We can’t wait to see you on September 27th at 6 p.m. at 1809 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC, for our 50 Years of Resistance, 50 Years of Resilience celebration.

Last week, we shared the first piece of art that will be featured in our silent auction. This week, we’re excited to give you a preview of another powerful work: The Waiting – 16×20 acrylic on stretched canvas.

This piece honors the strength of Black women who hold their families together through incarceration and the challenges of being justice-involved. It reflects resilience, love, and the unshakable role Black women play as the backbone of their communities—carrying the weight of systemic injustice while sustaining their families through hardship.

And I cry

As if to say fuck you

As if to find moderation in

The amount of politeness I can stand

The amount of defiance I can quell

Of course the ideal would be

To smile

To grin

To bear it, as they say

But instead I cry

As a temporary alternative to fuck you

Until I may speak liberally

Come see the full collection and support the continued work of Emancipate NC. We will celebrate with food and drink, share stories, and honor our awardees. 

👉 Let us know you will be there by getting your tickets today!