Dreamscaping: Shifting the Narrative Through Black-Centered Storytelling

Session Type: Demonstration/Performance

Abstract

Inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes, the highlighted program seeks to address and remedy racial disparities through the arts, storytelling, and review of the lived history of African Americans in the City.

Black people are an integral part of San Francisco’s cultural, intellectual, spiritual, and political fabric – yet they are regularly depicted in a negative light in dominant or mainstream narratives. This panel explores a corrective narrative storytelling, highlighting strategies focused on rectifying the biased narratives that saturate society.

The demonstration shares stories that highlight community collaborations that center racial equity and harness the power of storytelling for advocacy. The demonstration explores storytelling through video, poetry, music and art.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Biographical and Documentary Research

Chair

• Sheryl Evans Davis, San Francisco Human Rights Commission

Papers

• Dream Deferred: Writing and Righting History - Sheryl Evans Davis, San Francisco Human Rights Commission

• Dream Keeper Initiative: The Cost of Dreams - Saidah Leatutufu, University of Southern California

• Dreamscaping: Correct Narrative Storytelling - Zina Besirevic, San Francisco Human Rights Commission