The Academy of Finance was a four-year program for high school students that prepared us for careers in the financial services industry. The former CEO and Chairman of Citigroup was the architect of the program.
It was housed on the campus of the great Lake Clifton-Eastern High School in East Baltimore.
It’s the place where I met the featured artist.
He and I were both students in the Academy of Finance. We were from different neighborhoods but apparently aligned by more than demographics could separate.
Dreamers are drawn to other dreamers.
Our cohort of 25 learners traveled together from our sophomore year until we graduated with our high school diplomas, along with Certificates of Financial Studies.
We were the group both destined and prone to make a difference.
Thirty-five years later, we’re still out here dreaming, creating, pursuing, manifesting, and making a difference.
Kweli and I hadn’t spoken to one another since our graduation in 1991.
As fate would have it, we reconvened several months ago, making ourselves available to support one another as we continue sharing our gifts with the world.
Back in October, Kweli turned my story of why I became an Educator into a magnificent visual. Here’s the piece of art he did for me:
The Dews Perspective is a media outlet, serving as a vehicle to shape narratives and share stories.
This story is about an individual whose dreams inspire and motivate me.
Using his gift of artistry, he’s creating and narrating worlds that are breathtaking and beautiful to behold.
So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to my friend, artist extraordinaire, fellow dreamer, and brother:
Kweli Bomaye
Tell us a little about yourself, Kweli.
Kweli Bomaye:
I’m a dreamer, a father, a visionary, and an entrepreneur. That’s the short and sweet version. I’m just a kid from Baltimore trying to live the American dream by any means necessary without going to prison.
Currently, what are you working on?
Kweli Bomaye:
I’m currently working on finishing my book. Unexpectedly, I’m now on my third draft. I’m also releasing music that originally began as poems, along with music I created specifically for my animation projects.
What projects and entrepreneurial ventures have you worked on in the past?
Kweli Bomaye:
My first legal business was a network marketing company back in 1997. But truthfully, I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit for much longer than that.
In high school, I wrote papers for college students and earned money doing it.
After getting my second computer in 1994, I started another business by downloading music online, transferring it to floppy disks, cassette tapes, and eventually CDs. I wasn’t the person selling directly to customers—I supplied the people who sold them.
By 1995, I was earning approximately $500 per week through that side hustle.
My creative journey began in 2003 when a high school friend, Joey Bruce, invited me to help on a video set. That experience opened the floodgates to my creativity.
By 2010, after seven years of writing, studying scripts, and planning while working full-time as a FedEx truck driver, I created my first animation.
This journey has been over 16 years in the making.
But when you’re raising children, helping support a family, and handling life’s responsibilities, dreams are often deferred.
That’s what I did—I took care of my family.
What’s the most enjoyable part of creating your projects?
Kweli Bomaye:
The most enjoyable part is creating new worlds and characters. I love taking two things that don’t normally go together and merging them into a masterpiece.
When did you realize you were an artist? At what age?
Kweli Bomaye:
When I think about it now, I probably was an artist all along, but I didn’t consider what I was doing to be art. I can’t draw by hand, but I’ve always been able to put words together.
I learned how to type when I was in the sixth grade, and English was my favorite subject. I loved learning new words and using them around people to make it seem like I knew something they didn’t.
Back then, I never considered that to be an art form. It wasn’t until adulthood that I began to recognize it as one.
When did you realize you were an entrepreneur?
Kweli Bomaye:
I was 21 years old when I realized I wasn’t built for a “regular” job.
What project has meant the most to you up to this point?
Kweli Bomaye:
The project that means the most to me is a heartfelt serial-killer drama based in Baltimore. It’s still in screenplay form, but it’s probably the project I treasure most.
What do you intend to accomplish with your art?
Kweli Bomaye:
Besides getting out of the rat race, I want to inspire my children and show them that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
Name some artists who inspire you.
Kweli Bomaye:
Spike Lee, Aaron McGruder, Malcolm D. Lee, M. Night Shyamalan, Dave Chappelle, and MF DOOM.
Name some business titans who inspire you.
Kweli Bomaye:
Byron Golden, Daymond John, the guys from Earn Your Leisure, Kountry Wayne, and Satoshi Nakamoto.
Thus far, what’s been the greatest compliment you’ve received as an artist?
Kweli Bomaye:
I guess the biggest compliment is when people compare my work to that of established professionals.
Could you explain the benefits of using AI as an artist?
Kweli Bomaye:
The benefit of AI is that it provides a workforce unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
I’m basically a Quincy Jones with a million-dollar budget and Michael Jackson on deck. Or I’m Tyler Perry with access to a billion-dollar film studio and an unlimited budget.
Once I’ve put in my 10,000 hours and continue mastering the technology, I’ll be able to produce animation faster and more efficiently with the help of AI.
You’re not opposed to using AI. Why not?
Kweli Bomaye:
It’s the future.
What most people fail to realize is that AI has been a part of our lives for a very long time—just in smaller forms. Your calculator had AI. Netflix uses AI. Amazon uses AI. We’ve been interacting with it for years.
What we’re seeing now is the evolution of AI through large language models and other advanced technologies.
In my line of work, you either learn how to use it or risk being left behind. AI will become a tool that helps create opportunities for a lot of people.
At the same time, AI can’t do anything on its own. It still needs a human being to guide it, direct it, and provide context.
One of the challenges AI still faces is understanding context and nuance. A single word can have multiple meanings depending on how it’s being used, and humans are often better at understanding those distinctions.
Looking ahead, AI will continue evolving. Scientists are already exploring ways for robots to build other robots and use resources from other planets to construct infrastructure that could eventually support human life beyond Earth. Whether that future arrives or not, it’s clear that AI will continue to play a major role in shaping the world.
How can people contact you and support your work?
Kweli Bomaye:
That’s an easy one.
You can find me on Instagram at @KweliBomaye. All of my links—including my apparel company, music, and animation projects—can be found in my bio.
With every project you create and share with the public, what impact do you desire to have on people?
Kweli Bomaye:
Quite frankly, I’m hoping to find that solid group of people who understand and appreciate my vision.
I say that because I know my vision isn’t necessarily the popular choice.
I strive to create “edutainment.” It’s good to laugh and relax, but I also want to provide a message within everything I create. I want to make people think. I like to push the envelope.
I advocate for people who are willing to think outside the box.
One of the projects currently on the shelf is a tutorial explaining the 5 Percent Nation, a path I’ve been studying and practicing since 2001.
Ultimately, I’m hoping to create a safe haven for individuals like myself—people who desire to be part of something greater than themselves.
Personally I can attest that Kweli is already doing what he “hopes” to do. I am a part of his community of believers, dreamers. Those who aspire to not only be creatives and dreamers themselves. But to also inspire others to do the same.
Thank you for reading TheDewsPerspective