[NEW EPISODE] How West African Dance Dismantles Racism

WHAT WILL THE AUDIENCE LEARN?

Guest will learn the contributions of West African Dance and how it informs the discussion or racial equity.

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Historically, images of Africa have ranged from offensive narratives like those shown on Tarzan to those that show malnourished children. While some of those images have improved and we see a plethora of videos of individuals dancing to African music, our perception of this beautiful continent and culture are limited. We lack understanding of the importance of the drums and dance to cultivating a deep sense of self and community. Broadening our perspective of West African dance advances the work of dismantling racism It exposes the learner to African epistemologies (worldview), cosmology, and culture. These ways of seeing the world serve as counter-narratives to the dominant narrative that Africa has made little to no valuable contributions to the world. 

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Join Rev. Dr. TLC and Truth Hunter, academic, teacher, and student of West African dance as they discuss the amazing ways that dance heals our spirits, rewrites our historical narratives, and takes us to places that we've never gone before.

linkedin.com/in/truth-hunter-639261131

KEY WORDS: 

#revdrtlc

#healingseparationfromtheinsideout

#dismantleracismshow

#dismantleracismwithdrtlc

#sacredintelligence

#westafricandance

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Tune in for this important conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Show Notes

Segment 1

Rev. Dr. TLC encourages her listeners to pick up a copy of her book Dismantling Racism. She starts with a meditation to help center and ground her listeners. Before welcoming her guest, Rev. Dr. TLC introduces the topic for today’s episode. You might ask yourself what African dance have to do with dismantling racism, but if you stick around you will find out. We think about the image of Africa that society has created. When we look at African dance and see how it is perceived in America we can recognize that we don’t acknowledge the language or spirituality of African dance. Rev. Dr. TLC introduces her guest, Truth Hunter. Truth is from Oakland, California where she studied West African dance under Maryland and Siku. Truth created a multimedia African dance concert to fundraise for Asylum Seekers impacted by genocide.

Segment 2

Rev. Dr. TLC asks Truth what made her continue with West African Dance from childhood into adulthood. There was something about the music and choreography that allowed Truth to express herself even at a young age without being considered fast or grown. Truth attended a performing arts academy where she was able to dance with different companies and was exposed to different art forms like Jazz, modern, tap, and many others. It wasn’t until Truth attended Mount Holyoke College that she had an experience of being racialized. When she found West African Dance on campus she found her voice. Truth shares with Rev. Dr. TLC how important music is and how it’s interconnected with dance. Truth and Rev. Dr. TLC discuss the power of the drum during the slave age and how it was used to communicate with one another.

Segment 3

Truth shares her journey with Rev. Dr. TLC and how she came from a diverse place in Oakland, California to Mount Holyoke which was a little less accepting. Truth also talks about her activism in 2007. Rev. Dr. TLC celebrates Truth for the way she was able to show up for West African dance in white spaces. They also discuss Truth’s position as a Director of a private college in Connecticut. Truth is currently working on her Ph.D. and helping change the narrative of West African dance. 

Segment 4

Truth shares her journey of getting her Ph.D. Rev. Dr. TLC asks Truth what does these embodied experiences do for the black community. Rev. Dr. TLC brings up a key point that there is a narrative that black american’s can only sing, dance, and play sports. Truth points out that those are all art forms that take mastery. We have inherited the idea that anything that is not intellectual is inferior. Truth explains to Rev. Dr. TLC how there is a dance for every celebration. You can get in contact with Truth at TruthHunter1028@gmail.com. She leaves the show with a blessing for the listeners. 

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Transcript

00:00:29.990 --> 00:00:41.669 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Hello, and welcome to the dismantle racism show. I am your host, the Reverend Dr. Tlc. I want to start by thanking my guest interviewer last week.

00:00:41.670 --> 00:01:06.360 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Dr. Roselle Jenkins. I had a family emergency and needed to be out, and I'm so grateful for being able to call on her at relatively the last minute to ask if she could. Please, please, please, I interview my guests, baby and Nelson. I hope that you all enjoyed the show, and if you haven't seen it yet. Please make sure that you go back, and you catch the show

00:01:06.360 --> 00:01:22.199 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: just as I asked you to do for any of the shows that you've missed. You can catch us on talk radio in Yc, you can go to my website, sacred intelligence.com. You can also find us on itunes, Google play

00:01:22.350 --> 00:01:36.110 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Amazon music anywhere you stream your podcast you can find us. I would encourage you to subscribe to our show. Please tell others about the show, because we have lots of information that we

00:01:36.110 --> 00:01:54.379 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we have on the show. That's important. If you want to engage in the work of dismantling racism. I guess, share information that is educational information that will help us to eradicate and dismantle racism, because, of course, that is the goal of our show

00:01:54.620 --> 00:01:59.640 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: is to really put you in a place where you will be successful

00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:28.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with engaging in this work of dismantling racism. I also want to encourage you to not picked up a copy of dismantling racism dealing separation from the inside out. Please take the opportunity to do so, because there's lots of information in there as well. That will help you on your journey of dismantling racism. In fact, I refer to it as the Sacred Intelligence journey of dismantling racism, sacred intelligence during a faith. Excuse me.

