Honoring the Ancestors

"In every one of us, there is a piece of the ancestor. A piece of the one who was sold, the one who was bought, the one who was brave, and the one who survived. And we have to tap into that piece of us and bring that forward."

- Dr. Joy DeGruy, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing

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The Black Exhale Nest project is a recognition of the ancestral presence that guides and sustains us in the work of healing and liberation. From the trees that offered their branches as a gesture of remembrance and repair from a former slave plantation in Virginia, to the altar that held the images of loved ones lost and found, this project is a testament to the enduring power of ancestral wisdom and love. As we move through the installation, the gallery, and the return of the nest to nature, we invite you to reflect on the ways in which we are all connected to those who came before us, and to consider how we might honor their legacies in our own lives and in our collective struggles for justice and freedom.

CHAPTERS:

1
REQUIEM FOR
A NEST

Confronting the wounds and ethics of the Black Exhale Nest project.

2
CREATING SANCTUARY

Witnessing the process of building sacred space for healing and remembrance.

3
VOICES OF RESILIENCE

Bearing witness to the stories of system-impacted Black men and gender non-conforming people.

4
HONORING
THE ANCESTORS

Recognizing the ancestral presence
that guides and sustains the work of
healing and liberation.

5
SACRED REFLECTIONS

Engaging in personal reflection and collective action through an interactive altar space.

6
EDUCATE YOURSELF

Exploring resources that align with the themes of collective trauma, healing, and resilience.