Less than a week after seeing a larger-than-life representation of black women’s natural (albeit blue) hair (a San Francisco street artwork called “Sheba 3”; the red, white and blue image), two more visualizations/interpretations crossed my path—one ugly and one beautiful—while thrift shopping last night. I purchased both pieces for about $10. Starting with the ugly. Based upon early research, the kids chair was likely produced in the 1960s or early 1970s by a company that had a manufacturing plant in Alabama. The image on the seat is stereotypical bl@ckface. Kids (probably not black kids) literally sat on a distorted image of a black girl during their formative years. These kids would now be adults in their mid 50s. Could these kids have matured and left behind the r@cism their parents obviously engaged in, as evidenced by them purchasing a chair like this? The painting, acquired the same night as the chair at a different Goodwill, is clearly more modern and a 180 degrees different representation than that of the chair. Vibrant colors embrace the afro of a beautiful black woman. (Please do not infer that black women cannot be beautiful without wearing their hair naturally.) I highlight and celebrate public women like Melba Tolliver, the first black anchor on national television. She wore an afro on air at a White House event in the 1970s despite her bosses telling her not to. I highlight and celebrate a modern day anchor at CBS Los Angeles, Sheba Turk, who was disparaged earlier in her career by some viewers for wearing her hair in a natural. I do this to combat the negative images of black women that refuse to completely go away. Manufactured caricatures—like the one on the kids chair—are a reminder that not that long ago images like this were mass produced—affecting children who are now adults. And a reminder that there is more work to be done.

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PICTURED: Vintage Los Angeles Lakers 1985 Showtime Starter brand jacket

HISTORY SAVED! Truly one of a kind piece: THE ORIGINAL BOYZ N THE HOOD TriStar Studio Proof Poster An historic and unique movie poster: All subsequent posters in this layout were based upon this one of a kind original studio proof from July 1991.

DMX orignal printer's proof. Our History. Preserved. THE @CLYMEL COLLECTION

Scratchin’ and Survivin’: How “Good Times” continue to ‘rolle’ to this day. And about that $15.2MM painting. X article is above.

Know your worth. Always walk tall. Before Jim Hill’s 50 year career in sports journalism, he played professional football in the NFL. In this historic AP wire photo that is part of the collection “Defensive back Jim Hill of the Green Bay Packers signs autographs outside San Diego Chargers’ Training camp, first to be hit by strike of National Football League Players Association. A few boys helped carry picket signs Wednesday in gratitude.” The original press photo is dated 7/3/1974.

Below: Octavia Butler is recognized at the Huntington Library in the Main Exhibition Hall, the same hall that houses an original Gutenberg Bible valued at $35MM. The Octavia Butler display includes original, typed manuscript pages.

An O.G. communication style before social media and GPS: A rare, original, five-decades-old Angela Davis flyer with a hand-drawn map on the back. And an apparent boot or shoe print on the front. Remembering history is not always a neat and clean undertaking. For exclusive information about rare, primary source artifacts from R&B/Hip-Hop, Sports, and Civil Rights, visit and follow @UnblockHistory. Witness valuable, one-of-a-kind pieces being preserved as tangible proof of what actually went down.

Preserving History: Personal business card of Tupac Shakur #2PAC #Tupac #TupacShakur #History @NMAAHC @Smithsonian In early 1996, a new parent company for Tupac Shakur's Makaveli Records named Euphanasia Inc. was being formed to simultaneously act as a new media group and community organization, tasked to produce newspapers, magazines, films, create youth programming and build community spaces all in service of the ongoing project of black liberation (Fula, 133-34). Tupac Shakur was tragically slåin a few months later. Fula, Yaasmyn. Spirit of an Outlaw: The Untold Story of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Yaki ‘Kadafi’ Fula. Los Angeles: Bearded Dragon Books, 2020.  This rare, original business card shown below is part of THE @CLYMEL COLLECTION. See more pieces of black history and culture @UnblockHistory. More Tupac items: xitter.cf/unblockhistory/status/…

Hoops/Lakers History: Before becoming an @Lakers great, before the @NBA HOF, before becoming a Top 50 player of all time, before becoming a 7X NBA All Star, before his #42 jersey retirement, before starring @UNC_Basketball, @JamesWorthy42 hooped at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina. Pictured: A rare, likely one-of-a-kind original PSA TYPE I photograph (considered the most valuable and historically significant type of vintage photograph). The authentic photograph reads: "52 Worthy sweeps offensive rebound from Myers Park 32" (1978).

ORIGINAL LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1987 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 14K GOLD AND DIAMOND PENDANT (DR. JERRY BUSS ASSOCIATION PIECE) The 1987 season saw the Showtime Lakers cement their place in history as a dynasty, as they won their fourth title of the decade, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games. It was the final matchup between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird for an NBA Championship, with Johnson taking the crown. Shown below is a striking NBA championship pendant. The pendant contains five diamonds in the center totaling 1 carrot. The inscription around the diamonds reads "World Champion Lakers 1987." The gold and diamond pendant, along with the accompanying 14k necklace and the original Jostens Box were originally gifted by Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss to a close business and family friend. Original diamond and gold championship pendants are arguably more rare than championship rings.

Original #2Pac #Tupac #TupacShakur "Trapped" VHS 1991 promotional tape and case. This is the only known copy to exist and contains 2Pac's FIRST solo single and video from his debut studio album "2Pacalypse Now." THE @CLYMEL COLLECTION... From NBA championship memorabilia to original 1970's civil rights posters to Platinum & Gold music awards and more, The CLYMEL Collection is a history in black.™

Rare "Boyz n the Hood" original crew jacket. Likely worn at the movie's premiere in 1991. The historical jacket and vintage AP wire photo are part of THE CLYMEL COLLECTION. Also part of the collection is the original agency script that was used to bring the movie to Columbia Pictures: xitter.cf/clymel/status/18117034…

An authentic and original section of the Great Western/Fabulous Forum basketball court, used from 1967 through 1991. Countless NBA greats like #ElginBaylor, @kaj33 @MagicJohnson, @ShowtimeCooper, @JamesWorthy42, #LarryBird, #MichaelJordan and others have bounced basketballs on this floor. The Los Angeles #Lakers won six NBA World Championship series by winning key Finals playoff games on this floor, including Games 3 and 5 of the historic 1985 Finals series against the Boston Celtics. More Lakers memorabilia: 1984-85 SIGNED SHOWTIME ERA LAKERS NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON | OFFICIAL GAME BALL: xitter.cf/clymel/status/17727435… ORIGINAL LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1987 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 14K GOLD AND DIAMOND PENDANT (DR. JERRY BUSS ASSOCIATION PIECE): xitter.cf/clymel/status/18117015…