00:02:28.820 --> 00:02:45.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: a dismantling racism, because it is impossible for do this for us to do this work. If we don't think that we can overcome racism if we don't have the faith that we can dismantle racism and remember the work that we do now

00:02:45.420 --> 00:03:10.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: will encourage the generations after us. So even if we don't experience a certain thing in this lifetime, we're setting up the next generation. So it is important for us to have faith in ourselves to have faith in the people. We're walking this journey with us, and for me to have faith in something much, much bigger than ourselves, and that's my for me. It's my sacred source. And so I believe

00:03:10.910 --> 00:03:23.149 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that it is possible for us to dismantle racism. We are going to do what we always do. and that is, we are going to start with a meditation.

00:03:23.250 --> 00:03:29.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And the reason why I start with meditation is because we need to be centered

00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:41.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and grounded for this conversation on race. If we are not centered and grounded. Sometimes our emotions get the best of us.

00:03:41.290 --> 00:03:49.340 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and we're not able to move the conversation along, nor are we able to engage in the work that we need to engage in.

00:03:49.480 --> 00:03:56.510 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So I want you if you will, and if you are able to to close your eyes

00:03:58.190 --> 00:04:00.630 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and just begin to breathe in

00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:08.739 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and out, and I'm just going to give you a few minutes silently to breathe in and out.

00:04:25.810 --> 00:04:32.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And now, as you're breathing in and out. I want to invite you to connect with your breath

00:04:34.470 --> 00:04:38.079 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: in a way that allows you to connect with your

00:04:39.150 --> 00:04:40.689 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: divine wisdom.

00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:55.349 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your divine power, your sacred intelligence. which is that part of you that helps you to manifest your greatness while helping others to do the same.

00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:00.450 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breathe in and out.

00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:04.349 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connecting with your ancestors.

00:05:05.650 --> 00:05:11.320 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connecting with your family, your friends. your supporters.

00:05:13.400 --> 00:05:21.939 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breathe in and out, connecting with everyone who has the vision of dismantling races

00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:27.950 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connect with those people, the people that you know.

00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:30.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the strangers.

00:05:31.830 --> 00:05:33.690 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the folks that you follow.

00:05:35.990 --> 00:05:40.329 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: recognizing that we are strengthened when we walk in unity.

00:05:44.970 --> 00:05:47.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breath in and out.

00:05:48.530 --> 00:05:52.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And just for a second. remember

00:05:54.200 --> 00:05:56.559 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those who came before you

00:05:57.080 --> 00:06:01.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: who made a difference in this road to dismantling racism.

00:06:03.130 --> 00:06:06.350 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: remembering how far we have come.

00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:11.699 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and thinking about how far we have to go.

00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:18.149 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and as you remember and think about those 2 things.

00:06:19.440 --> 00:06:23.519 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: place yourself in the middle of this journey.

00:06:25.140 --> 00:06:27.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connecting with your gifts.

00:06:28.580 --> 00:06:29.960 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your wisdom.

00:06:32.650 --> 00:06:35.269 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your power, your strength.

00:06:35.460 --> 00:06:38.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your commitments, your courage.

00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connect deeply with who you are.

00:06:43.130 --> 00:06:48.370 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and recognize that you have something to contribute to this journey.

00:06:51.170 --> 00:06:53.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and what you do matters

00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:03.499 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so breathe in and out, understanding that you can change the status quo.

00:07:09.630 --> 00:07:15.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breathe in and out, acknowledging that the power of one

00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.619 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: contributes to the power

00:07:18.760 --> 00:07:20.630 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of community.

00:07:25.330 --> 00:07:31.610 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Now I invite you to embrace yourself with love, whether that be physically or mentally

00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:41.110 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: giving yourself a big hug. allowing the light to permeate in you and through you and around you.

00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:49.480 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and express gratitude for yourself, and wherever you are on this journey.

00:07:51.430 --> 00:07:52.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Be grateful.

00:07:54.930 --> 00:07:59.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and be grateful for what you will experience

00:08:00.510 --> 00:08:02.220 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with my guest today.

00:08:07.090 --> 00:08:09.860 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Just breathe in and out

00:08:10.410 --> 00:08:12.110 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and give gratitude.

00:08:14.090 --> 00:08:21.280 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and we say. and so it is. I say. and

00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:28.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I want to invite you to open your eyes.

00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:40.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I want to invite you. because I forgot to say it at the top of the hour. The meditations to that a company, my book, are on itunes.

00:08:40.750 --> 00:09:01.209 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and all the places where you get your music, so grab, go, grab the meditation. You're already streaming on a platform. Grab the meditation. You can use them to help you to center yourself for a conversation. You can just help them. Use them to help you just to ground yourself and center yourself. Period.

00:09:01.450 --> 00:09:05.079 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because we need to connect with who we are

00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:11.099 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: moment by moment, and the way to do that is to connect with our breath.

00:09:11.110 --> 00:09:18.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to connect with our sacred source, and to remember our gifts, and to remember those people who have come before us.

00:09:19.280 --> 00:09:22.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So today on the show.

00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:37.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we are going to be talking about the contributions of West African dance, and you might say to yourself, what does West African dance have to do with dismantling racism? Stick around, and you'll find out what it has to do with dismantling racism?

00:09:37.300 --> 00:09:54.739 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But I think about for me when I grew up as a child, and the images that I had of Africa, they were always in the stereotypes of Tarzan, for instance, the Africans who supported him and who helped him in the jungle.

