BoundlessVol 4 BlackAtticus Seed 2 Sun Interview
Channel: UTKLibraries
Date: 2022-08-03

Black Atticus presents Seed 2 Sun, an original work inspired by UT Libraries Special Collections.

When we invited Black Atticus to delve into the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, he was especially inspired by materials in the Dr. C. S. Boyd Photograph Collection. That collection consists of photographs of African Americans in the Knoxville area during the early 20th century, including many photos of Dr. Charles S. Boyd, his dental office, and his family. In addition to visiting our archives, Black Atticus explored collections at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.

From his research in the archives, he wove together verbal imagery of local Black history and culture for an original song, “Seed 2 Sun,” created just for our Boundless program. During a discussion following the performance, Black Atticus told the audience that he was especially moved by the historical record of Black Knoxville communities lost to “urban renewal,” and he expressed his gratitude to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and the UT Libraries for documenting and preserving the history and cultural heritage of the local Black community.

Listen to the studio master of Black Atticus’s rhythmic wordplay.