Black History by Baltimore
Celebrating Baltimore by Baltimore’s Black creatives
When asked to define freedom, author Toni Morrison replied, "I think freedom ideally is being able to choose your responsibilities, not, not having any responsibilities but being able to choose which things you want to be responsible for." On the last day of Black Month, we want to shout out to some of our incredible BxB producers and contributors that, in addition to wearing many hats, they choose to take on the responsibility of engagement and exposure of Baltimore's creative Black community and beyond. Our BxB leaders make history daily; from pioneering the Blacks Arts district to comedy workshops, from arts grant writing and winning to STEM-focused youth-led media programs, they are forging a prerogative inclusive of Baltimore’s best talent.
Terrell Brown, The Artist Navigator
Also known as The Art Navigator is a connector and social innovator partnering artists with opportunities and funding for creative projects. His work with Baltimore Corps focuses on creating equitable pipelines to enlist talent in advancing Baltimore's most promising social innovations.
Lady Brion
Lady Brion is an international spoken word artist, poetry coach, activist, organizer, educator, and Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District executive director. Lady Brion inspires and advocates for black art and was most recently ranked 3rd in the Women of the World Poetry Slam.
Larry “Whaddup” Caudle
Larry “Whaddup” Caudle is a Baltimore based creative entrepreneur and media impresario. Larry is the founder of The Br8eak Media and director behind More Than Hype, a film about the history of Baltimore City Club music. Check out Larry's upcoming film More Than Hype.
Kish The Lioness
Kish the Lioness Motivational Poet, Host, Curator, and Artivist. She hosts The Poetry Party, a weekly open mic showcase for Artistic Entertainers and creatives seeking to explore their artistic abilities in front of a live studio audience. In addition to this mainstay weekly, Kish can be found hosting and curating events throughout the city.
Abdu Ali
Abdu Ali was the headliner for the first BxB festival in June 2022, and is a Baltimore based electronic musician, cultural worker and multidisciplinary artist. Their work often interrogates ideas of race, gender, and sexuality that manifests as poetic inquiries of identity, promoting liberation. Their work also centers promoting authentic Black queer legacies and narratives as our histories are often subjected to distortion and erasure. Abdu was recently announced as a 2023 United States Artists Fellow, one of the country’s most prestigious arts programs, that comes with a $50,000 award.
Big Fred
Baltimore's funny man, Big Fred, is a comedian and educator using comedy to inspire and enrich student and professional groups. His work, Lil Laughs with Baltimore City School, uses humor to encourage creativity and problem-solving. You can find him hosting and performing on some of the City's most prominent stages when he's not in the classroom.