00:09:54.820 --> 00:10:11.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: They all ran around without clothes on, basically couldn't really speak the they didn't speak the English language. Let's just put it like that. And they were always presented in a way that did not elevate people who were from the African content.

00:10:11.950 --> 00:10:16.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Tarzan was the Great White Hope who came in to save the day.

00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:38.319 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and the other images we have are images where we see people or children in particular, who are starving or hungry. we rarely, rarely, rarely in my day would see images that talked about the contributions of Africa. Even today.

00:10:38.400 --> 00:10:52.630 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we see images that are better than we did, went back when I was younger. But there's still many stereotypes. and in particular, when we think about dance now. I am so delighted because on

00:10:52.930 --> 00:11:00.459 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: social media we can see people trying to engage in dances that are

00:11:01.110 --> 00:11:17.699 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: well. Shall I say I shall. I put it this way? We've seen some dances, some African dances that we've tried to emulate, and they have been wonderful. They've been popular, and and we've seen them across the world. People try to emulate it. I love that.

00:11:17.890 --> 00:11:33.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But African dance is actually something that is much more intricate that we need to understand the language of the African dance, the spirituality of the African dance, and what it really means is it for everybody?

00:11:33.880 --> 00:12:00.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: How do people in America see African dance? How do black people see it? How do white people see it? So today I'm really excited that we're going to be discussing it. What does it have to do with dismantling racism? So my guest today is truth, Hunter, and I'll tell you a little bit about truth. Truth, was born in Oakland, California. She studied West African dance under the tutelage of Maryland and C.

00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:14.409 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: See cool. I think I'm saying it right. She'll correct me, if not when we when she comes on Sheila And she attended school as well at Mount Holyoke, college.

00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:32.619 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and truth created a multimedia African dance concert to fundraise for asylum seekers impacted by genocide in Darfur. That is significant that she did this in 2,007, because at a time when

00:12:32.640 --> 00:12:58.479 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the world wasn't necessarily paying attention about what was going on. Truth did something about it. And so it was through this experience that she realized the performing arts can be used as a tool for activism and a powerful way to bring healing to the world. I can't wait to talk with truth a little bit more about that and 2,017 truth became the director of race and ethnic programs

00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:14.339 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: ethnicity programs at Connecticut College, which is actually where I met her, and she collaborated in the dance department to design an interdisciplinary course that used West African dance to tell stories of resistance of African

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:24.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I asked for people during the transatlantic trade. I could say more and more and more about truth concert.

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:46.610 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What I can say is that she's a a friend and a colleague, and she is someone who inspires me when I see her beautiful and eloquent way in which she engages with the West African dance, and I've had the privilege of having her at one of my workshops teaching us a little bit about

00:13:46.610 --> 00:13:55.269 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: how we can move our bodies and express who we are in a very spiritual way, in a way that is also freeing. It was a very

00:13:55.270 --> 00:14:12.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: diverse group, and people still talk about that particular workshop to this day when they see me. So I want to welcome after the break truth. Hunter, my guest, today, as we talk about West African dance. This is the dismantle racism show. We'll be right back.

00:16:26.730 --> 00:16:34.730 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We are back with the dismantle racism show. I want to welcome my guest. Truth, Hunter. Welcome to the show today.

00:16:34.830 --> 00:16:47.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm so excited about our conversation today.

00:16:47.970 --> 00:17:06.689 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So yes, I always want to make sure I'm pronouncing people's names right? So truth, they're just so many questions that that I want to start with. And you know, when we were doing our pre conversation for the show. There were some questions I wanted to start with, but I I want to just if I could, because I'm really

00:17:07.250 --> 00:17:18.219 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: fascinated by your love for West African dance. Yes, people take West African dance when they're little and

00:17:18.410 --> 00:17:24.599 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I but they but it doesn't always last. So what for you? What spoke to you to say?

00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:33.530 Truth Hunter: Yes, thank you for that question. West African dance in particular.

00:17:34.350 --> 00:17:50.219 Truth Hunter: as I reflect on as an adult, it has been a part of my life journey and my transformation. So I started taking West African dance class in elementary school. I was 6 years old. It was an African. It was an after school program.

00:17:50.360 --> 00:18:17.530 Truth Hunter: and they put on those drums, and they started teaching that choreography, and I started swaying my 6 year old hips, and I wasn't considered. Baths are grown. I was in my element, and I felt something at 6 years old, and as I had gotten older in middle school and high school, I went to a Performing Arts high school, or I was in the Performing Arts Academy at my high school.

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:47.099 Truth Hunter: I dance with different dance companies, and I was in dance production, and as I had, you know, my middle school and my high school years I had been exposed to different dance forms, so jazz of the sort of black tradition modern tap all these different things, and I thought I would go on and become a professional dancer. So I went to Mount Polio College, and that was a pivotal moment in my life where I left my community in Oakland, California.

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:52.799 Truth Hunter: Oakland is one of the most culturally diverse places in the United States, so

00:18:52.800 --> 00:19:07.100 Truth Hunter: I was used to being not only within the black community, but I was used to being exposed to people from all over the world. So when I went to Mount Holyo College to a white context. For the first time

00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:24.729 Truth Hunter: I had this experience of being racialized. I didn't. I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what it meant to be tokenized, or the only, or what microaggressions were, or people asking you these really specific questions about your culture, as if you're like from some other world.

