Ujima Wednesdays | Experiments in Supine Possibilities: Fugitive Postures for Survival

Liberation Study Hall: 

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Schools of 1964, the Boston Ujima Project proudly presents "Liberation Study Hall," a year-long exploration of historical figures, schools of thought, experiments and sites that have contributed to shaping our contemporary movements and global landscape.

Event Description:

“Fugitivity… is a desire for and a spirit of escape and transgression of the proper and the proposed. It’s a desire for the outside, for a playing or being outside, an outlaw edge proper to the now always already improper voice or instrument.”–Fred Moten

In current discussions, there's a growing focus on fugitivity and marronage: the ways we act from the margins to liberate ourselves. This work reclaims agency for Black communities beyond oppressive nation-states. While often seen in the context of past racial violence, fugitive practices persist today in education, cooperatives, migration, and abolition. In this month's workshops, we'll delve into fugitivity's link to Blackness, liberation, and economic justice. From independent placemaking to political movements, we'll explore recent history and current practices. Our focus is on transformation and possibility, viewing fugitivity as a tool for creating new worlds.

Experiments in Supine Possibilities is an embodied spiritual-political education project that grew out of a collaboration between The Church of Black feminist Thought and Gallery of the Streets. In this Lab/Workshop participants will be invited to physically reorient themselves to the urgent political demands of our times. Centering the voices of Black and Palestinian feminist creative-intellectuals, we will form hypotheses out of a creative prompt that emerges from the intersections of disability justice, environmental justice, and transnational liberation struggles. We will "test" our hypotheses by allowing our bodies to "draw in understanding" from a supine posture. We will arrive at our findings through a process of communal discussion. More Details on this practice can be found in the essay "We Need More Fugitive: Radical Black feminist Thoughtfeelings (& propaganda)" published in The Arrow Journal in 2020

Facilitator Bios:

Ra Malika Imhotep, ph.d (Ra/They/Them) is a Black feminist writer, performance artist, and cultural worker from Atlanta, GA. They received their Ph.D in African Diaspora Studies and New Media Studies from the University of California Berkeley and are currently an Assistant Professor of International/Global African Diaspora Studies at Spelman College. Their work looks at the ways Black feminine figures across the African diaspora subvert preconceived notions about black womanhood, black femininity, and labor through aesthetic practice. They are co-convener of The Church of Black feminist Thought and a member of The Black Aesthetic Curatorial Collective.

In Person Attendees:

Testing: You must test before every in person/hybrid event, and show evidence of your most recent test results upon entry. 

Mask Requirements: We encourage all attendees to wear masks during the event.

Health Check: If you're feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, we kindly ask you to stay home and join us virtually.

Sanitization: Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the venue, along with masks and a restricted supply of COVID-19tests. We strongly encourage you to use them as needed. 

Allergies: Refreshments will be served, please include any allergies and dietary restrictions in the provided space.

Note: Our Ujima Wednesdays workshops will take place at the Urban Farming Institute from April 17th to May 29th. Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot for this enlightening workshop. For inquiries and more information, please contact comms@ujimaboston.com.