Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Hosts 'The Convocation: A Gathering of Black Women Artists' at Tougaloo College
This past weekend, Tougaloo College came alive with the brilliance, rhythm, and imagination of Black women artists from across the nation. Hosted by award-winning actress and proud Tougaloo alumna Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, The Convocation: A Gathering of Black Women Artists was more than an event—it was a homecoming of spirit. Across three unforgettable days, the campus became a living canvas of art, history, and radical joy, reaffirming Tougaloo's legacy as a cradle for creativity, activism, and social change.
"The creative work of Black women has contributed to our survival—and I want us to survive in a world that is increasingly hostile."
Friday — A Homecoming of Visionaries
The weekend opened in the Bennie G. Thompson Auditorium with a jubilant welcome and a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Regina Turner-Barclay, setting a tone of reverence and renewal. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor reminded guests that Tougaloo's soil has always nurtured visionaries—from freedom fighters to filmmakers—and that Mississippi remains "ripe and fertile for beautiful things to happen," honoring the College's artistic lineage while welcoming a new generation into the circle.
Short-film spotlights like Fannie and New York Day Women gave way to a moving screening of Daughters, culminating in a warm, soul-stirring talkback with filmmaker Angela Patton and Ellis-Taylor. The evening's showcase illuminated Tougaloo's living legacy; it felt like a blessing—art and community braided together, closing the night in warmth and reflection.
Saturday — Mastery and Mentorship
Day two transformed classrooms and auditoriums into creative sanctuaries. Students honed their craft in masterclasses led by television writer Lisa Michelle Payton, actresses Ebony Obsidian and Sanaa Lathan, and visionary director Kasi Lemmons, who shared the director's cut of her classic Eve's Bayou later that evening. Each workshop offered both technique and truth—inviting students to see themselves not just as learners, but as future creators capable of shaping culture and expanding the narrative of Black womanhood in film and media.
As the sun set, Warren Hall pulsed with rhythm and laughter during The Shed—an all-woman jam session led by Terri Lyne Carrington, Rita Brent, and friends. The energy was electric, a fusion of jazz, soul, and sisterhood that filled the room with joy and reverence. The day felt like an invocation—where mentorship met magic, legacy met living art, and the creative spirit of Tougaloo thrived in every note, word, and shared moment.
Sunday — Words, Music, and the Wonder of Women
The final day began in the College Library, where Dr. Ebony Lumumba hosted Literary Voices, an intimate series of readings and conversations featuring D. Danyelle Thomas, Ambre Dromgoole, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Imani Perry. Their words wove together history, faith, and imagination—stories that sang of survival, grace, and the deep-rooted power of Black womanhood. Perry's reflections on the blues grounded the day in rhythm and resilience, reminding audiences that art is both archive and act of resistance.
The celebration culminated in the Chapel with closing remarks from Sidra Smith, Sinetra Bowdry, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who reflected on the weekend's magic and the enduring legacy of Tougaloo's creative spirit. As the sun dipped below the campus trees, a transcendent Quartet Concert filled the sanctuary—honoring the lineage of Black women in music through sound, harmony, and collective praise. The finale felt like a benediction, leaving the audience uplifted and forever changed.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Throughout the weekend, one truth resounded: Tougaloo College remains a sanctuary where art and activism intertwine—a place where Black women's stories are not only told but exalted. As Ellis-Taylor reflected, "The creative work of Black women has contributed to our survival—and I want us to survive in a world that is increasingly hostile."
That spirit—alive, defiant, and radiant—defined every moment of The Convocation, reminding all who attended that the imagination of Black women continues to build galaxies. It was a weekend that did more than celebrate art; it reaffirmed Tougaloo's calling as a haven for thinkers, dreamers, and world-builders whose work transforms both Mississippi and the world beyond. As the applause faded and the final notes lingered in the air, the message remained clear: the legacy of creativity and resistance must be nurtured, supported, and carried forward.
Your support sustains scholarships, strengthens academics, and expands the creative horizons our students deserve. When we give together, we grow together—continuing the very legacy that The Convocation celebrated: a commitment to art, activism, and the boundless imagination of Tougaloo's community.
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