00:19:24.850 --> 00:19:53.529 Truth Hunter: I in this new environment, I had to redefine myself. I had to anchor myself. I had to ground myself, and I actually wasn't enrolled in the West African dance class. Some roommates on my floor were in the class, and they will all come back and talk about how fun it was, and what they did in class. And then one day one of my friends said, Well, you know what Marilyn say. Cool is having auditions for the fall dance show.

00:19:53.530 --> 00:20:13.209 Truth Hunter: and I showed up to the audition when my Afro and she'd even know who I was, and you know I had dance experience. So she allowed me to be included in in the dance group for that show, and that that that changed my whole perspective. She'd even know my name. She just called me afro for a whole semester.

00:20:13.210 --> 00:20:25.149 Truth Hunter: and she she went on to mentor me, and I continue to dance with her throughout my time at Mount Holyo. But what happened was once I shifted to a predominantly white context.

00:20:25.550 --> 00:20:28.760 Truth Hunter: I needed something that will help me

00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:49.669 Truth Hunter: to get grounded and be able to deal with. all of these experiences that I was having being a black woman from a working class background from Oakland, California, now planted in South Hackley, Massachusetts, and that experience empowered me.

00:20:49.670 --> 00:21:13.030 Truth Hunter: I was empowered through my body. I was understanding culture. I was being mentored. So there were a lot of layers which pointed me back to West African dance, like, I told you, I study different art forms, but it was in that context that I started to like intuitively make a commitment like this

00:21:13.030 --> 00:21:29.939 Truth Hunter: is more than dance right? It's a spiritual practice. This is my therapy. This is an intervention. I don't know how I'm going to make it in this place where I feel culturally deprived without it.

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:50.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You know what you just said a mouthful right there for, for for those of us who need exactly what you're just talking about like this is my spiritual. This is my therapy. This is like, really, this is my everything, and I think that it speaks to the importance of of this work and and truth. Even when you started out, just when you said, the beat of the drums

00:21:50.730 --> 00:22:15.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I've I've I saw you. You're almost possible. This is exactly right. I don't even hear the drums right, but I can. I'm experiencing it in my body. And so for those people who've never experienced the beat of the drums, you must, because by now you, when true, taught us. Our workshop don't get started, and I almost got him off.

00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:28.590 Truth Hunter: You know I saw you Presbyterian, and you know we we we try to keep. Yeah, whenever I hear drums. That's when taking us to a different level. So talk to me a little bit, then come on

00:22:28.590 --> 00:22:38.550 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because you say it's your therapy. You're saying. It's your talk to me about what the drums do for this a little bit. Yes, thank you so much.

00:22:38.770 --> 00:22:40.620 Truth Hunter: What makes

00:22:40.710 --> 00:22:54.469 Truth Hunter: not only West African dance. But you will also see this throughout the continent of Africa and the African diaspora is that the dance is married to the music?

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:58.170 Truth Hunter: Hmm! Talk about it. Right? So it's not.

00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:08.360 Truth Hunter: Yes, we have free expression in African rooted dance forms. But what makes it unique, special and distinct is that there is a rhythm

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:37.279 Truth Hunter: for every dance, and then, when you dance, you're in this beautiful interconnected relationship with the drummer. You don't just go out there and just do your own thing. That's why you. It teaches you to be in tune with the rhythm, because your drummer tells you what to do next. Yes, and your drummer is counting on you to be in sync with the movement. So when you're off as a dancer.

00:23:37.670 --> 00:24:02.020 Truth Hunter: the drummer's constantly making adjustments to you. So it's this beautiful marriage, you know. between the dancer and the drummer, just to kind of break down the community. Actually right? Yes, yes, in the deeper level the deeper message, the deeper wisdom is interconnectedness, interdependence.

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:28.109 Truth Hunter: you know, and and and and and that's what I love about this art form is because I'm dancing. But I'm being exposed to African rooted world views that I don't typically have access to right. But I don't know that I'm accessing it right? You know what you're saying, though, is that your interconnection is with the drummer. But then, at a deeper level, your interconnectedness is what your ancestors are. Absolutely. Yes.

00:24:28.110 --> 00:24:37.439 Truth Hunter: it was a experience. Thank you. Thank you for for taking it there and back to what you were saying. You said. Share a little bit about the drumming the drumming.

00:24:37.650 --> 00:24:40.589 Truth Hunter: It's so powerful that

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:53.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the drums were banned when, during the period of enslavement. That's right, that's right, that that the drumming was. So. Of course, we came up with other ways to reinvent. That's right.

00:24:53.750 --> 00:25:14.690 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because that's how we communicate with each other. Okay, but that's how powerful it is. Yeah. So I wanted you to just to say that that's how we communicate, because, like, when you're drumming, you can have a whole conversation with the drums that folk who are not familiar with it don't even know what you're saying absolutely so once again.

00:25:15.310 --> 00:25:33.100 Truth Hunter: within many. One thing I want to establish is that the continent of Africa is not a mana with. So with with whatever I'm sharing today. But there are some similarities that overlaps that I'm going to also speak to. So I'm trying to hold those 2 things together.

00:25:33.270 --> 00:25:35.870 Truth Hunter: Some of these similarities that

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:41.729 Truth Hunter: what I want to share is that are these rich oral traditions?

00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:53.980 Truth Hunter: Music and dance is an oral tradition. and that's how we pass on our values. our principles. What matters to us?

