Patrisse Cullors to present public programs at KU

LAWRENCE — Activist, artist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors will visit the University of Kansas on April 10–11 and present two free public programs. 

At 4 p.m. April 10, Cullors will perform “Opening Up” at the Spencer Museum of Art. The performance will draw on Yoruba prayers and offerings to honor and remember the lives and experiences of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. The event begins outdoors in front of the Spencer Museum and then moves into the galleries, which currently feature exhibitions that share Emmett and Mamie’s story.

In an artist’s statement, Cullors shared that the performance “is a testament to the enduring strength of memory and the unbreakable bonds of kinship that connect us across generations. Through this performance, we not only pay homage to Emmett and Mamie, but also reaffirm our commitment to a future where such tragedies are no longer repeated, guided by the wisdom and blessings of those who have come before us.”

At 7 p.m. April 11, Cullors will give a talk titled “Our Collective Imagination Will Set Us Free,” discussing the intersection of abolition and art and the power of human imagination as a liberating force. A moderated conversation and Q&A will follow. This event will take place in 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.

Cullors' visit is supported by the Department of Religious Studies, the Spencer Museum of Art, the Department of Visual Art and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.