Celebrating Bethlehem's Southside Culture
“Black Lives Matter” Lyrics Whenever I state that “Black lives matter,” the words “All lives matter” get hurled back and they hit me like a round of bullets straight to the heart. This is a fact I’m very much aware, but somehow you feel the urge to silence my message that life for us in…
Let me compare myself to my black ass self: -Thiahera Nurse “The Freedom Dream” There is a queerness to my survival—I will live a long, Black life—Let me water my feet—In that, I grow storms—My hands reach out to meet me My throat opens in my throat—I wade in the wash of myselves—Compare that to…
In Case of a BLK PLANET: About kiki nicole: kiki nicole (they/them) is a Black, Queer, and Non-binary multimedia artist and poet. They’ve received invitations to fellowships such as Pink Door Writing Retreat, In Surreal Life, The Watering Hole, and Winter Tangerine. nicole is the co-curator and collaborator of the first and the last, an…
PC: Emma Ackermman On October 24th, Basement Poetry hosted a live poetry reading at Touchstone Theatre that Diedre Van Walters, the MC of the event, framed as a form of protest. As Van Walters put it at the start of the event, these artists and poets did not share their thoughts and experiences, their ways…
On October 2nd, Touchstone Theatre hosted their annual “Homecoming” event as part of Festival Unbound 2020. In some ways celebration, in other ways a touchpoint for resistance, this event highlighted local Black voices of the Lehigh Valley. The event included local musicians and artists, as well as poetry readings and opportunities to engage in activism…
“LifeTime” Performance “LifeTime” Lyrics I’ve lived a couple lifetimes within my lifetime Still surprised I’m in my right mind could wait a lifetime waiting for that right time I play with words in reverse try to rewrite time Spent on negativity thoughts weighing heavy mentally Cost of what heaven sent to me Also the saddest…
This summer Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) hosted a variety of anti-racist educational programing to bring depth and specificity to Bethlehem’s conversations about race and anti-racism. One such program was a series of workshops on theories and histories of race and racial justice, facilitated by teacher, activist, and writer, Linda Wiggins-Chavis. Though the workshops are…
H.D. and her poignant poetry continue to have wide resonance with readers around the world as well as a unique influence on her hometown, our Bethlehem community. On September 8th, Ice House Tonight hosted a live-streamed event to celebrate her influence and legacy by pairing readings of a selection of H.D.’s poems with the poetry…
“Embracing My Melanin” Spoken Word Performance: “Embracing My Melanin” Lyrics The Black beauty my mother created, The melanin that flows through my thick colored brown veins, I’m proud to call myself a Black beauty queen. But I have no other worries about my skin, other then u know being bashed, lynched, dragged, or even a…
*Featured photo: “Darth Vase #1”– Deborah Slahta (ceramic and raku fired vase) Each year, the Banana Factory features an exhibit to celebrate the ongoing work of their resident artists. In the 2020 digital exhibition, installations include mystic glass panels of starry orbs, flowing acrylic petunia petals that blend with their background, and lonely rocking chairs,…