00:25:54.590 --> 00:26:06.240 Truth Hunter: And we do that through the drumming we do that through dance, we do it through storytelling. It's a package. So actually, when we're talking about

00:26:07.030 --> 00:26:10.310 Truth Hunter: African dance, we're not just talking about dance.

00:26:10.540 --> 00:26:27.499 Truth Hunter: We're talking about all of those various elements. We're talking about music, storytelling, spoken word, because oral traditions are so key to passing down our history from one generation to another.

00:26:32.890 --> 00:26:34.140 Truth Hunter: Yes.

00:26:37.750 --> 00:26:43.020 Truth Hunter: it looks like we might have disconnected for a second.

00:26:48.060 --> 00:27:10.150 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Okay, there you go. I guess it was. I thought so. I apologize for that technical difficulty. No problem. I probably missed a bit of what you were saying. I hope our our audience was able to catch it, because what I last heard you talking about is really the drums that our abilities?

00:27:10.270 --> 00:27:32.950 Truth Hunter: Why it was taken from us during the enslavement period was because absolutely there were there were some and not anomalies like, for example, in New Orleans, the the story of the Congo Square, where enslaved African people on Sundays, because Louisiana at 1 point was colonized by the French, so there.

00:27:32.950 --> 00:27:41.280 Truth Hunter: manifestation of enslavement was a little bit different, in which we would gather, and we would have our drums, and we would have our music.

00:27:41.280 --> 00:28:02.899 Truth Hunter: you know, so that I mean that even speaks to why, New Orleans is the first place of jazz, you know, because with the area where we were able to continue to hone our our our not only our oral histories, but our African aesthetics and sensibilities. And and once this knowledge and artistic expression begins to generate

00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:15.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and be passed on for generations to generations. What comes out of that is like a whole new genre. But here's what I really want one of the things I want us to understand.

00:28:16.190 --> 00:28:24.260 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So we've had this negative connotation of Africa. But it shows our power that we were so powerful

00:28:25.330 --> 00:28:26.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that

00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:41.809 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: every single thing was stripped from us, our communication and everything, because white folks who enslaved us, and even other folks who enslaved this that power. And so I would love for us to be in this place as we're talking about.

00:28:42.050 --> 00:29:10.839 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, dismantling racism is to get rid of some of those old narratives that we have, and to be able to embrace our culture and healthy ways. So I know we have to take a break. And when we come back truth, I want to talk. We are getting comments from people on Youtube. And and even there's a question how you ended up at Mount Holyo coming from place like Oakland. And so I want to be able to talk about that. But when we return from the break I want. I also want to talk about

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:15.280 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: 2,007, your activism, how you used

00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:31.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: dance you know, in terms of becoming an activist and also about the work that you're currently doing. We'll probably have to keep that for the next segment. But we will be right back to continue our conversation with, keep the comments coming to us. We'll be right back

00:31:35.320 --> 00:32:04.680 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're back with my guest today. Truth, Hunter. We were having a lively conversation there around West African dance and the drums. And we get a lot of comments about the drums, because those who know they know the the impact. But real, quick truth before we ask about we'll go into your experience with the dark for activism that you did what brought you from a place so culturally diverse as Oakland to a place like Mount Holy Oak.

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:10.409 Truth Hunter: Well, in order for me to tell you the story, I have to talk about my faith.

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:30.860 Truth Hunter: and and I love that. That's what this the this show is all about. So I came from a low income, you know, black household in Oakland, California, and first Jen, first in my family to go to a 4 year institution, particularly on my mother's side of the family.

00:32:31.040 --> 00:32:45.899 Truth Hunter: So a lot I I I I had a love for learning, and like I shared before I was in the Performing Arts Academy. I knew I wanted to be a dancer, but I had all of these.

00:32:46.150 --> 00:33:13.879 Truth Hunter: It just this, this, this love for learning, all all types of of of disciplines, academic discipline. So my counselor picked up on that, and for some reason, I think now Holy Oak was doing some type of urban outreach that year, and My counselor came to me in my class and said, Would you be interested in it? All women's school, all women's Liberal Art School on the East Coast? I was like, what like.

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:24.250 Truth Hunter: how did you know that is so specific? And what ended up happening was now holy Oak sent my counselor first to check out the school.

00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:26.970 Truth Hunter: My counselor went to check out the school.

00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:29.999 Truth Hunter: She came back to me, and she goes, oh, my goodness!

00:33:30.490 --> 00:33:37.279 Truth Hunter: There's nothing but serious women there. You're serious. You need to be there, so she gets so excited.

00:33:37.310 --> 00:33:55.520 Truth Hunter: and I get, you know. they provide for me to go and check out the institution. And There was a beautiful orientation, led by women of color, mostly black women. So instantly I saw myself there through their points of view.

00:33:55.530 --> 00:34:19.300 Truth Hunter: Yes, so And the reason why, this is a Testament to my faith is because at the time now Holy Oak was $50,000 a year, I'm pretty sure it's a lot more now. Probably right. There was. There was no college fund. There was just a black girl from Oakland with a dream to to have a I'm a high quality education

00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:25.079 Truth Hunter: and and God put those pieces together in ways that I could never do.

