My first visit  to the South in the early 70s,

I was selling a Black History Encyclopedia

Books.  A Sheriff once told me, don’t

come down here stirring-up our colored

people.  We got good colored people

 down here.  He also said: "If I ever see

 you again, I'll put a bullet in your head. "

 Well forty years later I'm still stirring-up

them Colored People.

Since the early 70s, my father, Julian Madyun has

devoted himself to educating people about the

wonderful contributions of African American

people. Many people have benefited from the

collection that he has created.  His art prints can

be found in school districts from Los Angeles to

 New York. They have appeared on The Cosby

and Tavis Smiley shows, at colleges, art galleries,

various U.S. Park Service facilities and offices as

well as homes all over the country where they

stimulate real conversations about African

American history.  He is youngest of eight

children who grew up in a progressive community

in Minneapolis.  His parents taught him to take

pride in his heritage which inspired his first print

 he titled Emancipation, featuring a collage of

famous African American influence rs. Seen

frequently at various festivals around the nation,

my fathers display booth would attract visitors

with audiotape orators like Malcolm X , the Last

Poets and Gil Scott Heron.  Once insidhis hand-

made booth, everyone would be amazed at the

wealth of images of great African Americans.

Most people had no idea who the figures were.

They didn't even know their own history. So, he

decided to create something that was not only

artistically appealing, but informative about their

culture.

 

As a result, I think his legacy will be the education

he has given so many people with pictures that

speak a thousand words about our contributions,

struggles and triumphs. From the original image,

Emancipation, his collection has grown to over

600 prints. He has transformed his artistic creativity,

encyclopedic knowledge of African American

history, and his love for his people into this book,

We  hope you enjoy it and teach your children the

way he informed us.