Message of Reflection and Action from The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture

 Oakland aerial view Black Lives Matter. Photo by JJ Harris.

Oakland aerial view Black Lives Matter. Photo by JJ Harris.

A few days after George Floyd was brutally murdered by police in Minneapolis, Ava DuVernay wrote some powerful words on Twitter:

You deserved your breath, your dignity, your life. Not to die in the street, murdered by a white cop’s knee on your neck. “You deserve our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action. We must act — for you — and for all of those where no cameras are present. We must.”

our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action.

our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action.

our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action.

our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action.

At the Alliance for Media Arts + Culture, our collective tears and rage are a daily reality. Some of us pray, all of us act. Our thousands of member organizations and artists across the country and around the world unfold new actions every day that demonstrate the will of the creative community to heal and repair our broken democracy, confront persistent and systemic racism, white supremacy and anti-blackness, and stand up to the inequality that pervades every aspect of our lives. From the front lines of protests, to the editing rooms, writer’s rooms, newsrooms and makeshift home studios (where we are still socially distancing) — we are resolved to raise up the new stories, mentor the next generation, build access to the industry for all, protect the archives, and co-create our future social imaginary.

In the spirit of collective action, The National Day of Storytelling had been planned as a live event in Atlanta at the Center for Civil and Human Rights on 10/10/2020. A day of performance, film, spoken word, dance, music and joy. A day of gratitude to celebrate the power of artists, filmmakers and storytellers to light pathways through dark times, and the 40th birthday of The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture.

We have re-imagined this day in light of the current moment:

§ 10/10/2020. Because we are living in a world still struggling to heal from the COVID 19 pandemic, we will be live online.

§ 10/10/2020. Because we are living in a world still struggling to heal from racism and anti-blackness, we will amplify black voices and leaders.

§ 10/10/2020. Because we are living in a world still struggling to heal from persistent threats to our democracy, we will focus on freedom.

§ 10/10/2020. Because we are living in a world where the contributions of artists are marginalized, we will lift up the spirits of our ancestors and the next generation.

In the meantime, The Alliance is here for this network, this community, this tribe — for the long haul. As Audre Lorde says, “revolution is not a one-time event.”

In solidarity and love,

Wendy Levy, Chris Johnson and N’Jeri Eaton

on behalf of the Alliance Board of Directors, Advisors + Consulting Producers

Ajani Amiri

Andy Beach

Anula Shetty

Brian Frye

Elissa Moorhead

Emily Verellen Strom

Eric Doversberger

Irina Sanchez Acosta

James Pakootas

Jason Wyman

JJ Harris

Jocelyn Arem

Kasandra VerBrugghen

Mary Tahui An

Melinda Weekes-Laidlow

Paco de Onis

Pamela Yates

Shawn Jackson