The better question: Why not?
The creativity that’s coming out of
Brooklyn drives everything that’s hip and cool about global black culture.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t vibrant creative communities all around the country and, in fact, the world. Of course, there are.
But there’s something special about Brooklyn. The borough either gives birth to, or attracts, folks who write their names large upon the canvas of our collective cultural consciousness.
Let’s just take a look: Spike Lee. TV On The Radio. Mos Def. Lynn Nottage. Glenn Ligon. Passing Strange’s Stew. Reggie Watts. Wangechi Mutu. Tamar-Kali. Game Rebellion. Victor LaValle. Colson Whitehead. Taylor McFerrin. Jean Grae.
And that’s not mentioning the hundreds, if not thousands, following behind them.
Yeah, Brooklyn’s a great place to have a conversation about the new black imagination.