SPEAKER

Sarah Williams (Footprint Enterprises Inc, Mahana Culture & RMIT University)

Topic

This seminar explores the building of political voices of young South Sudanese Australians to resist racialising discourses, particularly through Hip Hop. Describing four types of alternative forms of artivism, the presentation draws on empirical evidence from a youth participatory action research project facilitated by a small non-profit organisation: Footprints.

In this presentation, Sarah will examine how the political voice of this group of young South Sudanese Australians manifests in important new ways that conventional theories of activism and resistance may not capture – namely, through participation in Hip Hop as a New Social Movement and through creating alternative subcultures.

Utilising Critical Hip Hop Pedagogy, participants embark on consciousness-raising practices around racialising discourses. By re-framing and asserting their multiple identities, young people establish themselves as social agents in the world, i.e. by promoting pride in their Blackness and their culture, rather than acquiescing to racialising discourses.

About the speaker

Sarah Williams

Sarah has worked as an Intercultural Community Development Practitioner and Youth Worker for over a decade.  Soon to graduate from her PhD, Sarah’s research methodology involves Action Research investigating creative sites for social change regarding racial social justice issues. Her interest in arts-based development projects is driven by the question of how “being born to stand out” manifests.

Sarah is Co-founder of Footprint Enterprises Inc. an organisation which focuses on creating spaces to bring about social change through the creative arts.

Sarah currently works as an educator and research and evaluation lead at Mahana Culture and RMIT university.

Eligibility

VTMH seminars are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.  

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