Breaking the Silence About Sexual Violence on HBCU Campuses
May 5, 2013
Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Ramesh Kathandhi (Men Stopping Violence) join Spelman College’s Fight to End Sexual Violence on HBCU Campsues
I was honored to receive an invitation from Dr. Beverly Guy Sheftall to return to Spelman College on April 25, 2013 to join their fight to address and end sexual violence on Historically Black College and University campuses (HBCU).
With the news about the recent arrest of four Morehouse College students on sexual assault charges, it is explicitly and undeniable clear that now is the time to continue the very difficult dialogue about eradicating rape and rape culture. Make no mistake, rape and other forms of sexual violence are happening on all college campuses across the country. Tragically, there aren’t many “rape free” spaces. In a culturally specific context, however, the horrible combination of racism and misogyny often results in a deafening silence when Black men rape Black women. This is evident on too many HBCU campuses.
Ramesh Kathandhi and Aishah Shahidah Simmons (photo: Lani Jones)
On the evening of April 25, 2013, we were small in number in Spelman College’s Cosby Auditorium. And yet, we had a powerful post-NO! The Rape Documentary discussion about breaking the silence about sexual violence and ending rape culture on our college campuses, in our families, our communities, and society at large. I was very fortunate to co-facilitate the dialogue with Ramesh Kathandhi, who is the internship coordinator at Men Stopping Violence. Drs. Beverly Daniel Tatum (President of Spelman College), Darnita Killian (Vice President of Student Affairs), and Kimberly Ferguson (Dean of Students) were also in attendance and expressed a commitment to tackle this issue head on with the students.
Aishah Shahidah Simmons (middle) with Drs. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Cynthia Neal Spence, Lani Jones, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, and Darnita Killian
We will continue and broaden this dialogue at Spelman College in the fall 2013 and in the spring 2014. Stay tuned for details when they become available.
Infinite gratitude to Drs. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Cynthia Neal Spence (Associate Professor of Sociology and Trustee of the Board), and Spelman College’s Women’s Research and Resource Center (WRRC) for their tireless and relentless work to not allow the vicious rape epidemic go unnoticed, unchecked, and/or unaddressed. Founded in 1981 by Dr. Guy-Sheftall, the WRRC has been long-term supporter of NO! The Rape Documentary from conception (1994) to completion (2006) and distribution (present day).
Empowering Survivors: NO! The Rape Documentary screened at Portland State University
April 24, 2013
Empowering African-American Rape Survivors at Portland State University
The Women’s Resource Center, Women of Color Action Team, and the Multicultural Center at Portland State University hosted a screening and discussion of NO! The Rape Documentary on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Tonya L. Jones, one of the organizers of the event reported that the screening and discussion had a “decent attendance and they received positive reviews on the evaluations.”
On April 18, 2013, The Portland State Vanguard published “Empowering Survivors: Documentary N[O]! Screens at Multicultural Center by Megan Fresh,” an article about the vision for the screening and discussion. Following is an excerpt:
[Tonya L.] Jones’ goal for the program is “that students will walk away reflecting and thinking about how they can be an ally to make all of our communities safer for women of color—for all women period,” she said. “Also, hopefully they walk away respecting the voices and experiences of women of color…
Jones described the intersection of sexual assault and African-American communities, providing the context for the event.
Images of black women are often distorted, and we are made into caricatures,” she said. “Our bodies and our sexuality tend to be degraded in mainstream media. The stereotypes prevent many people from seeing us as full human beings. Because of this, many people don’t take our experiences seriously.
