Introducing Ujima: Black Art for Black Liberation

Christian Boyd
Sep 18, 2017
3 min read

About Ujima

(oo-JEE-mah)

Ujima is an artist collective based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and founded by childhood friends, Elizabeth Kennedy, Katherine Kennedy, and Christian Boyd. Visual and performing artists in their own right, who recognize the influential, often radical, and healing power of art, the three came together seeking to create a space for free, open, and inclusive Black expression.

Christened Ujima, Swahili for collective work and responsibility, the artists chose a name for their collective that reflected the purpose of its work. Kennedy, Kennedy, and Boyd view art as a catalyst for social change, not only because it has the power to have impact, but because it has the obligation to. Art inspires movements, establishes trends, fosters awareness, and unites communities, and while artists’ visions and perspectives vary from one to the other, collective work among them is critical in order to effect a collective future. Ujima exists to celebrate and support distinct Black artists who strive to accomplish a common goal: create Black art for Black liberation.

Ujima is defined by the following nine principles:

Unity Black unity is central to Ujima. We honor the multitude of ethnicities, religions, genders, sexualities, and abilities within our diaspora. Our power is derived and motivated by our collective unity.

Justice We envision a world where justice is restorative and transformative, not punitive, resulting in meaningful action and change. We envision a justice system where equity is a right, not a privilege. It looks like reparations. It looks like a world without police and prisons. In the words of Cornel West, "never forget that justice is what love looks like in public." Intersectionality Ujima practices and promotes intersectionality. We honor and uplift all identities, and recognize that people experience varying degrees of oppressions according to their race, gender, sexuality, nationality, ability, religion, social class, and more. We aim to amplify the full beauty of these varying identities, and encourage artists to collaborate with us as we navigate the many intersections of Black identity.

Creativity Ujima affirms the sanctity of Black expression. We believe the creative process is a liberating, radical, and healing act. In the words of James Baldwin, "this endless struggle to achieve and reveal and confirm a human identity, human authority, contains, for all its horror, something very beautiful." Joy We believe in Black joy. We create Black joy. We honor the transformative and radical power of Black joy. Our joyousness is as abundant and limitless as the diaspora. Resilience As people of the African diaspora, resilience is our tradition. It is our ancestors’ legacy, despite centuries of slavery and oppression. Like flowers growing through cracks in the pavement, still we rise. Vision We cannot create a new world if we do not see it. Self-Determination Ujima insists upon and uplifts the power of self-determination. We reject all imposed constructs and labels. We respect the right to self-identify, as individuals, as artists, as Black people, and as a collective. Liberation We create Black art for Black liberation. While our social realities often keep us shackled by the chains of racism, sexism, homophobia and more, through art we are fearless. Through art we are free.

About the Founders

Elizabeth "Liz" Kennedy

Liz is a May 2017 graduate of Duke University with a B.A. in Women's History and Environmental Science. Her artistic mediums include writing, music, design, and photography.

Katherine "Katie" Kennedy

Katie is a May 2017 graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Art History, Urban Studies, and African Cultures. Her artistic mediums include mixed media, watercolor, design, modeling, and art activism.

Christian Boyd

Christian is a May 2017 graduate of Howard University with a B.B.A. in International Business and Emerging Nations. Her artistic mediums include dance, choreography, mixed media painting, design, fashion, and photography.

Keep updated with Ujima on Instagram - @weareujima and Facebook - Ujima: Black Art for Black Liberation! (Ujima logo created by Christian Boyd).