I am someone who often is given a lot of titles for what I do there are terms
titles for what I do there are terms
titles for what I do there are terms like social impact designer community
like social impact designer community
like social impact designer community artists social impact artists social
artists social impact artists social
artists social impact artists social innovator art of this but in my soul I
innovator art of this but in my soul I
innovator art of this but in my soul I consider myself as simply a creator I
consider myself as simply a creator I
consider myself as simply a creator I work with people to produce to design to
work with people to produce to design to
work with people to produce to design to actualize different tools provocations
actualize different tools provocations
actualize different tools provocations experiences and manifestations of
experiences and manifestations of
experiences and manifestations of artworks that actually get to the heart
artworks that actually get to the heart
artworks that actually get to the heart of so many issues that so many of us
of so many issues that so many of us
of so many issues that so many of us continue to suffer through and face you
continue to suffer through and face you
continue to suffer through and face you see I got my start in this type of
see I got my start in this type of
see I got my start in this type of creation when I was still young I grew
creation when I was still young I grew
creation when I was still young I grew up in rural Mississippi and in my home
up in rural Mississippi and in my home
up in rural Mississippi and in my home town until 2012 where I lived was still
town until 2012 where I lived was still
town until 2012 where I lived was still segregated by a railroad track from
segregated by a railroad track from
segregated by a railroad track from where so many others lived on the other
where so many others lived on the other
where so many others lived on the other side of our town but because I was
side of our town but because I was
side of our town but because I was tested as a gifted student that’s when I
tested as a gifted student that’s when I
tested as a gifted student that’s when I got the chance to experience this other
got the chance to experience this other
got the chance to experience this other side of town and to be educated with
side of town and to be educated with
side of town and to be educated with people so that manifestation of looking
people so that manifestation of looking
people so that manifestation of looking at racial equity looking at social
at racial equity looking at social
at racial equity looking at social division looking at poverty experiencing
division looking at poverty experiencing
division looking at poverty experiencing domestic violence all of these issues
domestic violence all of these issues
domestic violence all of these issues started very early on and after I left
started very early on and after I left
started very early on and after I left college I got a chance to go back down
college I got a chance to go back down
college I got a chance to go back down south and for so long in my life
south and for so long in my life
south and for so long in my life especially as a visual artist I’d been
especially as a visual artist I’d been
especially as a visual artist I’d been expressing so much of these frustrations
expressing so much of these frustrations
expressing so much of these frustrations simply as an individual person for
simply as an individual person for
simply as an individual person for during this experience down south in
during this experience down south in
during this experience down south in rural Alabama after a series of
rural Alabama after a series of
rural Alabama after a series of tornadoes had flattened most of Hill
tornadoes had flattened most of Hill
tornadoes had flattened most of Hill County that’s when I started to learn
County that’s when I started to learn
County that’s when I started to learn the power of working with
the power of working with
the power of working with people in community where we live where
people in community where we live where
people in community where we live where we breathe together now that project had
we breathe together now that project had
we breathe together now that project had its own challenges that I can talk about
its own challenges that I can talk about
its own challenges that I can talk about four hours in another talk but it taught
four hours in another talk but it taught
four hours in another talk but it taught me so much about the power of who we are
me so much about the power of who we are
me so much about the power of who we are and what we can do when we bring our
and what we can do when we bring our
and what we can do when we bring our gifts our talents our perspectives
gifts our talents our perspectives
gifts our talents our perspectives together and that experience catapulted
together and that experience catapulted
together and that experience catapulted me to work with communities all across
me to work with communities all across
me to work with communities all across this nation to address issues like youth
this nation to address issues like youth
this nation to address issues like youth development youth poverty food access
development youth poverty food access
development youth poverty food access disparity urban dumping social division
disparity urban dumping social division