“It affects how people respond to us when we are dealing with sexual assault/violence, in and outside [of] the black community,” Jones said. “Hopefully students will think about this and how important is for all of us to reject and resist negative representations of black womanhood…
You may read the article in its entirety by clicking here: bit.ly/11Dxx3o
Aishah Shahidah Simmons partners with Spelman College in their HBCU Fight to end Sexual Violence against Women
April 24, 2013
Aishah Shahidah Simmons partners with Spelman College’s Women’s Research and Resource Center’s HBCU Fight to end Sexual Violence against Women
On Thursday, April 25, 2013, Aishah Shahidah Simmons will return to Spelman College’s campus to present NO! The Rape Documentary and participate in a conversation with representatives from Men Stopping Violence; and Spelman and Morehouse college students focused on addressing and ending sexual assault and violence against women on college campuses. This event, which will be held at 7:00pm in the Cosby Auditorium on the college’s campus, is a part of a series of events happening on at least 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It is free and open to the public. The screening and discussion is hosted by the Spelman College’s Women’s Research and Resource Center (WRRC), which was founded by Black feminist scholar and activist Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall in 1981. The WRRC has been long-term supporter of NO! from conception to completion and distribution.
For more information, please click on this link: http://bit.ly/117WTEU
Philadelphia Queer Media Activism Series Features Aishah Shahidah Simmons
March 25, 2013
Aishah Shahidah Simmons is one of the featured artists in the 2013 Philadelphia Queer Media Activism Series
“What is the relationship between queer media and queer activism? How have queers, trans* folks, feminists, people of color, poor people, and people with disabilities harnessed media production practices in the service of social justice activism? How have local Philadelphia artists, activists, and academics mobilized to create films, video artworks, performances, training workshops, and courses that stretch beyond the local context and into the transnational public sphere? The Queer Media Activism series explores these questions through a multimedia, multidisciplinary, and multi-sited series of events during Spring 2013.” ~ Philadelphia Queer Media Activism Series
Philadelphia Queer Media Activism Series Launches on March 30, 2013. Conceived and organized by Dr. Cathy Hannabach, this diverse interdisciplinary series, which is free and open to the public, will include performance, film screenings, and talks on “Drag Activism,” “Social Justice Media Making” “Marginal Bodies, Queer Migrations,” and “Archives, Affects, and Activism.”
On Monday, April 1, 2013, from 12:00PM – 2:00PM, artists-activists Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Monica Enriquez-Enriquez will screen excerpts of their previously completed work and engage in a conversation about their media work, which uses an intersectional lens to explore race, immigration and migration, sexuality, gender, and gender violence, among other topics. This event will be held at Temple University, 812 Anderson Hall, 1114 W. Pollett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
Black Women’s Blueprint honored Aishah Shahidah Simmons at the Schomburg Center for Research and Culture
February 18, 2013
Black Women’s Blueprint Celebrated Black Lesbian Women’s Radical Activism, Resilience, Brilliance, Power, & Beauty at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
tiona.m. and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Julia Roxanne Wallace
Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Darnell L. Moore (VIVA The Feminist Wire Editorial Collective!)
Grace Drums opened Mother Tongue: Monologues (Background photograph: Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, and Lisa Diane White, with Aaronette Michelle White in the photograph within the photograph)
Grace Drums (Background photograph: Aishah Shahidah Simmons filming the first 10-day vipassana meditation course held in Mumbai, India, for people of African heritage world wide)
Christina Jaus, Farah Tanis, Mayowa Osebeju, Kalima DeSuze presenting the Honorees with their awards
Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Christina Jaus, co-founder of Black Women’s Blueprint, Farah Tanis, co-founder and executive director of Black Women’s Blueprint
The powerful award ceremony…
Aishah Shahidah Simmons’ extemporaneous (in spite of prepared comments) acceptance speech “It’s the community from which you come that you want to name you, claim you and honor you.” ~ Toni Cade Bambara (Teacher and Big Sister Friend)
Acceptance speech, which included my paying tribute to my Dad (Michael Simmons) who was the first person who supported my emerging Black lesbian identity when I was a teenager and my Mom (Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons) who was the first Black feminist I ever met.
If someone calls you a lesbian and you’re not one, don’t act as if you’ve been called a German Shepard….
