Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon's work at AAS focused on the life and times of the first published African-American poet, Lucy Terry, who wrote "Bars Fight" in 1746. She is currently working on the performance piece From Safe to Brave.
Originally sponsored by the Lumina Foundation for Racial Justice and Equity, (a division of the Rockefeller Foundation) From Safe to Brave was one of the many outcomes from a research project conducted by Temple University and Drs. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, Elizabeth Sweet, Tiffenia Archie, Sonja Peterson-Lewis, Rickie Sanders Karen Turner, Valerie Dudley and NuRodney Prad. (2018-19) That research team conducted quantitative and qualitative research in and around race, racism and the rise of hate crimes on college campuses here in and around the Temple University community (Fall 2018). In addition to producing scores of 8-foot framed Body Maps, visually representing the trauma of race and racism in America and on our college campuses, that research included a series of Interactive Community Conversation (ICC’s) conducted during fall (2018) in and around the university community with over 50 participants crafting and gathering ethnography and personal narratives on memory, resilience and individuals’ personal experiences with race and racism in America.
The performance piece From Safe to Brave, which grew out of that research was first presented live on stage in Randall Theater (April 23-24, 2019) and now, has been remounted in a virtual world, as a way to contribute to the conversations around race, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion in this historical moment.
Check out this inter-generational tapestry of community voices who use memory, narrative, song, poetry and dance to speak poignantly about the impact of race, racism and contemporary events in American culture. Be a part of the sights, sounds, songs, poetry and personal narratives of young and old alike on one of the most difficult but important topics in America—conversations on Race—as we move From Safe to Brave.
