Overview

Celebrating the artists at the forefront of a Black aesthetic renaissance and how they harness the arts to shape a freer future In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department and the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet during a health episode attended by Toronto Police Services in the turbulent summer of 2020, communities rose up in rage, grief, and resistance. Alongside mass protests came an outpouring of creative expression by Black artists, producing art that helped make sense of the moment and mobilize for change. Today, as anti-Black violence persists—fueled by the rise of white supremacy and fascism, even within the highest levels of government—Black artists, too, persist in painting, dancing, drawing, writing, and expressing their outrage and hope.  Free to Be More honours the creative revolutionary labour of Black artists, past and present. This vibrant collection of essays, poems, images, and interviews affirms the deep connection between art and activism. More than that, it’s a testament to how art can amplify a movement and offer tools to gather, organize, and enact transformative interventions in anti-Black racism.  Continuing and expanding the conversation from the bestselling Until We Are Free, Free to Be More brings together contributions from Rodney Diverlus, Ravyn Wngz, Aisha Sasha John, Camille Turner, and other visionary artists to serve as both a singular creative archive and a rallying cry for future changemakers.

Full Product Details

9781779401328

Table of Contents

Reviews

“A treasure trove of creation & struggle.” -- Sandy Hudson “More than a book, this is your invitation to join a gathering steeped in hope.” -- Dr. Natalie Wall, author of Black Expression and White Generosity: A Theoretical Framework of Race

Author Information

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Scholar, visual artist, activist, curator, educator, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada. An assistant professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University, he is the co-editor of the bestselling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada. He lives in Tkaronto. Dr. Ra’anaa Yaminah Ekundayo (ABD) is a multimedia activist scholar who co-founded and currently chairs Black Lives Matter Sudbury. Dr. d’bi.young anitafrika is an African Jamaican Dubpoet, playwright, performer, and educator. A triple Dora Award winner and author of twelve plays, seven books, and seven Dub poetry albums, they are also the founding Artistic Director of the Watah Theatre and founding Educational Director of the Black Theatre School, both located in Toronto.

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