00:34:25.080 --> 00:34:50.069 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So I actually, I, as we're talking, we're going to have you back to kind of talk. There, that's a whole another. Yes, because in the work that you've done at Connecticut College, I really would love to have you to come back to talk about first in, because there's a there's a lot for us to talk about with what makes it so students successful. It's not just the money. And even as you

00:34:50.070 --> 00:35:09.119 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you're talking about that I just saw during the commercial break about the Supreme Court's decision to get rid of race-based admissions. So it has some some big implications. So we're gonna have absolutely. Yes, yes. But but let's go now to, because I want to.

00:35:13.610 --> 00:35:36.780 Truth Hunter: Your what you did in 2,007. Yeah, yeah, thank you. Thank you for that. This is also an opportunity to give thanks an honor to the mentors who helped me to find this path. So when I got to Mount Holy Oak in the predominantly white environment, the only aspect of the dance program I connected with was West African dance.

00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:50.970 Truth Hunter: So I wasn't really developed by the dance program as a whole. I decided to study critical social thought with the emphasis in post-colonial studies, and we all had to come up with the thematic

00:35:51.910 --> 00:36:04.120 Truth Hunter: question, a big question that we would answer over the course of our 4 years, and my question was, how has the historical processes of enslavement, enslavement, and colonialism

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:27.669 Truth Hunter: shaped the way that people of African descent reinvent themselves in the face of these types of oppression, and and one year there was an opportunity to to choreograph for our Black History Month showcase.

00:36:27.670 --> 00:36:40.540 Truth Hunter: And because I told you I grew up in Oakland and some of my mentors and the dance programs that I were a part of was under a black Dance company called Dimensions.

00:36:40.540 --> 00:37:07.390 Truth Hunter: and whenever they will have productions it will always be about the African diaspora, our narratives, our history. So what I didn't realize is that when I was in middle school and high school I was being downloaded with this really specific and body knowledge that just naturally came out when I was in college, so when I performed this piece, it depict the middle passage, like the first half, was about

00:37:07.390 --> 00:37:13.800 Truth Hunter: like the horrors of the middle passage, and then the second half of the dance was like a dance of empowerment.

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:40.060 Truth Hunter: The President. He came my advisors. I didn't think anything of it, because that's just what I was doing before I got to Mount Holio, and they had never seen anything like that before. The President emailed me. I had the email for years. I hope I can find it, she said. That was the most exquisite thing I've ever seen. She had never seen our story told in that type of way, and when my adviser came at the time.

00:37:40.610 --> 00:37:44.070 Truth Hunter: Joan Kott, so I want to give her a shout out of.

00:37:44.190 --> 00:38:08.220 Truth Hunter: But she just said that so the seed and her. So by the time I was a senior I was trying to write a thesis it wasn't going in the right direction, she kept saying, truth, you need to dance it. I just feel like you need to do. You need to. And I just I. I wanted this idea of what it meant to be smart and academic, and I could do so for a semester. I tortured myself. We're trying to fit into this box.

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:32.929 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And well. So I just want to pause just for a second. Yes, because what you were doing is that you were trying to feed into the very structure. They absolutely. Because here's the thing. What you're saying during this show is the part of dismantling grade system is honoring who you are, who you are. Your authenticity, and there is a way of doing our brilliance and our intelligence that is not

00:38:32.930 --> 00:38:41.079 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: based on white supremacy, because we have to do it this way and that absolutely.

00:38:41.080 --> 00:39:03.879 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I need to do this academic way. And true, you're smart. There's no doubt about that. Your academic. There's no doubt about that, because you're working on your Phd. Now. But the but the brilliance of what you're doing is tying in who we are, as a people to say, we were already intelligent before we were brought over here. And so now we're just showing a little bit. We show you a little bit of.

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:17.869 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So that's what I think is beautiful, and the other thing is true. I don't want people to miss this. You were doing this as someone who was what 1920 2121 years old. So that shows the brilliance

00:39:17.870 --> 00:39:35.159 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of young people to get that, because sometimes we don't pay attention to what our young folks were doing. But look at the lives you impacted by your work, student. But now continue, because I know I, my my advisor, white woman

00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:48.060 Truth Hunter: of Jewish descent. She was the one, she kept saying. You got to dance it out. You got to dance it out. I didn't quite know what that was going to look like, but I had experience choreographing and things like that, and at the time

00:39:48.560 --> 00:40:08.019 Truth Hunter: specifically, genocide in Darfur was unfolding and I was following it. I was going to a lot of activism talks. And I bought this CD, which was various artists, amazing artists across Africa. Speaking to those issues. The CD was beautiful.

00:40:08.030 --> 00:40:15.320 Truth Hunter: and it was during my winter break before I would complete my last semester, and I said, I want to do this as dance.

00:40:16.120 --> 00:40:18.009 Truth Hunter: and I went back

00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:30.109 Truth Hunter: in a nutshell, got a committee together we went out, contacted so many artists in the northeast that our vision is to put on a fundraising

00:40:30.520 --> 00:40:44.399 Truth Hunter:  a showcase in which we would honor and celebrate. We were like, we are not doing a pity party here. We are honoring and celebrating the resilience.

00:40:44.420 --> 00:41:07.130 Truth Hunter: and we're in solidarity with the people of Sudan. Yeah, so that was the the intention behind it. So it it became it. It was beautiful, you know, at the time it was really big for me. It was $5,000 we raised, just based upon tickets, and it was at the end of my senior year, and that's when I knew

00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:21.010 Truth Hunter: This dance form could change the world. I was convinced I was like this. Somehow. Some way I'm going to find my profession, my path and my purpose is going to be bridging together

00:41:21.010 --> 00:41:32.840 Truth Hunter: activism and dance. And speaking to this history of colonialism, what it means to decolonize. I didn't know the how, I know the how now, almost 20 years later.

