Empowerment through

ExpressionWith Imani Uzuri

Moderated by Shani Jamila

AgendaAbout the Human Rights ProjectWhy Human Rights and the Arts?Introducing Imani Uzuri

PerformerComposer

Questions and AnswersConclusion

Who We Are…

Shani Jamila, Artist and Director of the Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center

Imani Uzuri,vocalist, composer, and cultural worker

Urban Justice CenterThe Urban Justice Center

was founded in 1982 as an anti-poverty organization that serves NYC's most vulnerable residents.

The Human Rights Project is one of 11 projects at the Urban Justice Center

Human Rights ProjectFounded in 1999

The Human Rights Project (HRP) evolved from the desire to hold the government accountable to human rights standards.

HRP works at both the local and national levels to equip advocates with information and tools to promote domestic compliance with universally accepted human rights standards.

HRP InitiativesHuman Rights Report Card

Human Rights Institute

Involvement between Human Rights and the ArtsRecently, HRP has begun to incorporate art as

a core pedagogical tool during our community forums and events, and we have begun to expand our cultural activism offerings.

Today’s conversationHuman Rights are the basic rights and

freedoms that we are all entitled to by virtue of being human. They are indivisible and interdependent.

There are five aspects of human rights: civil, political, cultural, social, and economic.

Today we will be exploringEmpowerment through cultural and artistic

expression

Human rights at the individual levelas a citizen of the world

Imani UzuriImani Uzuri is a vocalist, composer,

and cultural worker focused on healing and empowerment. She

travels often; creating, composing, and performing across various artistic forms at a wide range of venues and festivals. Uzuri's newest album, The

Gypsy Diaries, draws on her rural Southern roots as well as

international influences. Time Out New York says, “Uzuri never fails to

mesmerize audiences with her narcotic blend of...ethereal sounds.”

She has guest lectured on Negro Spirituals and Early American Music at a number of institutions including

Harvard and Columbia.

Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera

“Sun Moon Child, Speak to me…Sun Moon Child, I believe in your destiny”

- Sun Moon Child Imani

Uzuri

The Gypsy Diaries"Ms. Uzuri creates a tapestry of genre-smashing music that bridges nations." - Candace L., OkayplayerThe multi-influential work [The Gypsy Diaries] encompasses Indian, blues, gospel, Afro-pop, Eastern European, and East Asian elements that bring a sense of class, soul, and dignity to the world of music. This is world music at its best!"

- Matthew Forss, Inside World Music

The Gypsy Diaries Release Party

Joe’s PubJune 1, 2012

Ecstatic Music Festival 2013Presented by Kaufman Music Center Imani Uzuri and Joseph C.

Phillips Jr. were commissioned by Kaufman

Music Center's Ecstatic Music Festival to co-compose a composition which became

Awe and Humility.

They each also presented a composition Joseph C.

Phillips Jr.(Changing Same) and Imani

Uzuri (Placeless). The performance was performed by Imani Uzuri, Numinous chamber orchestra with

special guests and conducted by Joseph C. Phillips Jr.

Shani Jamila and Imani Uzuri

Placeless At Ecstatic Music Festival 2013 Presented by Kaufman Music Center

“My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless, neither body or soul, I belong to the Beloved "

–Rumi

1. Evenly Yoked2. Hush Arbor 3. Shall Guide Me4. My Place Is Placeless

Placeless is a contemplative musical proposal that explores the expansive themes of home

and “place” inspired by the Psalms, the writings of Sufi

mystic and poet Rumi and the folk hymnody African-American

Spirituals. It is an ode to the journey we all travel in various

ways throughout our living moments towards transcendence.

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.”

“When you are everywhere, you are nowhere / When you are somewhere, you are everywhere.”

“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”

Article 27

Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Travel“Traveling may feel lonely sometimes,But all who wander are not lostThe journey is to look inside and find…”

-Imani UzuriDream

Child

Travel and the Human Experience

“I would surmise that travel…is at the source of the human experience. It is one of the most elemental activities, almost as basic as the act of breathing.”

-Luigi Monga in Travel and Travel Writing

Article 13

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Right to Freedom of Artistic Expression

From a report by Farida Shaheed,

Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural

rights

The vitality of artistic creativity is necessary for the development of vibrant cultures and the functioning of democratic societies. Artistic expressions and creations are an integral part of cultural life, which entails contesting meanings and revisiting culturally inherited ideas and concepts.

Influences

Mari Boine Oumou Sangare

Sonia Sanchez

Nina Simone

Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Collaborations

Wangechi Mutu and Imani Uzuri

Herbie HancockRobert Ashley and Imani Uzuri

Collaborations

Imani Uzuri performing in front of the work of Sanford Biggers

John Legend

Vijay Iyer

The Right to Freedom of Artistic Expression

From a report by Farida Shaheed,

Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural

rights

Art constitutes an important vehicle for each person, individually and in community with others, as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity, worldview and meanings assigned to their existence and development. People in all societies create, make use of, or relate to, artistic expressions and creations.

Q&A

At this time we are happy to take any questions. Please press *1 on your phone to “raise your hand.”

Thank You

We appreciate your time and are glad that you joined us today. We look forward to continuing the conversation with you. To keep up to date on announcements and to receive our weekly newsletter, subscribe to the HRP listserv. Please email geigo@urbanjustice.org to do so.

Contact Info Human Rights ProjectUrban Justice Center123 William Street, 16th FloorNew York, NY 10038www.hrpujc.org