Location: Sculpture Court
Registration requested.

Join us for an evening of living Black history! Witness Baltimore’s contemporary griots channel the spirit of Chicory magazine—uncensored, urgent, and unbroken—for Black History Month.

Almost 60 years ago, a literary revolution spilled onto Baltimore’s streets when Chicory magazine became the people’s pulpit: a raw, unfiltered outlet where Black residents transformed grocery lists into manifestos, porch conversations into sonnets, and pain into power. For decades, its pages held the city’s breath. Now, The Chicory Project—a print and digital publication dedicated to showcasing the diverse, dynamic voices of Baltimore—resurrects that radical ethos and has constructed new soapboxes to carry on its legacy. In the Sculpture Court of the Walters Art Museum, featured poets invited by The Chicory Project will stand where marble statues loom and share poems forged in the same fire that birthed Chicory, thus reclaiming space in honor of the voices history has tried to silence.

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Some language in this program may not be suitable for all audiences.

Available resources: Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, headphones, sensory kits
Accessibility resources and accommodations are available for programs and events. Visit our accessibility web page for more information. Please email [email protected] with questions and requests.

About the Artists

The Chicory Project is at its core more than a publication; it has been a sanctuary for expression and a catalyst for change. In its rebirth, Chicory extends beyond its original format, embracing both the legacy of the past and the potential of the future. Their pages—both print and digital—are dedicated to showcasing the diverse, dynamic voices of Baltimore, offering insights that span the spectrum from poignant to empowering.

Sadiyah Bashir (she/her) is a mom of three, an award-winning poet, and a Muslim Womxn’s Organizing Institute fellow. Her poetry has been featured in Al Jazeera and The Washington Post. Her first self-published book, “Seven,” explores trauma and triumph through the lens of Black Muslim womanhood. She can be found on all social media @sadiyahamb.

A’niya Taylor is a spoken word artist, community advocate, and author of “The Space Between: The Hurting The Healing The Loving,” her debut poetry collection. She is the 2022-23 Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore, and has served as a Youth Poet Ambassador in 2020 and 2021. Previously, A’niya served as the captain of the Baltimore City Youth Poetry Team in 2021 and 2023. She won first place in the individual poetry slam at Brave New Voices in 2021; was nominated for Marylander of the year in 2020 for her artivism; and was interviewed for Duke University’s Archive in 2021. Through her poetry, A’niya aims to highlight the intersection between art, individual healing, and community healing.