“It is important that those of us who are able, because many are not, break our silences about our sexual assaults. (When I was 19 years-old) I was raped one night and less than 24-hours had consensual sex with another man and became pregnant. I am fortunate that I was able to have a safe and legal abortion…”
The acceptance speech continues…
Fadzai Mapurutsa’s, Coalition of African Lesbians, acceptance speech
tiona.m., Fadzai Mapuratusa, Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Cara Page and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Orleana Clark, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Inelle Cox Bagwell, Pat Clark
Thadious Davis and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Darnelle L. Moore
Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Michael Simmons, Linda Carrranza
“Daddy’s Girl” Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Michael Simmons
R. Erica Doyle and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shahdiah Simmons and Traci C. West
Deepa Soul and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Yvette Assem
Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture
Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Farah Tanis, Julia Roxanne Wallace, Christina Jaus
Farah Tanis, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Aishah Shaidah Simmons and Michael Simmons
Beverly Guy Sheftall and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
Kalima DeSuze, Beverly Guy Sheftall, Farah Tanis, Christina Jaus
Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Kalima DeSuze
Back row: Kwesi Ferebee, Ayanna Serwaa, Jasmine Burnett, Mayowa Osabuju, Farah Tanis, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, tiona.m.,
Front row: Christina Jaus, Kalima DeSuze, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Porter Ferebee – BLACK WOMENS BLUEPRINT
Museum of Women’s Resistance at Black Women’s Blueprint
Mother Tongue: Monologues for Lesbian Ancestral Wives and Revolutionary Women Speaking the Unspeakable
January 25, 2013
BlackWomen’s Blueprint will honor Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Staceyann Chinn, and the Coalition of African Lesbians on Saturday, February 16, 2013
BlackWomen’s Blueprint presents:
Mother Tongue: Monologues for Lesbian Ancestral Wives and Revolutionary Women Speaking the Unspeakable
A Benefit Performance To Support Collaboration And Prevention Programs On Sexual Assault In Communities Of African Descent.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Boulevard
New York, NY 10037
Tickets $25/$35/$50
http://www.mothertonguemonologues.org/
HONOREES:
AISHAH SHAHIDAH SIMMONS, Black Lesbian Feminist, Filmmaker & Activist
STACEYANN CHIN, Spoken Word Poet, Performing Artist and LGBT Rights Political Activist
THE COALITION OF AFRICAN LESBIANS, human rights defenders representing 11 countries in Africa.
Conceived By Farah Tanis
Co-Founder, Black Women’s Blueprint | Founder, Museum of Women’s Resistance
Event Co-Chairs:
DR. BEVERLY GUY SHEFTALL, Ph.D., Founding Director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center and the Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies, Spelman College.
DEEPA SOUL, Chairwoman/CEO of LARA (The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts)
DR. ALEXIS PAULINE GUMBS, Ph.D., Queer Black Feminist Media Activist, Founder, Eternal Summer of the Black Feminist .
TIONA MCCLODDEN, Award Winning Filmmaker, Artist, Executive Producer/Director, Harriet’s Gun Media
JAWOLE WILLA JO ZOLLAR, Award Winning Choreographer, Founder, Urban Bush Women
DIRECTORS
Lori Payne and Pope Jackson
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Boulevard
New York, NY 10037
Tickets $25/$35/$50
AISHAH SHAHIDAH SIMMONS, Black Lesbian Feminist, Filmmaker & Activist
THE COALITION OF AFRICAN LESBIANS, human rights defenders representing 11 countries in Africa.
Co-Founder, Black Women’s Blueprint | Founder, Museum of Women’s Resistance
DR. BEVERLY GUY SHEFTALL, Ph.D., Founding Director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center and the Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies, Spelman College.
DR. ALEXIS PAULINE GUMBS, Ph.D., Queer Black Feminist Media Activist, Founder, Eternal Summer of the Black Feminist .
