"Artists are the Gatekeepers of Truth":
A Celebration of Paul Robeson's 124th Birthday
and Artist Uzikee Nelson
On April 9th, 2022, the Humanities Truck team joined Paul Johnson and other community stakeholders for a celebration to honor Paul Robeson on the anniversary of his 124th birthday and to celebrate the work of artist and sculptor Uzikee Nelson.
Those gathering reflected on on the relationship between the arts, activism, and black community. Over the course of the afternoon, we interviewed several artists and activists whose recordings you can view below.
The event took place in Petworth at Paul Robeson Park. People gathered in front of Uzikee Nelson’s sculpture, titled, “Here I Stand.” The magnificent work honors the life and legacy of Paul Robeson.
See the Interviews Below:
Playlist
Community, Art, Activism and Culture
While at the event, The Humanities Truck team asked attendees to explore how they engage with the themes of community, art, activism, and culture. Participants listened to speakers, shared their perspectives on a reflection wall on the side of the truck, created souvenir buttons made from self drawn and pre-printed designs, which celebrated the lives of Paul Robeson and Uzikee Nelson.