00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:52.789 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But I did not know at that. So that's why we have to stay with the vision, though, because sometimes it doesn't unfold on so later. And that's why it's a journey of faith to do this right and truth all along the path, though you've absolutely been doing it even As a director of

00:41:52.790 --> 00:42:10.940 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: a a private college in Connecticut, you were still finding ways to infuse the dance into what you were doing even while you were breaking down barriers. Right? So what I hear you also saying is like, it's not an either, or it's a both. And now that's right.

00:42:10.940 --> 00:42:35.179 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we're going to have to take a break and just just a minute. But when we come back I want you to share with my audience what you're doing now, as you're working on your Phd. How your body of work is helping to change the narrative of West African dance, change the narrative of our contributions, and how that's really helping to to chip away.

00:42:35.300 --> 00:42:51.769 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: add our own image of who we are and the world's image of who we are. So we're gonna take a quick break, and when we're come back I want to hear you. just just give us a little bit more insight. We'll be right back with the dismantle racism. Show my guest today is truth.

00:44:56.560 --> 00:45:00.859 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're back with my guest today to Hunter.

00:45:00.890 --> 00:45:27.379 Truth Hunter: true. Tell us what you're doing as you're working on on your dissertation. With this I would be delighted to share more with you about it, and many of the things that you share when you were setting. The context is really the heart and the impetus behind my work. And you were speaking to these narratives, these dominant narratives.

00:45:27.380 --> 00:45:47.280 Truth Hunter: we we often call them the master narratives right and within the structure of colonialism. It's not just simply exploitation, right? But it's also the ability to control the narrative in terms of how groups of people are seen in the world.

00:45:47.280 --> 00:46:05.140 Truth Hunter: and one narrative that I see to disrupt through my work is this idea that came that was burst out of colonialism that was fueled by colonialism is that somehow Africa didn't make notable contributions to the world like out of all groups.

00:46:05.220 --> 00:46:19.670 Truth Hunter: But somehow we manage to not make contributions to the world. And in this narrative right is in service of white supremacy, right? In order to uplift white supremacy.

00:46:19.760 --> 00:46:34.350 Truth Hunter: then there has to be a narrative around a deficiency or an inferiority of of of a group. So what West African dance has taught me is that

00:46:34.440 --> 00:46:41.589 Truth Hunter: it is that it? It teaches me about the ways that we have managed to

00:46:42.760 --> 00:46:55.039 Truth Hunter: continue the legacy of our history and our culture through dance. Right? So, even though we faced enslavement, we face colonialism

00:46:55.070 --> 00:47:17.740 Truth Hunter: in our language, our cultures, our families, were broken. As a result of these horrific historical processes, the common denominator right is that we continue to hold on to these embodied sensibilities in the midst of really in. And I I never want to underestimate

00:47:17.740 --> 00:47:42.049 Truth Hunter: the level of oppression that we've experienced over generations, right? But somehow we've managed to create and recreate, and we see it through these embody elements, through dance, through music, through spoken word through these particular things. So that speaks back to this narrative that we are a people without roots.

00:47:42.190 --> 00:47:54.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So so I need you to just break this down a little bit. So what is the value of these embody the experiences? What does that do for us to

00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:55.600 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: this man?

00:47:55.640 --> 00:48:22.599 Truth Hunter: Because here's another narrative that's been out there, said, all we could do is dance and same, and place for it. Go. But you're saying something much more. yeah, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And I've been very vocal about speaking to that. That that negative attitude behind only what black people can do is dance and play sports and in in music.

00:48:22.780 --> 00:48:31.059 Truth Hunter: First of all, let's establish that. All of those things are art forms that take mastery.

00:48:31.100 --> 00:48:37.040 Truth Hunter: Yes, so because we've mastered it so well, it looks easy to other people.

00:48:37.980 --> 00:48:51.009 Truth Hunter: but like anything like playing a beautiful piece of classical music, you labor over it, and even though, when black people may perform in in any way. If it's dance, or if it's music

00:48:52.230 --> 00:49:13.099 Truth Hunter: practice, sacrifice, labor has gone into it. Of course they're sort of a cultural advantage if you grew up in the midst of some of these things, but I never want to underestimate that our amazing athletes and our dancers and our musicians. We're not amazing. Just because we're black.

00:49:13.290 --> 00:49:25.370 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're amazing because we had discipline and we focus. And there was a passion. And there was an environment that cultivated that. And now it looks easy, right, like any any form

00:49:25.370 --> 00:49:48.969 Truth Hunter: owned it right. And we need to honor that because I feel like that's some anti black racism right there. Oh, of course you can do that because you're black. No, I was out there running these labs every day in track, and I mastered it through discipline and time and effort, and through that process. That is an embodied intelligence. That's right in our in the way that we

00:49:49.400 --> 00:49:57.720 Truth Hunter: value intelligence. We think anything neck down is not intellectual. We've inherited that idea

00:49:57.800 --> 00:50:24.620 Truth Hunter: from Western culture through neurocentricism which values the mind over the body. But when we look at African paradigms. It's always the harmony between the mind and the body, and we know that intuitively, that's why we have a tendency to a cell at these embody forms of things, not just because we're black. It's because it's grounded in our epistemology. This mind body connects

00:50:24.620 --> 00:50:51.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so I can say a lot more about that. But but you are what you've reached it your breast it already, and I know that when when you were saying earlier, even these that this whole, my body experience, but we cannot under value how much you, as a dancer, have to pay attention to what the drummer is saying. Come overnight. You have to feel that music you have to be into it. And like you, said.