disparity urban dumping social division questioning our own identities and who
questioning our own identities and who
questioning our own identities and who we have been told that we are versus who
we have been told that we are versus who
we have been told that we are versus who we really are so I want to share a story
we really are so I want to share a story
we really are so I want to share a story about one of these types of projects the
about one of these types of projects the
about one of these types of projects the MIR casket this was a piece that came
MIR casket this was a piece that came
MIR casket this was a piece that came out of so many nights and so many
out of so many nights and so many
out of so many nights and so many experiences of being on the ground right
experiences of being on the ground right
experiences of being on the ground right down the street here in Ferguson
down the street here in Ferguson
down the street here in Ferguson Missouri admittedly even though I was a
Missouri admittedly even though I was a
Missouri admittedly even though I was a student organizer I was always outspoken
student organizer I was always outspoken
student organizer I was always outspoken as a young person I’d actually had never
as a young person I’d actually had never
as a young person I’d actually had never gone to what’s called a protest and it
gone to what’s called a protest and it
gone to what’s called a protest and it wasn’t until August 12th not even August
wasn’t until August 12th not even August
wasn’t until August 12th not even August 9th that I found myself at night on the
9th that I found myself at night on the
9th that I found myself at night on the streets of Ferguson and I took this
streets of Ferguson and I took this
streets of Ferguson and I took this video camera with me because I was by
video camera with me because I was by
video camera with me because I was by myself I had just come from like this
myself I had just come from like this
myself I had just come from like this Urban League young professionals meeting
Urban League young professionals meeting
Urban League young professionals meeting I was in a business suit dressed up I
I was in a business suit dressed up I
I was in a business suit dressed up I didn’t really know what to do or what to
didn’t really know what to do or what to
didn’t really know what to do or what to expect
expect
expect and the news had told me that out there
and the news had told me that out there
and the news had told me that out there I would see all of these like chaotic
I would see all of these like chaotic
I would see all of these like chaotic people but when I got there
people but when I got there
people but when I got there what I saw was love and community I saw
what I saw was love and community I saw
what I saw was love and community I saw people dancing and drumming in the
people dancing and drumming in the
people dancing and drumming in the street I saw tempo giving chance to
street I saw tempo giving chance to
street I saw tempo giving chance to people I saw women organizing in
people I saw women organizing in
people I saw women organizing in building community I saw people like
building community I saw people like
building community I saw people like mama cat who I first met at a protest
mama cat who I first met at a protest
mama cat who I first met at a protest feeding the people and on that first
feeding the people and on that first
feeding the people and on that first night I stayed out there with folks
night I stayed out there with folks
night I stayed out there with folks rising our voices letting it be known
rising our voices letting it be known
rising our voices letting it be known that we do not want to be slain on our
that we do not want to be slain on our
that we do not want to be slain on our own streets and as we were doing that
own streets and as we were doing that
own streets and as we were doing that all of us
all of us
all of us this whole fleet of Humvees starts to
this whole fleet of Humvees starts to
this whole fleet of Humvees starts to drive down the street and on the sides
drive down the street and on the sides
drive down the street and on the sides of them marched these officers who are
of them marched these officers who are
of them marched these officers who are dressed in military gear carrying guns
dressed in military gear carrying guns
dressed in military gear carrying guns some were on top of these trucks and
some were on top of these trucks and
some were on top of these trucks and they pointed these big bright lights at
they pointed these big bright lights at
they pointed these big bright lights at us and some even pointed their guns and
us and some even pointed their guns and
us and some even pointed their guns and on this night for the first time in my
on this night for the first time in my
on this night for the first time in my individual life I felt threatened I felt
individual life I felt threatened I felt
individual life I felt threatened I felt that even though I was not doing a
that even though I was not doing a
that even though I was not doing a single damn thing that was harming
single damn thing that was harming
single damn thing that was harming another person I was being threatened so
another person I was being threatened so
another person I was being threatened so after that night I played that video
after that night I played that video
after that night I played that video over and over and over and clips for
over and over and over and clips for
over and over and over and clips for more nights that followed and I was
more nights that followed and I was
more nights that followed and I was constantly haunted and in my nightmares
constantly haunted and in my nightmares
constantly haunted and in my nightmares I would constantly see this one image
I would constantly see this one image
I would constantly see this one image this casket that was made completely out
this casket that was made completely out
this casket that was made completely out of mirrors that would be carried
of mirrors that would be carried
of mirrors that would be carried throughout the streets and like the
throughout the streets and like the
throughout the streets and like the mists of darkness and I couldn’t shake
mists of darkness and I couldn’t shake
mists of darkness and I couldn’t shake this dream but also even though I’m a
this dream but also even though I’m a
this dream but also even though I’m a designer I’m not a builder so even
designer I’m not a builder so even
designer I’m not a builder so even though it was in my system I couldn’t
though it was in my system I couldn’t
though it was in my system I couldn’t get it out by myself so I started
get it out by myself so I started
get it out by myself so I started reaching out I sent an email to every
reaching out I sent an email to every
reaching out I sent an email to every single artist that I knew and I said hey
single artist that I knew and I said hey
single artist that I knew and I said hey can y’all come and help me make this
can y’all come and help me make this
can y’all come and help me make this happen can you help me get this out my
happen can you help me get this out my
happen can you help me get this out my system and artists builders actors
system and artists builders actors
system and artists builders actors organizers started to come together and
organizers started to come together and
organizers started to come together and we met up at this coffee shop and I
we met up at this coffee shop and I
we met up at this coffee shop and I remember bringing the sketch into this
remember bringing the sketch into this
remember bringing the sketch into this meeting with all of these amazing folks
meeting with all of these amazing folks
meeting with all of these amazing folks and one Marcus one of the the builders
and one Marcus one of the the builders
and one Marcus one of the the builders the lead builder of this project
the lead builder of this project
the lead builder of this project he took my sketch and he was like what
he took my sketch and he was like what
he took my sketch and he was like what if we do this like what have we not make
if we do this like what have we not make
if we do this like what have we not make it a casket make it a coffin and then
it a casket make it a coffin and then
it a casket make it a coffin and then Damon chimed in and then Elizabeth Vega
Damon chimed in and then Elizabeth Vega
Damon chimed in and then Elizabeth Vega who like organizes all of these art
who like organizes all of these art
who like organizes all of these art bills she was like Ferguson October is
bills she was like Ferguson October is
bills she was like Ferguson October is coming up what if we actually use this
coming up what if we actually use this
coming up what if we actually use this thing through the power of just asking
thing through the power of just asking
thing through the power of just asking for help these folks helped make this
for help these folks helped make this
for help these folks helped make this happen and so Sophie and I who’s like an
happen and so Sophie and I who’s like an
happen and so Sophie and I who’s like an amazing
amazing
amazing project manager we went out and we
project manager we went out and we
project manager we went out and we bought all the materials we source some
bought all the materials we source some
bought all the materials we source some we dumpster dived we found it Marcus and
we dumpster dived we found it Marcus and
we dumpster dived we found it Marcus and Derrick Damon and others they started to
Derrick Damon and others they started to
Derrick Damon and others they started to get to building when Fergus and October
get to building when Fergus and October
get to building when Fergus and October hid Elizabeth Vega and some others they
hid Elizabeth Vega and some others they
hid Elizabeth Vega and some others they created what was called in a friend ax a
created what was called in a friend ax a
created what was called in a friend ax a series of altars that were created on
series of altars that were created on
series of altars that were created on Canfield where Mike Brown was shot and
Canfield where Mike Brown was shot and
Canfield where Mike Brown was shot and they with community help they were able
they with community help they were able
they with community help they were able to bring this casket to life on the
to bring this casket to life on the
to bring this casket to life on the streets of Ferguson on that night and
streets of Ferguson on that night and
streets of Ferguson on that night and after their friend uh guess what they
after their friend uh guess what they
after their friend uh guess what they organized a bunch of men to carry this
organized a bunch of men to carry this
organized a bunch of men to carry this throughout the streets this casket made
throughout the streets this casket made
throughout the streets this casket made of mirrors that had haunted so many of
of mirrors that had haunted so many of
of mirrors that had haunted so many of my dreams just weeks before and what was
my dreams just weeks before and what was
my dreams just weeks before and what was powerful about the design of this piece
powerful about the design of this piece
powerful about the design of this piece was that as it was carried and people
was that as it was carried and people
was that as it was carried and people saw it and marched alongside it it would
saw it and marched alongside it it would
saw it and marched alongside it it would provoke you to question and empathize
provoke you to question and empathize
provoke you to question and empathize with the possibility that perhaps you
with the possibility that perhaps you
with the possibility that perhaps you could be in there that perhaps you could
could be in there that perhaps you could
could be in there that perhaps you could see yourself in the fate of young people
see yourself in the fate of young people
see yourself in the fate of young people like Mike Brown who had been shot and
like Mike Brown who had been shot and
like Mike Brown who had been shot and when it was ultimately brought to the
when it was ultimately brought to the
when it was ultimately brought to the Ferguson Police Department the face of
Ferguson Police Department the face of
Ferguson Police Department the face of it was turned forward and people who
it was turned forward and people who
it was turned forward and people who looked at it were faced with this
looked at it were faced with this
looked at it were faced with this distortion when they looked at it
distortion when they looked at it
distortion when they looked at it this notion of really questioning and
this notion of really questioning and
this notion of really questioning and engaging who are we really becoming as
engaging who are we really becoming as
engaging who are we really becoming as we allow these types of tragedies to
we allow these types of tragedies to
we allow these types of tragedies to happen on the streets of our communities
happen on the streets of our communities
happen on the streets of our communities and from those moments this casket this
and from those moments this casket this
and from those moments this casket this piece this artwork this nightmare
piece this artwork this nightmare
piece this artwork this nightmare started to be carried night after night
started to be carried night after night
started to be carried night after night day after day into different police
day after day into different police
day after day into different police departments across the city in the
departments across the city in the
departments across the city in the region and it started to take a life of
region and it started to take a life of
region and it started to take a life of his own in a way that made it less
his own in a way that made it less
his own in a way that made it less important who the seven of us were
important who the seven of us were
important who the seven of us were because so many people has started to
because so many people has started to
because so many people has started to put their own spin into it they started
put their own spin into it they started
put their own spin into it they started to take ownership
to take ownership
to take ownership of it they started to put new narratives
of it they started to put new narratives
of it they started to put new narratives into it they found different ways of
into it they found different ways of
into it they found different ways of using it but there was something about
using it but there was something about
using it but there was something about this piece it was heavy I mean it was
this piece it was heavy I mean it was
this piece it was heavy I mean it was literally heavy but it was also heavy
literally heavy but it was also heavy
literally heavy but it was also heavy for for many months after those initial
for for many months after those initial
for for many months after those initial weeks it stayed in my apartment it
weeks it stayed in my apartment it
weeks it stayed in my apartment it stayed in Derek’s minivan it was an
stayed in Derek’s minivan it was an
stayed in Derek’s minivan it was an Elizabeth vega’s basement and all of us
Elizabeth vega’s basement and all of us
Elizabeth vega’s basement and all of us felt this energy where we couldn’t quite
felt this energy where we couldn’t quite
felt this energy where we couldn’t quite decide what to do with it it haunted us
decide what to do with it it haunted us
decide what to do with it it haunted us still because we had a look at it we had
still because we had a look at it we had
still because we had a look at it we had to engage with it and so we didn’t know
to engage with it and so we didn’t know
to engage with it and so we didn’t know what to do and as we were contemplating
what to do and as we were contemplating
what to do and as we were contemplating whether to smash it to store it to keep
whether to smash it to store it to keep
whether to smash it to store it to keep using it to give it away people started
using it to give it away people started
using it to give it away people started to take notice and both on a local level
to take notice and both on a local level
to take notice and both on a local level and a national scale people started to
and a national scale people started to
and a national scale people started to write about it in addition to writing
write about it in addition to writing
write about it in addition to writing about it people started to see this as
about it people started to see this as
about it people started to see this as more than just a provocation and it was
more than just a provocation and it was
more than just a provocation and it was start to be seen as a work of art and so
start to be seen as a work of art and so
start to be seen as a work of art and so it was in travelling exhibitions it was
it was in travelling exhibitions it was
it was in travelling exhibitions it was even on an exhibition on view here at um
even on an exhibition on view here at um
even on an exhibition on view here at um Seoul and once it got through the
Seoul and once it got through the
Seoul and once it got through the regional Arts Commission by that time
regional Arts Commission by that time
regional Arts Commission by that time people like Shiraz Borman a local poet
people like Shiraz Borman a local poet
people like Shiraz Borman a local poet and activist had brought it to the
and activist had brought it to the
and activist had brought it to the attention of collectors at the
attention of collectors at the
attention of collectors at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC
Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC
Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC and during this time they were just on
and during this time they were just on
and during this time they were just on the brink of finishing what would become
the brink of finishing what would become
the brink of finishing what would become the National Museum of african-american
the National Museum of african-american
the National Museum of african-american history and culture and the collectors
history and culture and the collectors
history and culture and the collectors there upon hearing these stories about
there upon hearing these stories about
there upon hearing these stories about this piece and seeing it across media
this piece and seeing it across media
this piece and seeing it across media because of the power of community of
because of the power of community of
because of the power of community of every single life that touched it they
every single life that touched it they
every single life that touched it they wanted it and it wasn’t just for the
wanted it and it wasn’t just for the
wanted it and it wasn’t just for the sake of its of his own nature but they
sake of its of his own nature but they
sake of its of his own nature but they saw a bigger connection you see they had
saw a bigger connection you see they had
saw a bigger connection you see they had just collected the casket of Emmett Till
just collected the casket of Emmett Till
just collected the casket of Emmett Till who was killed in 1955 by white races
who was killed in 1955 by white races
who was killed in 1955 by white races vigilantes who slaughtered him bashed
vigilantes who slaughtered him bashed
vigilantes who slaughtered him bashed his face
his face
his face drugged him for miles after he had
drugged him for miles after he had
drugged him for miles after he had allegedly whistled at a white woman this
allegedly whistled at a white woman this
allegedly whistled at a white woman this piece this casket that was created in
piece this casket that was created in
piece this casket that was created in honor of Mike Brown and the suffering
honor of Mike Brown and the suffering
honor of Mike Brown and the suffering that we all felt on the streets of
that we all felt on the streets of
that we all felt on the streets of Ferguson became a part of the art
Ferguson became a part of the art
Ferguson became a part of the art historical canon about the abuses that
historical canon about the abuses that
historical canon about the abuses that had been plagued upon black bodies
had been plagued upon black bodies
had been plagued upon black bodies across generations and centuries in our
across generations and centuries in our
across generations and centuries in our city in our nation and our world and so
city in our nation and our world and so
city in our nation and our world and so it continued to take a life of his own
it continued to take a life of his own
it continued to take a life of his own because the support that we got from
because the support that we got from
because the support that we got from that institution one gave us that
that institution one gave us that
that institution one gave us that leverage in that confidence to continue
leverage in that confidence to continue
leverage in that confidence to continue to build with community to continue to
to build with community to continue to
to build with community to continue to make to continue to agitate through art
make to continue to agitate through art
make to continue to agitate through art to provoke to make us question who we
to provoke to make us question who we
to provoke to make us question who we really are
really are
really are and why are we separating ourselves why
and why are we separating ourselves why
and why are we separating ourselves why are we judging each other
but you see as many members of our team
but you see as many members of our team have continued to make and to travel to
have continued to make and to travel to
have continued to make and to travel to talk to produce films to do so much we
talk to produce films to do so much we
talk to produce films to do so much we still get the question of what’s next
still get the question of what’s next
still get the question of what’s next because guess what they haven’t stopped
because guess what they haven’t stopped
because guess what they haven’t stopped killing us this year along almost a
killing us this year along almost a
killing us this year along almost a thousand people have been killed by
thousand people have been killed by
thousand people have been killed by police brutality in our region over a
police brutality in our region over a
police brutality in our region over a dozen have been slaughtered by the
dozen have been slaughtered by the
dozen have been slaughtered by the police and so we get question well what
police and so we get question well what
police and so we get question well what happens or what could happen if we were
happens or what could happen if we were
happens or what could happen if we were to take these caskets and keep building
to take these caskets and keep building
to take these caskets and keep building them and place them on the site of where
them and place them on the site of where
them and place them on the site of where every single person has been murdered so
every single person has been murdered so
every single person has been murdered so that the community continues to question
that the community continues to question
that the community continues to question and see themselves in this fate will it
and see themselves in this fate will it
and see themselves in this fate will it evoke empathy to make the killing stop
evoke empathy to make the killing stop
evoke empathy to make the killing stop what would happen if we made smaller
what would happen if we made smaller
what would happen if we made smaller versions of these caskets or mirror at
versions of these caskets or mirror at
versions of these caskets or mirror at them like shields and took them to the
them like shields and took them to the
them like shields and took them to the families of people who have been
families of people who have been
families of people who have been directly affected by police brutality
directly affected by police brutality
directly affected by police brutality just to be able to say we see you
just to be able to say we see you
just to be able to say we see you perhaps all of those people who were a
perhaps all of those people who were a
perhaps all of those people who were a part of the story of this piece had the
part of the story of this piece had the
part of the story of this piece had the space to share their story about coming
space to share their story about coming
space to share their story about coming into this work what would happen when we
into this work what would happen when we
into this work what would happen when we amplify our voices that way so this life
amplify our voices that way so this life
amplify our voices that way so this life of this piece continues on we’re still
of this piece continues on we’re still
of this piece continues on we’re still creating we’re still bridging
creating we’re still bridging
creating we’re still bridging possibilities and I think often about
possibilities and I think often about
possibilities and I think often about that initial nightmare that when I saw
that initial nightmare that when I saw
that initial nightmare that when I saw this in my head in my dreams I didn’t
this in my head in my dreams I didn’t
this in my head in my dreams I didn’t know what what quite would happen with
know what what quite would happen with
know what what quite would happen with it but I knew I had to get it out my
it but I knew I had to get it out my
it but I knew I had to get it out my system and I knew that there are people
system and I knew that there are people
system and I knew that there are people I just believed that there were people
I just believed that there were people
I just believed that there were people around me who felt the same and it was
around me who felt the same and it was
around me who felt the same and it was through the power of community the power
through the power of community the power
through the power of community the power of the people who allowed us
of the people who allowed us
of the people who allowed us to allowed us to create and through that
to allowed us to create and through that
to allowed us to create and through that creation heal and become warriors to
creation heal and become warriors to
creation heal and become warriors to really envision new possibilities of
really envision new possibilities of
really envision new possibilities of what could really happen if we check
what could really happen if we check
what could really happen if we check ourselves if we stop dividing and so
ourselves if we stop dividing and so
ourselves if we stop dividing and so this piece continues we continue all
this piece continues we continue all
this piece continues we continue all seven of us every single life that has
seven of us every single life that has
seven of us every single life that has touched us and we invite you to like be
touched us and we invite you to like be
touched us and we invite you to like be a part of this with us because the
a part of this with us because the
a part of this with us because the journey continues
journey continues
journey continues so thank
so thank
so thank [Applause]
”
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