by militants from his own party. Cabral had founded the PAIGC in 1960 to fight for the liberation of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. Thank you.

photographyamilcar cabralcape verdeliberation
Iconic album cover of Sade's Diamond Life featuring Helen Folasade Adu in an elegant black and white photograph, with 'SADE' in large white letters at top and 'DIAMOND LIFE' at bottom

Helen Folasade Adu [one of the most beautiful album covers ever]

photographysadediamond lifealbum cover