Creativity

This month the Black Garden co-sponsored a monthlong film festival by the nonprofit, HotHouse, featuring Afro-Cuban women. Each documentary highlighted a different woman’s story and I was reminded once again that not all stories are told and certain ones are perennially left out of history.

I had my notebook to jot down points to introduce as prompts later in the school year. Without realizing it, I started scribbling and sketching ideas while watching these films, called to it like a love language flowing from lips you’re eager to hear. Does creativity fuel others’ creativity? Emphatically yes.

This month was packed with images. During October, a month I especially associate with harvests, I revisited Julie Dash’s beautiful film, ”Daughters of the Dust”, filled with the stories of the Gullah/Geechee women on Saint Helena Island.

These yellow leaves on the screen and in this downtown garden frame these beautiful stories. Whether in South Carolina (Georgia!) or Chicago, listening to the shimmering leaves rewards the listener. So many stories, so much life.