The BLACK ABUNDANCE Syllabus
As part of our commitment to build a stronger, more cohesive Level Ground community, we’ve launched the Syllabus Project to foster a shared language and raise our collective consciousness together. Alongside each of our major programs, Level Ground works with artists to curate a themed media syllabus of podcasts, articles, films, books, etc. An important companion piece to SKEW, this Syllabus was curated by Jda S. G. to intentionally deepen and expand what you’ll experience through SKEW 03. To get the most out of the BLACK ABUNDANCE Syllabus, purchase your copy of SKEW 03 today!
Introduction from the curator, Jda S. G.
Ruminating on how Black abundance manifests was a challenge. Abundance means prosperity, and I couldn’t help but think of the many ways in which capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy function to withhold from Black people the resources we need to thrive in this world. Even so, I know that despite the tyranny of these systems, Black people possess indefatigable spirits that have allowed them to create art and culture that comforts, challenges, and uplifts. This syllabus lists the collected words —whether essays or song lyrics—by Black people that reflect some facets of the richness of Black experiences. By no means does this list exhaust all the resources of that category. Think of it instead as an entry-point into your own journey of finding and embracing celebrations of Black abundance.
1. Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia A. Motley, Addresses United Nations General Debate, 76th Session (Video, 16:36 min)
Curator note: “After almost two years of the pandemic, and a summer of severe natural disasters around the globe, politicians are the last people I want to hear from. Thankfully, Prime Minister Motley, despite herself being a head of state, feels similarly. Her address at the 76th Session of UN General Assembly on September 25 excoriated wealthy nations for how their greed has prevented global inoculation against the virus, worsened the effects of climate change, and hindered the creation of a more just and equitable society. Her speech reminded me of former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie’s address to the UN in 1963. While much has changed in the almost 60 years since Selassie made his address, much has not.” -J.S.G.
2. Toni Morrison’s Speech at Portland State University, "Black Studies Center Public Dialogue. Pt. 2" (Audio, 2 hr 3 min; transcript)
Curator Note: “‘...The very serious function of racism, which is distraction.’ That’s one of the more famous quotes from this speech by Toni Morrison, but most of it deserves to be committed to memory. I come back to it when I need a reminder that it is not my responsibility to prove my worthiness to white supremacy.” -J.S.G.
3. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine (Book, nonfiction, 169 pages)
Curator Note: “If you’ve never read Citizen, prepare not just to read, but to observe. In addition to the written word, the book includes images: collages, pictures, paintings, that all work in conjunction to speak to the theme of what it means to be Black in the US. My favorite essay is simply titled ‘II’ and is about Black rage.” -J.S.G.
4. Fascinated to Presume: In Defense of Fiction
by Zadie Smith (Essay)
Curator Note: “Questions about who has a right to tell what kinds of stories have made their way to the forefront of the cultural debate with the rise of awareness about cultural appropriation and legitimate frustration at the overwhelming whiteness in the publishing industry. However, Zadie Smith, herself a writer and critic, argues against personal identity as a prerequisite for writing good fiction. The idea that a person outside of a marginalized group can write about that group is a controversial view for some. This essay has challenged my thinking about identity, ownership, and storytelling. Above all, this essay reminds me as a writer, that good writing is an art form that requires skill, not just experience.” -J.S.G
5. James Baldwin: Collected Essays by James Baldwin (Book, nonfiction, 869 pages)
“No syllabus about Blackness in the late 20th century is complete without the work of James Baldwin. Though Baldwin speaks about the American experience, the global ideology that is anti-Blackness makes his observations virtually universal. ‘The Fire Next Times’ stands out as one of the greatest essays ever written.” -J.S.G.
6. Over the Anvil We Stretch by Anis Mojgani (Book, poetry)
“The anvil as both a body part and metalworker’s tool is fitting imagery for this poetry collection as it explores what it means to both be and do. In its beauty, good poetry transports you to the writer’s world, and Mojgani does this deftly. Unlike the poet, I’ve never lived in New Orleans, but I have been a child; been in love; played with my siblings; and made up stories about the night sky. The poem is ‘4 stars.’” -J.S.G.
7. Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward (Book, fiction, 320 pages)
“Prisons. Plantations. Flying. Peaches. Mud. Rivers. Freedom. Ward offsets the profound sadness of the protagonist’s story with the kind of vivid and transformational narrative that allows you empathy and awe all at once.” -J.S.G.
8. Pushin’ Against A Stone by Valerie June (Album, 11 tracks)
“Valerie June has the kind of empowering and inviting voice that makes you want to sing along—only to realize that you can’t come close to replicating the timbre and idiosyncrasy of her vocals. This entire album is a prime homage to the Black roots of American Country music. It reminds of being surrounded by elders and youngsters all celebrating and supplicating our ancestors.” -J.S.G.
9. Why Solange Matters by Stephanie Phillips (Book, nonfiction)
“‘Seat At The Table’ (2016) was not just a Grammy-winning album, it was the soundtrack of an era. Stephanie Phillips, a punk musician, writer and activist, pens a brief treatise on the importance of Solange’s music to chronicling Black interiority for our generation.” -J.S.G.
10. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Book, memoir, 176 pages)
“Like James Baldwin, Ta-Nehesi Coates captures the American experience in a way that few have.” -J.S.G.
Director/ Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roger Ross Williams, Alisa Payne, and more discuss adapting the book #BetweenTheWorldAndMe for the stage and the screen.
11. How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs (Book, short stories, 256 pages)
“The short stories in Alexia Arthurs’ debut collection touched me at my core. Having grown up middle-class in Jamaica and migrated to the US as a teenager, I saw not only my story reflected, but the stories of people I knew. My favorite in the collection, ‘Shirley from a Small Place,’ speaks to the inner conflicts immigrants experience in the face of success.” -J.S.G.
12. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Book, children’s fiction)
“The first time I read Julián Is a Mermaid, I felt immense joy and sadness because every child deserves caregivers like Julián’s abuela, but not every child will be so lucky. For me, there’s nothing childish about children’s books: they reveal our most sacred social values, what we’re most proud of and what we hope our legacy will be. The author has created a series starring Julián; I can’t wait to expand my collection!” -J.S.G.
13. The Nod from Gimlet Media (Podcast)
“While no longer in production, ‘The Nod’ by Brittany Luce and Eric Eddings is an archive of thoughtful and humorous observations on Black American culture. They dedicate every few episodes to making a case for why a certain cultural product deserves more accolades than it’s received. Eric Eddings put forth a convincing argument for why the film ‘White Girls’ should be included in the Criterion Collection. It remains one of my favorite examples of cultural reporting.” -J.S.G.