THOUGHTS FROM A BLACK MAN
Presented by Free Press
July 20 – August 17
Participating artists and poets:
CHRIS CLARK | MERCI | TYLER MURPHY | MICHAEL RAKIM | FENTON REESE | REIGN SUPREME | JARETT WALKER
“In the world today, our identities have been painted by vague understandings of who we are. America is a highly diverse and complex society, yet judgement remains at the forefront. We allow ourselves to live within the narrative that was written before taking the time to understand the beauty of our differences and the truth of our similarities.
Many black men believe they are voiceless and often succumb to negative stereotypes. Our truth is often held by hands that lack grace and understanding. The pictures that were painted before we were born have caused a national epidemic of misunderstood and emotionally suppressed black men. Imagine having your innocence taken away not by feel or touch, but by the words and thoughts of strangers.
And what hurts the most is when those very thoughts infiltrate our safe spaces of community and place us against the very people that should be with us. The people we love have not only become innocent bystanders but also willing participants in the shaping of the black man’s identity. We are here to set the record straight and give voice to an unspoken thing in todays world.
This is Thoughts From a Black Man.
We need to talk.”
The show is co-created by Jasmine Hurst through Free Press.