The theme for Black History Month in 2024 is ‘African Americans and the Arts.’NBC2 spotlights three people in Southwest Florida who’ve forged their own paths to showcase the talent within.‘MUSIC WILL TAKE YOU THERE’Music is in Darlene Mitchell’s DNA. The Fort Myers native has been singing since the age of 5. Her parents inspired her love for it. "Music is, to me, therapy. In order not to be stuck in the rut – I pull on the music,” she told NBC2. “(It) takes you to a place that you want to be, but you don't know how to get there on your own. Music will take you there." It’s taken her to big celebrations, weddings, ballgames and beyond. But those opportunities to sing didn’t just come to Mitchell. As a black woman, she said the key has been her desire – her drive – to put herself out there.It’s a mindset she now works to instill in the kids she mentors through her non-profit, Darlene and Friends."Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to stand at the foot of the table – and stand at the head of the table – and give our gift,” she said. ‘WHAT DO I HAVE? A CAMERA’For Charlene Towe, her gift isn’t her voice, but rather, her eyes.It was during the heart of COVID – when she desperately needed formula for her baby – that she realized she could turn a life-long hobby into a job. “I've always learned to hustle and to work with what you have. And I said to myself, 'What do I have?' A camera. I've always had a camera,” Towe recalled to NBC2. What started as photoshoots in her apartment quickly turned into something bigger, and before long, she was able to open her own studio in Fort Myers. "I said, I want to put God in my business, so I named it Studio 4:13. Because I had been through so much that year that I literally was like – I can do anything,” she recalled. Towe is proud to have made it in a field where there aren’t many people who look like her. But her goal isn’t to be known as a great black female photographer. She wants to be known as a great photographer – period. “I think that people shouldn't judge you by the color of your skin or your gender, but to give you an opportunity to show what you have – what you got. Genuinely,” Towe said.‘CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELF’ In the artwork she creates, visual artist Jade Griffin shares a piece of who she is – and how she feels. “It's a blend between what is considered fine art and what isn't considered fine art," Griffin told NBC2. "I just like toying with the idea of what is acceptable in the mainstream art world."Much like with photography, there aren’t many people who look like her who make it big as an artist. But Griffin is working to break that barrier. "I just want to be one of those people that can really show them that it's possible. Especially with me being black. With me being a female,” she said. Griffin has been an artist since she can remember but has pursued it professionally now for the past 3 years. She’s already managed to host her own art show – twice. "I just have a lot of plans to see my own work in museums and a lot of different prestigious galleries,” she said. Between Mitchell, Towe, and Griffin, the art forms may be different – but what connects them is clear. Each has managed to overcome obstacles to prove they do belong. “When there are no opportunities, it's mostly really important to create that opportunity for yourself,” Griffin said.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
The theme for Black History Month in 2024 is ‘African Americans and the Arts.’
NBC2 spotlights three people in Southwest Florida who’ve forged their own paths to showcase the talent within.
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‘MUSIC WILL TAKE YOU THERE’
Music is in Darlene Mitchell’s DNA. The Fort Myers native has been singing since the age of 5. Her parents inspired her love for it.
"Music is, to me, therapy. In order not to be stuck in the rut – I pull on the music,” she told NBC2. “(It) takes you to a place that you want to be, but you don't know how to get there on your own. Music will take you there."
It’s taken her to big celebrations, weddings, ballgames and beyond. But those opportunities to sing didn’t just come to Mitchell.
As a black woman, she said the key has been her desire – her drive – to put herself out there.
It’s a mindset she now works to instill in the kids she mentors through her non-profit, Darlene and Friends.
"Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to stand at the foot of the table – and stand at the head of the table – and give our gift,” she said.
‘WHAT DO I HAVE? A CAMERA’
For Charlene Towe, her gift isn’t her voice, but rather, her eyes.
It was during the heart of COVID – when she desperately needed formula for her baby – that she realized she could turn a life-long hobby into a job.
“I've always learned to hustle and to work with what you have. And I said to myself, 'What do I have?' A camera. I've always had a camera,” Towe recalled to NBC2.
What started as photoshoots in her apartment quickly turned into something bigger, and before long, she was able to open her own studio in Fort Myers.
"I said, I want to put God in my business, so I named it Studio 4:13. Because I had been through so much that year that I literally was like – I can do anything,” she recalled.
Towe is proud to have made it in a field where there aren’t many people who look like her. But her goal isn’t to be known as a great black female photographer. She wants to be known as a great photographer – period.
“I think that people shouldn't judge you by the color of your skin or your gender, but to give you an opportunity to show what you have – what you got. Genuinely,” Towe said.
‘CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELF’
In the artwork she creates, visual artist Jade Griffin shares a piece of who she is – and how she feels.
“It's a blend between what is considered fine art and what isn't considered fine art," Griffin told NBC2. "I just like toying with the idea of what is acceptable in the mainstream art world."
Much like with photography, there aren’t many people who look like her who make it big as an artist. But Griffin is working to break that barrier.
"I just want to be one of those people that can really show them that it's possible. Especially with me being black. With me being a female,” she said.
Griffin has been an artist since she can remember but has pursued it professionally now for the past 3 years.
She’s already managed to host her own art show – twice.
"I just have a lot of plans to see my own work in museums and a lot of different prestigious galleries,” she said.
Between Mitchell, Towe, and Griffin, the art forms may be different – but what connects them is clear. Each has managed to overcome obstacles to prove they do belong.
“When there are no opportunities, it's mostly really important to create that opportunity for yourself,” Griffin said.
