“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
— Alice Walker
As an organization born in response to systematic and racially motivated disinvestment in our community of North Philadelphia, honoring Black History and fighting for Black liberation is about much more than just one month. It is deeply embedded into our mission and our core values. At The Village, we are committed to intentionally seeking out and lifting up the stories, experiences, and ideas of all marginalized groups. We see Black History Month as a part of that storytelling effort; Black history is part of our collective history as a nation and a world, and we must commemorate it.
With that in mind, we want to express our gratitude for the many artists, community members, program participants, activists, and educators who have contributed to the celebration of Black life at The Village.
While we cannot acknowledge all the people who have left an indelible mark, we do want to highlight several Village guardians who have helped pave the way for a better future for Black artists, activists, and members of the Fairhill-Hartranft community and beyond. We are truly indebted to them and dedicate ourselves to carrying out their legacies.
Arthur Hall
A pioneering choreographer, teacher, and civil rights activist, Arthur Hall founded the Ile Ife Black Humanitarian Center in 1969, now the site of The Village’s main building. Ile Ife means “House of Love” or “House of Creation.”
While Hall was not from the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood, he made it his home and invited neighbors to become experts in African dance and drumming, regardless of skill. Ile Ife became a groundbreaking organization in the Black Arts Movement and helped modernize American dance by making it more inclusive. You can find a historical marker honoring Hall’s legacy outside the old Ile Ife building on 2544 Germantown Avenue.
JoJo Williams
JoJo Williams was a mason, a jack-of-all-trades, and one of the community members Arthur Hall befriended. JoJo helped Arthur transform an abandoned furniture warehouse into the Ile Ife Black Humanitarian Center.
Years later, Arthur introduced JoJo to Lily Yeh, an artist and the eventual co-founder of The Village. JoJo served as a connector between Lily, who was considered an outsider, and the community, bridging the gap. Jojo and Lily joined with neighbors to transform the vacant lots bordering 2544 Germantown Avenue. They created Ile Ife Park, which includes the iconic three-story high “Ile Ife Guardian” mural on the building’s exterior, featuring a mythical owl representing wisdom passed down between generations.
Big Man
Jojo invited his friend James “Big Man” Maxton, The Village’s co-creator, to work with Lily Yeh, and that’s how he fell in love with mosaics. Big Man was an exceptional artist, craftsman, and teacher. He helped to create Angel Park, one of our most loved murals. They drew inspiration for the angels from Ethiopian Magic Scrolls, which people would wear as necklaces for protection. In addition to his artistic work, Big Man served as operations manager for The Village.
Ms. Nandi Muhammad
Ms. Nandi became part of The Village through the SPACES Artist-in-Residence program in 2015, when she became the subject of a documentary project about the Penny Candy Store she ran alongside her husband, Khalid. Candy was the vehicle to teach kids about Black history, finances, math, and so much more.
She became a friend and informal community advisor to The Village, eventually joining us part-time. She served as a mentor and Elder In-Residence, advised us on almost every project and program, and was a fellow for our 2021 campus-wide exhibition, Staying Power.
Ms. Nandi was also an accomplished textile artist. She created the banners for Philadelphia Assembled, and her beautiful rugs and flags hang in The Village and homes around Philadelphia.
We thank these extraordinary Black leaders for their incredible visions, generosity, and creativity.
Here are several resources to help mark Black History Month: