A group of artists for social justice have gathered in support of Black Lives Matter. Urban Milwaukee published:
Jazmen Powell and a friend were just passing Alice’s Garden on a recent warm evening when they were drawn in by the activity of a crowd of several hundred people. In addition to a food truck at the entrance, free food on tables scattered around the garden, and performers and speakers on stage, people of all ages and races sat on blankets, in portable chairs and at picnic tables.
The evening event was organized by local artists and activists to bring healing to the community after recent violence between the police and black men around the country. Leaders including Malkia Stampley, artistic director of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble; Venice Williams, executive director of Alice’s Garden and The Body & Soul Healing Arts Center; and Dimonte Henning, executive director of Lights! Camera! Soul! invited other performing artists and activists to address issues surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement at Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st St. The public was also invited.
“This relates to us, to me personally,” said Powell, who is living in a homeless shelter, of the racial injustices being addressed from the stage.
Powell was raised in foster care and has been homeless off and on for several years. She noted that while black men are being killed and incarcerated, black women are being separated from their children by government authorities. She explained that she and her friend are both struggling to get their children back from Child Protective Services.
“Nobody listens. Nobody hears us,” Powell said.
From the stage, Venice Williams verbally “poured libations,” a traditional African religious practice to invoke the ancestors’ blessings, on a long list of people.
“We pour libations for the children … for (all people) in this city who lost their lives because someone thought someone of their color should not be where they were,” Williams said. The audience responded, “Ashay” (Be with us).
Performers including members of the Ko-Thi Dance Company, spoken word poet Damion Thompson, actress Kelley Faulkner and actor Chike Johnson, among others, shared dances, poems and songs related to the race issues roiling the nation.
Nate Hamilton, a co-founder of The Coalition for Justice, spoke about his organization’s activities this week, which included a rally and protest marches downtown.
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