Artistic Statement

Artistic Statement

Jeanette W. Hill
Creative Activist

An African proverb says:
As long as the hunter is the historian,
the lion’s story will never be told.

Well, I am that lion. I use my voice to tell stories of African Americans who with courage, hope and love continue to persevere individually and collectively in spite of incredible opposition.

To explain why I do what I do I have to trace my upbringing of front porch discussions where sitting on the steps I would eavesdrop on grown folks’ conversations. Attending neighborhood gatherings of births, homegoings and other celebrations where people showed their love in a variety of ways including support, food, love, money and yes, even gossip. Spirited-filled church services where religion inextricably bled into the community, which marched into activism.

These places were not just houses on a street, that would be a neighborhood. We had a bond that went beyond physical location and scientific DNA. We were family.

So my passion and my purpose is to show the strength, determination and resilience that we as people of color, pass from soul to soul, spirit to spirit and heart to heart.

From generation to generation…