Her Truth, Their Lies: Reclaiming the Dignity of C.P.

On Feb 21, 2025, I stood in the presence of some of the world’s leading Black History scholars at 1838 Black Metropolis x The Library Company x UPenn’s Symposium Conference—reclaiming Black Philadelphian voices in American history.

For those who don't get what this means to me, the 1838 Black Metropolis org is one of the most respected Black History establishments. The Library Company is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S., founded by Ben Franklin in 1731, and was the original Library of Congress. The American Psychology Society sits next to Independence Hall.

I was the only literary reading in the program, sharing a piece inspired by the 1830s mugshot of C.P.—an Afro-Indigenous woman vilified for her defiance. I saw her beauty. Her resilience. Her story deserved dignity.

There are so many ways to honor our ancestors, and research into the world they lived in is vital in shaping our understanding of all they had to endure.

Because, sometimes, simply surviving is an act of resistance.

Here is the recording in full. Watch. Listen. Learn.