Lori Payne and Pope Jackson
Celebrate the Life of Aaronette M. White at Charis Books and More on October 27, 2012
October 20, 2012
Celebrating the life and legacy of Aaronette M. White, a radical Pan African Feminist Scholar and Activist in Atlanta on October 27, 2012
It is hard to believe that beloved Daughter/Sister/Friend/Comrade/Scholar/Teacher Activist Aaronette M. White, Ph.D. is no longer with us in the physical realm. Those who knew and were close to her are frequently reminded in myriad of ways that she is with us in the spiritual realm.
If you have not had the privilege of knowing Aaronette or encountering her radically fierce legacy, Aishah Shahidah Simmons wrote a personal remembrance, for The Feminist Wire, which celebrated Aaronette’s indelible imprint on many throughout the world. Here is the link to “Remember and Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Aaronette M. White” ~
Temple University’s Women’s Studies Program Celebrates LGBTQ History Month
October 20, 2012
Temple University’s Women’s Studies Program Celebrates LGBTQ History Month
Temple University’s Women’s Studies Program’s Roundtable in Celebration of LGBTQ History Month featuring Professors Siobhan Brooks, Elizabeth Circo, Cathy Hannabach, and Aishah Shahidah Simmons placed radical LGBTQ issues at the center.
Praise the Lorde… Audre Lorde – Recorded Proceedings Available!
October 20, 2012
Archived Recorded Proceedings from Celebration Audre Lorde: (20 Years Later)
Are Available for Free Viewing!
You may watch parts or even all of day one of Hunter College’s herstoric/historic gathering, which held a multi-day celebration in honor of the life and living legacy of Audre Lorde in the 20th anniversary year of her transition into the next realm.
Day one was held at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House on Friday, October 12, 2012. The entire (recorded) proceedings from the day one are available for viewing
http://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde
featuring Meena Alexander, Asha Bandele, Amina Baraka, Rich Blint, Cheryl Clarke, B. Cole, Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Blanche Wiesen Cook, Clare Coss, Jeremy M. Glick, Jewelle Gomez, Melinda Goodman, Ange-Marie Hancock, Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins, Dawn Lundy Martin, Donna Masini, Rosalind Petchesky, Robert Reid-Pharr, Lynn Roberts, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Donna Weir Soley, and Ronaldo Wilson.
Following are the links to the videos of the individual panels.
PANEL I: AGE, RACE, CLASS, SEX: INTERSECTIONALITIES Panelists: Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Rich Blint, Ange-Marie Hancock, Aishah Shahidah Simmons Moderator: Jeremy M. Glick
http://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde/videos/4750533
PANEL II: THE EROTIC AS POWER: ACTIVISM, HEALTH, LIFE Panelists: B. Cole, Blanche Wiesen Cook, Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins, Robert Reid-Pharr, Lynn Roberts Moderator: Rosalind Petcheskyhttp://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde/videos/4756415PANEL III: POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY Panelists: Cheryl Clarke, Jewelle Gomez, Melinda Goodman, Aza (Donna Weir Soley) Moderator: Meena Alexanderhttp://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde/videos/4762959
POETRY READINGS Panelists: Asha Bandele, Amina Baraka, Clare Coss, Dawn Lundy Martin, Ronaldo Wilson Moderator: Donna Masinihttp://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde/videos/4766054
Hunter College Celebrates Audre Lorde’s Life and Legacy 20 Years Later
September 30, 2012
Women And Gender Studies Program Of CUNY Hunter College
Co-Sponsored by English And Film And Media Departments
With Generous Support From
The Office Of The President And Provost present:
Celebration Audre Lorde (20 Years Later)
Hunter College will celebrate the life and legacy of the self-defined Black Femnist Lesbian Mother Warrior Poet Audre Lorde. This celebration will commemorate the 20th Anniversary Year of Audre Lorde’s transition from the physical realm into the spirit realm.
