Reflecting on our Archaeology of Silence Speaker Series Journey

LIVE FREE USA was honored to be chosen as the community partner to program the Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence Speaker Series at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, CA. The exhibit is the largest and longest running exhibit of its kind to explore the impacts of state-sanctioned violence on Black bodies. In collaboration with Google.org LIVE FREE embarked on a profound exploration that brought together luminaries from the spheres of culture, art, sports, and activism.

This series was not merely a set of discussions but a transformative experience, shedding light on the poignant intersections of art, suffering, and healing and highlighted our belief that, in order to change policy and practice, you must shift culture as well.

The exhibit welcomed more than 45,000 visitors and our programming involved 30 speakers, artists and luminaries, engaged over 375,000  people virtually and in person over a six-month period.

Over Mother’s Day weekend, we unveiled the first installment of our speaker series titled “A Mother’s Love”. This powerful session gave us a window into the souls of mothers who have endured the unimaginable: losing their children to systemic violence.

For the second chapter, “A Father’s Heart“, we hosted Black fathers who’ve faced the profound agony of losing their children to state violence. More than sharing their stories, these men highlighted their monumental efforts on a national scale.

For the third installment of our speaker series, “Sacred Intersectionality,” this conversation dove deep into prevailing narratives surrounding sex, gender, and identity with an extraordinary convergence of minds across film, music, activism, media and academia.

Our fourth conversation delved into the essence of “Black August” as a poignant tribute to our brave Black freedom fighters, and to shed light on the importance of prison reform, and celebrate those who tirelessly continue this legacy of activism and advocacy.

The fifth installment of our series focused on the African Diaspora’s shared resistance against centuries of violence and colonization. Addressing the weighty topics of exploitation and its longstanding damages, the dialogue centered on reparations and building Black economic power and freedom.

For the grand finale, we hosted “Lift Every Voice” , a public concert held at Golden Gate Park on October 14th. Featuring mesmerizing performances from esteemed artists, the concert not only celebrated our journey, but also echoed the powerful voices and themes we’ve explored throughout the series.

To our donors, supporters, and every individual who joined us in this journey, your belief in our mission and your unwavering support have been the pillars that upheld this series and a special thanks to Google.org whose anchor investment made this project possible.