00:50:51.290 --> 00:51:14.520 Truth Hunter: Master, the technique. That's right. I can't do it right. It's it's it's a mastery. And also these things that we assume just come so easily for black people like. For example, I've learned this from my dance teacher, who I honor and love. His name is Tasha Ali. He, you know he teaches a lot out of New Haven, and

00:51:14.580 --> 00:51:24.869 Truth Hunter: he explains, like the way that he learned dance was just through absorbing it over years and years, until it is embodied.

00:51:24.880 --> 00:51:36.990 Truth Hunter: you know, through the practice, the mastery of it. And it's not once again, you know, when we hear those drums, we get excited and granted I do, too, but there's an intelligence behind it.

00:51:36.990 --> 00:52:01.749 Truth Hunter: There's a divine order behind all of those things that we're doing. And that is what I hope to bring to like through my research right? Because of the times when black people are people of African descent do something amazing. Oh, you know it's fun, and it's screen. It's as if there's no intelligence and order behind it, right? But truth, I know we only have 2 or so. There's so much more that we were going to talk about. But there's one

00:52:01.750 --> 00:52:13.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that I really want you to talk about just really quickly, if you can. When we had our pre discussion you were talking about. there's a dance for every.

00:52:13.460 --> 00:52:20.649 Truth Hunter: so you speak about that a little bit more. Yeah, I I want to often a lot of

00:52:20.810 --> 00:52:47.060 Truth Hunter: The scholars on African dance and African diaspora dance speak to this, but I'll give a shout out to Pearl premise in particular, because that's the work that I've been drawing from. who, you know, is a renowned dance or choreographer, anthropologist, of, you know, has roots in Trinidad, grew up in in America, studied in Liberia, and what the conclusion that she came

00:52:47.060 --> 00:52:55.449 Truth Hunter: to doing all of her African diaspora explorations through dance. It's that dance's life.

00:52:55.830 --> 00:53:22.020 Truth Hunter: She discovered it as a dancer that wow! There's a dance for every life event. So dance has a different meaning that it has in the Western context. So in the Western context, dance is often seen as 2 extremes. So on one extreme, it's usually seen as recreational. You're just having fun. You're out with your friends, and that's great, you know.

00:53:22.140 --> 00:53:43.320 Truth Hunter: Right? It's recreational. And then you go to the other side of the spectrum, where dance is, eat, lead us where dance classes are expensive, to take ballet and modern when there's a certain body type that's required where it takes money to go and watch these ballets. Right? So we live in a society where

00:53:43.400 --> 00:54:04.509 Truth Hunter: it's very extreme. But what I've learned about African dance through an African worldview is that there's a middle ground, and that dance is life. If you're paying attention to life, you will see all of life is a dance, because all of life has a rhythm, a time and a season for everything

00:54:04.610 --> 00:54:16.499 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right. And I love. I know we don't have time for another question. But I do love The fact that when we were talking, you know, we talked about with Baby. Sorry in the room.

00:54:16.550 --> 00:54:17.959 Truth Hunter: Yeah, there are

00:54:18.120 --> 00:54:37.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: hearing. You're getting to to here in those drums. Right? Yeah. So I I just want to thank you so much. There's there's so many more questions that I have for you. I'm looking for it again to you coming back on the show. But I wonder truth, if you could tell people how they can get in touch

00:54:37.700 --> 00:54:51.069 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with you. And then, after you tell us that if you could offer us a blessing I would really appreciate it. Sure, sure, I'm I'm kind of old school. Y'all, I do email. So I'm truth. Hunter 1028

00:54:51.070 --> 00:55:01.250 Truth Hunter: at gmail.com, and in terms of a blessing, a blessing. I would like to offer everyone is that your body is a miracle

00:55:02.050 --> 00:55:10.079 Truth Hunter: you cannot dislike or hate your body while dancing like when you're really dancing, when you're really in the moment

00:55:10.230 --> 00:55:25.449 Truth Hunter: it is the greatest act of worship. It is the greatest way to say, Thank you for this life or this body for this time in space. So my blessing to you is to move your body.

00:55:25.490 --> 00:55:40.340 Truth Hunter: It could be dance. It can be something else. But move your body, because when you move your body you are subconsciously telling yourself right that I'm alive, that I'm more than my mind that I'm a whole

00:55:40.340 --> 00:56:05.360 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: person. Yes, hey, man in. Well, I want to thank you so much to for being my guest today. It was a delight to talk to you. I want to thank you, my listeners. I want to thank those of you who were commenting on Youtube, those who were sending me text messages. Even sometimes it was just a hand clap. We really appreciate your feedback. Please stay tuned for the conscious consultant hour with Sam Leibowitz.

00:56:05.360 --> 00:56:14.519 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: where he helps you to walk through life with the greatest of ease and joy. Be well, be safe, be encouraged until next time bye, for now

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