Spotlight: Black Rural Life is a direct response to the nationwide ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion taking place in every aspect of American society, especially within the education sector. Best described as a community-driven, multimedia initiative, Spotlight: Black Rural Life consists of a 200+ activity book celebrating Black Americans who are preserving and innovating cultural traditions in both rural and urban communities across the United States, a feature-length documentary, a nationwide book tour partnering with Black-owned bookstores and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS), and an online archive made available to the public for ongoing contributions.
Spotlight: Black Rural Life hinges entirely on contributions from Black Americans in rural and urban communities across the United States who are preserving and innovating our cultural traditions in new and inspiring ways. Their stories are what drive the project forward and shape the final product. We are constantly refining our methods and creation strategies through feedback provided by homeschooling families with whom we are partnering to engage with the material and see firsthand how well our book serves the needs and learning goals of their students on their specific educational journeys. Through this project, we are crafting an intergenerational network of contributors ranging from students to elders whose wisdom holds the power needed to reshape our very society into our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Cultural Storytelling and Community Participation are undoubtedly the backbone of Spotlight: Black Rural Life.
Spotlight: Black Rural Life was selected in December 2023 by National Performance Network for the organization's Southern Artists for Social Change Program. NPN’s Southern Artists for Social Change envisions a world in which people of color living, working, and organizing for community change in the South have the power, resources, and opportunities to thrive. The grant is part of the Surdna Foundation’s Radical Imagination for Racial Justice initiative, which has partnered with eleven organizations nationwide to support artists of color working to advance racial justice within their local communities.
The official announcement and further details about the program and partnership can be found on the National Performance Network (NPN) website.