In a collective display of art, local actors and musicians will perform "Hidden to Crowned" on April 19th. One of the overarching themes in the book, Hidden Princess, is violence and abuse prevention and awareness. However, viewers will witness the triumph and the crowns being rewarded in this musical rendition.
My "Why"
Violence takes on many forms, and it destroys lives. I like to use art to heal and express awareness.
I focus on a different "Why", all related to one of the various forms of violence in our communities. I have a unique relationship with domestic violence. I think healing should include investigating our susceptibility to it and addressing those risk factors. My why is a long story, but I can say it was inspired by my great-grandmother, Vivian Johnson.
Whenever I think of domestic violence as it pertains to intimate relationships, I also think of the senseless domestic violence that happens in our communities.
Given that every 50 minutes, a Black man dies by homicide in the United States, and every 43 minutes, a Black person dies, it is evident that violence formation is ongoing, especially in impoverished communities.
In the United States, homicide accounts for one out of every two deaths for Black men between the ages of 15-19, and makes up 49% of all Black male deaths between the ages of 20-24 (Centers for Disease Control, 2018)
We can intervene in the formation of violence by having discussions about violence, which could impact a potential victim or perpetrator.
Reading is one of our intervention initiatives because engaging with text enhances the critical thinking necessary to resolve conflicts.
Awareness
An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year. National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2025.