# @macjournalism on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ5w3wOAVHS
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/30773793-macjournalism-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/254e7e10d1.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-05-21T04:41:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** McCallum Journalism (@macjournalism) — https://gondola.cc/macjournalism

## Caption

The library hosted a special guest today—author and illustrator Nikkolas Smith—who was in town to promote his new hardcover children’s book, “The History of We,” which was released for sale today by Kokila Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House. 

The book centers on the origins of humanity in Africa and considers the bravery and ingenity it took to create the first art, the first tools and the first medicine. The text of the book is incorporated into Smith’s full canvas paintings that comprise the pages of the book.

In addition to discussing the process of creating his new book, Smith offered some advice to the students who attended today’s hour-long session during sixth period.

“Find out what your passion is,” he told the student, “and go in that direction.”

While he was working as an architect at Disney, Smith started creating individual works of art at nights and on the weekends and then posting them every Sunday. 

He urged the artists in the room to “consistently make art and put it out there for people to see.”

He said that the disciplined process of consistently creating work over time helped him discover where his passion lies and also created a reputation that led to opportunities to create art for meaningful projects in which he believed.

He calls his commitment to using art to create positive change, artivism. 

He told the students it was fine to create art for art’s sake, but that it is of fundamental importance to make art to advance important causes, for example, telling stories that express the perspective and the contribution of marginalized peoples.

Smith’s appearance at McCallum was made possible by Black Pearl Books co-owners Katrina and Eric Brooks, who gave out autographed copies of Smith’s new book to students at the end of today’s library session.

Caption by Dave Winter. Photos by Edie Davidson, Priya Thoppil and Harriet Zettner.

#dayinthelifeatmac #historyofwe

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## Tags

historyofwe, dayinthelifeatmac

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