CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Making Revolution Irresistible in Socially Engaged Art (New Book) Editors: Drs. H. “Herukhuti” Sharif Williams and Otto Muller, Goddard College (Vermont, USA) Publisher: Routledge Anticipated publication year: 2025 The world is ablaze with the rise of white supremacist fascism, genocide, and wealth extraction. Communities are working to resist and disrupt the mechanismsContinueContinue reading “CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Making Revolution Irresistible in Socially Engaged Art (New Book)”
Author Archives: H. "Herukhuti" Sharif Williams, PhD, MEd
WORLD PREMIER of In the Valley of Coming Forth – One Night ONLY
By Dr. Herukhuti It’s here. We’re just days away from the realization of a new contribution to funk theatre. For two years, I’ve been working with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) to bring to life the Afrofuturist, funk ritual performance piece, In the Valley of Coming Forth (IVCF). On November 24, 7pmET,ContinueContinue reading “WORLD PREMIER of In the Valley of Coming Forth – One Night ONLY”
Afrofuturism and The Birth of Funk Theatre
“While there has been quite a bit of work to define the roots and elements of Afrofuturism, from my observation Afrofuturists come to the framework in different ways and associate with different elements.” by Dr. Herukhuti The creative and philosophical discourse known as Afrofuturism has been growing in reach since the early 90s. Simply put,ContinueContinue reading “Afrofuturism and The Birth of Funk Theatre”
I Missed You. I Figure You’ve Missed Me Too.
by Dr. Herukhuti Hey there. I know it’s been a long time since you’ve heard from me here. Too long. My last post was in the summer of 2020. While COVID affected my life as it did many of you, there have been a number of important experiences that contributed to the absence of myContinueContinue reading “I Missed You. I Figure You’ve Missed Me Too.”
Reparations or Revolution, There Are Decisions to Make on All Sides
by Dr. Herukhuti As the surge in protests, looting, and uprising occurred several months ago, close friends and colleagues, unbeknownst to each other, asked me the same question, “do you think this is it?” By it, they were referring to a change that would fundamentally transform the society. Being known as a revolutionary scholar, IContinueContinue reading “Reparations or Revolution, There Are Decisions to Make on All Sides”
The Problem Isn’t Merely Policing – Dismantling the Matrix of Domination
by Dr. Herukhuti In the wake of the most recent murders of and attacks against Black people, people around the world have taken to the streets to demand justice for Black victims of police and vigilante violence and defunding the police. But anti-Blackness, white supremacy, and racial terrorism didn’t begin and won’t end with policing.ContinueContinue reading “The Problem Isn’t Merely Policing – Dismantling the Matrix of Domination”
That Ain’t Forgiveness: On the Political Economy of Hugging
By Dr. Herukhuti Stop it. Stop showing the images, playing the video. Stop talking about how amazing or incredible or moving or heartwarming it was. To anyone who is using the scene of the sentencing phase of Amber Guyger’s trial in Dallas, TX, USA to pimp a narrative about forgiveness and Black people or BlacknessContinueContinue reading “That Ain’t Forgiveness: On the Political Economy of Hugging”
The Loss of Empathy: When We Can No Longer Mourn Our Dead, We Become Dust
by Dr. Herukhuti We don’t love each other, not because we don’t have the capacity. But because our trauma has so disrupted our natural instinct to do so. The intergenerational trauma of experiencing settler-colonialism, imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism, and cisheteropatriarchy has wrought havoc on our collective empathy. It is easiest for us to mourn theContinueContinue reading “The Loss of Empathy: When We Can No Longer Mourn Our Dead, We Become Dust”
Reppin’ Ain’t Easy and Some of Us Are Brave
By Dr. Herukhuti Before keeping it real was a thing, we represented. Back in the 90s and early 00s, people repped the street on which they lived, the school they attended, the neighborhood, city, or state in which they resided. Showing love for your community and your origins was a sign of self-love and weContinueContinue reading “Reppin’ Ain’t Easy and Some of Us Are Brave”
Kevin Hart and the Racial Politics of LGBTQ Call Outs
By Dr. Herukhuti Kevin Hart is a Black comedian whose career began in the Black community. In the early 2000s, clubs like Philly’s Laff House provided him with the space and time to develop his comedic style, identity, craft, and content. After many comedy tours and movies since those early days, Hart has remained committedContinueContinue reading “Kevin Hart and the Racial Politics of LGBTQ Call Outs”