The opening celebration, which will be held on Friday, October 12, 2012 will include performances and commentaries by Audre Lorde’s daughter, some of her dearest friends, comrades, colleagues and former students, along with the next generation of activists, cultural workers, and scholars whose work is greatly influenced by Lorde’s radical Black lesbian feminist legacy
Unfortunately the October 12, 2012 event is completely filled to capacity. However, people unable to attend will be able to see the entire day on the web through the live streaming website for the conference.
http://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde
There are still plenty of seats available for the mini-festival, which will also celebrate Audre Lorde’s Legacy. These screenings will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2102 and Tuesday, October 16, 2012.
Please scroll down to read the entire schedule for all of the events, which are free and open to the public.
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/wgsprogram
Photo by Dagmar Shultz
Confirmed Speakers:
Meena Alexander, Asha Bandele, Amina Baraka, Rich Blint, Cheryl Clarke, B. Cole, Johnnetta Betsch Cole , Blanche Cook, Clare Coss, Tami Gold, Jewelle Gomez, Melinda Goodman, Ange-Marie Hancock, Jennifer Hayashida, Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins, MD, Dawn Lundy Martin, Rosalind Petchesky, Robert Reid-Pharr, Lynn Roberts, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Donna Weir Soley, and Ronaldo Wilson.
DUE TO HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS OCT. 12th EVENT, REGISTRATION HAS REACHED CAPACITY AND IS NOW CLOSED!However, people unable to attend will be able to see the entire day on the web through the live streaming website for the conference.
http://new.livestream.com/roosevelthouse/audrelorde
Friday, October 12, 2012
9:30am – 6:30pm
ROOSEVELT HOUSE
47-49 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
Maps and Directions to Hunter College
PROGRAMME
9:00am - 9:30am REGISTRATON AND COFFEE 9:45am - 9:55am WELCOME BY JENNIFER RAAB President, Hunter College 10:00am - 10:10am WELCOME BY RUPAL OZA Director, Women and Gender Studies Program, Hunter College 10:30am - 12:00pm PANEL I: AGE, RACE, CLASS, SEX: INTERSECTIONALITIES Panelists: Johnnetta Betsch Cole Rich Blint Ange-Marie Hancock Aishah Shahidah Simmons Moderator: Jeremy M. Glick 12:00pm LUNCH 1:30pm - 3:00pm PANEL II: THE EROTIC AS POWER: ACTIVISM, HEALTH, LIFE Panelists: B. Cole Blanche Wiesen Cook Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins Robert Reid-Pharr Lynn Roberts Moderator: Rosalind Petchesky 3:15pm - 4:45pm PANEL III: POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY Panelists: Cheryl Clarke Jewelle Gomez Melinda Goodman Donna Weir Soley Moderator: Meena Alexander 5:00pm POETRY READINGS Panelists: Asha Bandele Amina Baraka Clare Coss Dawn Lundy Martin Ronaldo Wilson Moderator: Donna Masini 6:30pm RECEPTION
FILM SCREENINGS
October 13, 2012 & October 16, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
2:00pm – 4:00pm
A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde by Ada Gay Griffin and Michele Parkerson (1995)
Discussants: Darnell Moore and Aishah Shahidah Simmons
4:00pm – 6:00pm
The Edge of Each Other’s Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde by Jennifer Abod (2002)
Discussants: Jasmine Burnett, Maame-Mensima Horne, and Kwame Ocran
Location:
Hunter College
Silberman School of Social Work/CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College
2180 Third Avenue at 119th Street
2nd Floor Auditorium
New York, NY 10035
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
6:00pm – 8:30pm
Screening of Audre Lorde-the Berlin Years 1984 to 1992 by Dagmar Schultz and Ike Huegel-Marshall (2011)
Filmmaker Dagmar Schultz and Ika Huegel-Marshall, co-writer of the film script and protagonist in the film, as well as recipient of the Audre Lorde Literary Award for her book “Invisible Woman; Growing Up Black in Germany,” will be present at the screening and will lead the Q & A.
Location:
Hunter College - Main Campus
68th Street and Lexington Avenue
Lang Recital Hall - Hunter North Building 424
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