Black Soul Rejuvenation Library

The Black Soul Rejuvenation Library is an online and offline platform to archive works of literature, music, art, movies, videos, anything, that contributes to the rejuvenation of the black soul. A resource and space for rejuvenation created by the people, the Black Soul Rejuvenation Library also hosts workshops, talks, and ventures into creating safe spaces for POC.

Kasem writes: This project was started prior to the presidential election with the intent to provide spaces of refuge for POC and other oppressed minority groups from the gaze of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. It began with the need for myself to find digital platforms where I was no longer subjected to watching black people being killed by police and spending time online looking at those who uphold white supremacy comment on different videos, threads, and websites flaunting racist mindsets. After the presidential election spaces of safety and refuge are even more necessary now white supremacy is no longer covert but is practiced throughout the highest forms of government, energizing those who believe in the false dream to exercise racism, bigotry, and hate.

The Manifesto For The Black Soul Rejuvenation Library

The black person seeking soul rejuvenation and renewal.
We are tired, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Rejuvenation is key, in the age of self-preservation.
Our bodies are fragile, but our souls are full of a thousand songs, poems, books, the rejuvenation library.
We are asking for a year of relaxation, reflection, safety.
The spa year for the black soul, self-love, safety and tranquility in reminder that you are not alone in the struggle for black liberation.
Rest your body in the warm words and songs of Solange, Nina Simone, James Baldwin, caressed by Audre Lorde.
Full soul massage, free of charge, supplied by the black love and black blood in our veins.
We are, in love with ourselves, and each other.
Purely refreshed, the rejuvenated body / soul , pure honey.
New body, celebration of blackness.
We are, in love with ourselves, and each other.

The Black Soul Rejuvenation Library was conceived and curated by CMU School of Art third-year undergraduate Kasem Kydd. It was exhibited at the CMU Frame Gallery from March 24 – April 2, 2017, and was supported in part by Microgrant #2017-009 from the Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art @ the Frontier. The exhibition was reviewed by Gowri Sunder in The Tartan [PDF] and remains online in an Instagram channel.