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PRESERVATIONLIBERATIONJOY:A CONFLUX OF NARRATIVE CHANGEKerry James Marshall

PRESERVATIONLIBERATIONCONFLUX(noun) the activity or process ofkeeping something valued alive,intact, or free from damage or decay(noun) freedom from limits onthought, behavior, imprisonment,or oppression NARRATIVE(noun) a way of presenting or understanding asituation or series of events that reflects andpromotes a particular point of view or set of values(noun) a place where two things flowingtogether or gathering of forces, people,or things meet and become oneArtist Unknown

Our history is a narrative —one which shapes our lives andsystems of power, confers accessand value, and often dictates who gets a seat at the proverbialtable. In order for us to seedliberatory possibility, we needto rearticulate the narrative.We must reclaim and preserveour stories. We must activelyquestion the status quo, andshine a floodlight in thedirection of narrative change.CURATORIALSTATEMENTFaith Ringgold

Part of the Social Impact Department at the KennedyCenter, this week of Conflux events have beencurated to deliver an experience meant to activate thepreservation of our narrative — a narrative weavedwith our ancestors' wisdom, resiliency, and creativity;a narrative that is ringing the alarm to be addressed; narrative that honors the black body wholly. The American history that is often recorded andpublished does not reflect the bountiful, diverse,stories that have built the America we live in today.From our history books, to the TV screens in ourhomes, the stories that have shaped perceptions,policies, and societal attitudes have come fromcolonial perspectives that landed on Point Comfort in1619. These perspectives perpetuate harmfulstereotypes, systematic inequalities, and historicalerasure to this day, and have been growing, shiftingand evolving tactics, subject upon those who are theoriginal caretakers, and those forced here for labor.As we strive for liberty and justice for all, we continueto encounter challenges that require us to reaffirmour commitment to equality, justice, and ourcollective liberation. We are inspired to use the toolsof system change, like voting and freedom of speech,to enact it. CURATORIAL STATEMENT, CONT’D.Aaron F. Henderson

Despite growing racial and ethnic diversity, Congress remains lessdiverse than the nation as a whole. White Americans account for 75% ofvoting members in the new Congress — considerably more than their59% share of the U.S. population. Last year, more than 20 bills wereintroduced to state legislation restricting the teaching of racial history,to promote a history void of the searing truth. Those in powerfulpositions in our government struggle to reflect the diversity of itscitizens. Across all state high courts, just 18 percent of justices areBlack, Latino, Asian American, Native American, or multiracial. Bycontrast, people of color make up over 40 percent of the U.S.population. The percentage of Black children sentenced to life withoutparole has increased from 61 percent to 73 percent since 2012.It’s urgent that we shed light on these underreported andunacknowledged realities through narrative change, and critical thatwe find a restoration that can center our humanity. As we addresshistorical distortions and systemic injustices, we extend an invitationto pave the way for collective healing, social progress, and trueliberation. And the blood memories of Black folks hold these truths asself evident, your existence right here, right now, against all the odds,is living proof. There is nothing like medicine that is ancestral, rootedin the wisdom of our forebears, and connected to the natural rhythmsof the earth. So explore the event of The Gathering: A Place ForNarrative Change, to witness a glimpse of that salve. The secret of ourmedicine is that it can find you in song; it can disrupt you to thinkthrough its words; it holds you as we gather, and eclipses your pain asyou dance. CURATORIAL STATEMENT, CONT’D.Bisa Butler

SOURCELISTThe Washington PostFutureEdPew Research CenterBrennan Center for JusticeThe Campaign for Fair Sentencing of YouthPeter Cooper

Our ancestors were feeling people,human people, caring people,possessing weird and mysteriouspowers. They were makers andbuilders, creators of nations andempires. That’s who our ancestorswere. And we, their offspring, findourselves, right now, this minute along, long way from all that beauty,all that harmony, all that peace, allthat love. We find ourselves a long,long way from home. “DR. BARBARA ANN TEERKerry James Marshall

OUR BEAUTIFUL BODIES HAVE ALWAYS BEENBOUNDLESSJacob LaBelle

INHALE A DREAM. EXHALE LIGHT. EXHALE HOPE.HOLD ONTO EACH OTHERIN THIS DEFIANT ACT OF LIVINGJacob LaBelle

OUR FOLKS ALWAYS GREET OUR CHEEKSANCESTORS IN THE MAKINGRETURN TO US WITH PRAYERS OF WINDPete Marovich

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A OF SOMEONES ELSE’S PRAYERS. LOOK HOW WE RETURN TO THE SOURCE.REVERBERATIONFlo Ngala

SEE US FIGHT.SEE US FLIGHT.SEE US FREE.Jacob LaBelle

WE CHAMPION YOU TODAY.WE PRAISE DANCE TODAY.WE PRAISE YOU.Jacob LaBelle

WE CANNOT COMPLETE THE RING SHOUTWITHOUT YOUR VOICES IN THE SPACE… NOW ACTIVATE!

HOW ARE YOU UTILIZING YOURGIFTS FOR NARRATIVE CHANGE? IT IS TIME TO GET ACTIVATED.Peter Cooper1.ARE YOU READY TO GIVE YOUR VOICETO THE CAUSES THAT NEED IT?2.HOW CAN YOU MAKE CHANGE IN YOURSELFIN ORDER TO DISRUPT SYSTEMS &NARRATIVES OF OPPRESSION?3.

DC JUSTICE LABDC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts researching, organizing, andadvocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia’s criminal legal system.We develop smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, andracially just. We aim to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and makeit a national leader in justice reform.NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMThe National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) works to reduce incarcerationand violence, improve the outcomes of system-involved youth and adults, and increasethe capacity and expertise of the organizations that serve these individuals. NICJRprovides technical assistance, consulting, research, organizational development, andadvocacy in the fields of juvenile and criminal justice, youth development, and violenceprevention. NICJR works with an array of organizations, including government agencies,nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations.THE SENTENCING PROJECTThe Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime thatminimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial,ethnic, economic, and gender justice.AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTION FUNDThe African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is about making room—within ourunderstanding of history, preservation, and social justice—for a movement that usespreservation as a force for enacting positive social change. In modeling this approach andin partnering with other organizations around the country, we challenge ourselves torealize equity-driven outcomes that benefit all Americans.DC HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICEThe Historic Preservation Office (HPO) promotes stewardship of the District ofColumbia's historic and cultural resources through planning, protection and publicoutreach. HPO is the staff for the Historic Preservation Review Board and Mayor's Agentfor historic preservation.TOOLKITPeter Cooper

NATIONALBLACKTHEATREThis dramaturgical exhibition ispart of National Black Theatre’sholistic producing pedagogy,which is spearheaded by theAlternative Learning & SocialImpact Department.Arthur DawsonWWW.NATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG@NATBLACKTHEATRE#DCRINGSHOUTKEEPSOULALIVE#