Stephen Watts

On May 24, we center the stories of those who have been disconnected from their ancestry, land, and homes, and have had to create new stories of belonging. Black Mythology Project invites Nashville to experience art, food, story, and community that calls them back into their bodies as we work together to create new stories of home. FREE TIX in the bio. Come for the art. Stay for the community. Come home. I ran out of tags! Also featuring amazing art, installations, and workshops from: @chasewilliamsonart @reggiewayne_1 lorenzoswinton @rodmcgaha @goldeicreations @caffeinedream @johntheshaman @creatif_moi_ And others not on social media Flyer by @multigoodmedia Featured Art by @marcellus__cre8s

Calling all funders! Our very own Stephen Watts will be part of this panel on May 19th. Will you join? Learn more at the link in our bio! From Funders Together for Housing Justice, “AK “Social Housing” is approaching buzzword status. But what does it actually mean? How does it benefit people who are homeless tonight? And what role can philanthropy play in advancing it? Let’s tackle all these questions and more. Join Funders Together as we continue our journey to clarify what it means to hold “housing justice” as our north star—creating the conditions where literally everyone enjoys safe, stable housing by prioritizing those most impacted by structural racism and oppression—without abandoning people who are already unhoused. We’ll hear from organizers and developers from politically disparate climates, California and Tennessee, to stitch together a common vision for social housing. Then we will learn from the Common Counsel Foundation, a leader in social housing organizing and development, who will offer concrete pathways for philanthropy to engage.”

MUTUAL AID REQUEST: A Black artist and community member needs $3500 ASAP to keep their housing. Donations are welcome! They also offer their professional photo/video services, custom sculptures/carvings, jewelry/bracelets/accessories, and yoga mats for sale. Please support our community members impacted by the Nashville storms. Please share, give, and buy what you can. We take care of each other ❤️

Fascism is here—when you’re solidifying a police state on the streets, on social media, everywhere, while ignoring checks and balances, that is fascism. SHOW UP TO COUNCIL TODAY. Public comment sign up is at 5 pm. Parking validation available. Council meeting starts at 6:30 pm!! Wear all black. Bring flyers. This is our city. Not the billionaires. Not the techno-fascists. #notomou #notofascism #nashville #fascistfreddie #freddieoconnell

On June 22nd, the Find Your Place Art Exhibit transforms itself into a community space. Live music, clothing + book swap, poetry workshop, DJ sets, and more. After party info loading 🔄 Suggested donation $10 at the link in the bio. Free tix available (as needed). 20% of all donations and drink sales go to @opentablenashville who work with our friends living on the street to create a world that reflects the dignity and worth of us all. Special thanks to ESC (@hajethexplorer + @sicasso1 ) Write & Release Workshops (@iamkennyrae_ ) and World AfriCultural Community Project (@world_africultural_community ) who decided to that an art exhibit was the right place to do community programming. I ran out of tags to acknowledge all the contributors to the project! @inhale.artz @thecreativeseer @treeezyart @lemareyethadesigner_ @_artbymarteja @meggojojo @worksofmike_art @suberstylestudio @themarzedit @charcoalattebynadine @selocinstreets @omaribooker @patricyonna @reggiewayne_1 @rodmcgaha @dunsonart @caffeinedream @sicasso1 @its_yendys @he.films @babyface.dreee @blackgirllore @enxgmaa @faithtranell__ @symphony.sounds @findersthrifters615 @twohunner @lifewithschi @auricmoon @sayheystar @happyabby222 @unfuckwitablejackiemoon

The Find Your Place Collage Art Show is available for public viewing every Friday and Sunday afternoon. You missed opening night? Still come see what we created!! Featured Artists: Ashley Mintz | @wildenemyart Elisheba Israel Mrozik | @queenbeeink Goldei Creations | @goldeicreations Kaylan Lemon | @treeezyart Buist Hardison | @Buisteh Sicasso | @sicasso1 Lemareye Jones | @lemareyethadesigner_ B.Kreations | @b.kreations Megan Jordan | @meggojojo MUSA SUBER | @suberstylestudio Ashewil | @ashewildo_ Charles Jamersonsgc Key | @jamersonsgc Inhale Artz | @inhale.artz Reggie Wayne | @reggiewayne_1 Delanyo Mensah | @selasi.e @delaco14 Marteja | @_artbymarteja Destiney Powell | @poeticallyillustrated Nadine Shillingford | @charcoalattebynadine Myesha Ramsey (Marz) | @themarzedit Elise R. Kendrick | @chocolatepollypocket Patricyonna | @patricyonna Omari Booker | @omaribooker Justin D. Johnson | @thecreativeseer Henry L. Jones | @henryjonesing4colors Alexis Heard | @alexis2andria Nicole Wilson | @selocinstreets Sydney Shelton | @its_yendys Samuel Dunson | @dunsonart Ania Diallo | @ania.thescientist Rod McGaha | @rodmcgaha Sensei | @caffeinedream A.M. Hassan Tee | @tzadie.johnson Cheryl Anfernee | @94fern Edwin Michael Mucker (Ol Skool) | @__olskoolmike__

On May 25, The Black Mythology Project returns with the Find Your Place Community Collage Activation. Special thanks to @metroartsnash and @bmhvillage for making this possible. To of the featured artists for being endlessly creative. To all of the collaborative partners for pushing the vision forward. And to the community for being worthy of the dream. Free tickets at: blackmythologyproject.com/events and in the bio in IG: linktree.com/blackmythologyproject ******* I ran out of tags!! Thanks also to: @alexis2andria @goldeicreations @reggiewayne_1 @rodmcgaha @creatif_moi_ @nijawoods_art @emberdarkgreen @jamesbrowneffect @its_yendys @ania.thescientist @wildenemyart @omaribooker @charcoalattebynadine @dunsonart @__olskoolmike__ @_artbymarteja @poeticallyillustrated @nlwheelerii @suberstylestudio @94fern @tc.ragewrld @parartstudio9 @daybreakarts @purpletomatoez @liberatedgrounds @kivanoir @artsequitynashville @jarobi__ @jlaudjr @37208creates @meggojojo @okaayproductions @selocinstreets

The greatest danger posed by mass surveillance systems is the end of local democracy itself. Probably everything I’ll write over the next year will be about how policing, surveillance, and incarceration is incompatible with democracy. In a country so inundated by propaganda about what “democracy” is — so that we can believe we live in one — we have trouble defining the word. Two visions of the future are now colliding in Nashville. Check the link in the bio and imma write more

Thank you to our community members for taking time & speaking out to keep us safe!!! @swatts96 🎯🎯🎯

The passion project comes to life 👀 The Black Mythology Experience invites art-lovers, political advocates, and community neighbors to transform their personal experiences into stories capable of sustaining political and social change. Shout out to @theequityalliance , @37208creates , @okaayproductions and many other artists for making this possible. We can use our pasts to design a more inclusive future. Take off the mask!

I never post myself. Thanks to my cousin/friend/family @charissasadventure for perfectly capturing one of my randomest (aka favorite) days of the summer. P.S. ya boi bald. As my three-year-old nephew Oakland says everytime he sees me “your hairs are so little” Thanks for letting me steal your rag @_adayago Shirts from @turtelonli . Buy his comix 😏

A white evangelical Christian college called Wheaton College took me apart. Then I watched my mentees struggle with the same issues of racial justice I did. This week they graduated ❤️And I finally feel free to reflect on my time there and how college shaped my relationship with religion. Thanks @pov_mmga for helping me focus my words. Link in the bio!