Season 5 Episode 10: Spilling the Black Girl Tea Part 4 - Spaces and Places

“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say. The storytellers in the project are Black girls and women who call West Virginia home — part of a vibrant but often overlooked group that comprises less than 2.5% of the entire Mountain State’s population. Their stories are those of the challenges and joys of Black identity. In the series, seventeen Black girls and women, ranging in ages from 16 to 80, candidly share their experiences in intimate conversations. The participants are students, community leaders, educators, advocates, activists and entrepreneurs who are talking about what matters to them most.

Part 4: Spaces and Places

Four Black women creatives from West Virginia share their experiences of using art as a powerful tool for self-expression and identity exploration. In a conversation facilitated by Royce Lyden, they delve into the challenges they experience as straight and queer folx navigating both the Black community and predominantly white spaces. In the face of pressure to conform to competing societal expectations for Black women, they highlight the importance of safe spaces, setting boundaries, and the need for self care. Participants: Tiara Brown, Ilene Evans, Kasha Snyder McDonald, Oceanna Smith Guest Host: Royce Lyden

Episode videos and more: https://wvfaith.org/spilling-the-black-girl-tea/