A Conversation with Blitz Bazawule, Author, Rapper, and Director of THE COLOR PURPLE

It\'s evident that Cleveland is positioning itself as a burgeoning technology and arts and culture hub, rapidly expanding its network of startups and visionary individuals. Still, there remains an imbalance in the accessibility to capital and growth prospects, particularly for BIPOC communities.\r\n\r\nGhanaian filmmaker, and Kent State University alum Blitz Bazawule, knows first-hand the challenges that lie at the intersection of entrepreneurship, arts & culture, and the startup economy. Now, he is making headlines as director of the musical reimagining of THE COLOR PURPLE, a film produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Quincy Jones, which is set to release in theaters on Christmas Day.\r\n\r\nBazawule is also an author, visual artist, rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Blitz Bazawule, or 'Blitz The Ambassador' is a visionary artist who has been making waves in the American music and film industry since his debut album in 2004. He also served as director for Beyonce\'s visual album Black is King in 2020. He first stepped into the literary scene in 2022 with the publication of his novel The Scent of Burnt Flowers, detailing the story of a Black couple seeking asylum in Ghana.