Land and Labor Acknowledgment
Baltimore Black Dance Collective acknowledges that we gather, create, and dance on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples. We honor their enduring stewardship of this land and their continued presence.
We also honor the enslaved Africans who were forcibly brought to these lands, whose labor, artistry, and resilience shaped the foundations of this region and the cultural legacies we celebrate today. The intertwined struggles for justice and liberation among Indigenous and African diasporic communities ground our work in solidarity, resistance, and remembrance.
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Our mission is rooted in honoring these histories through movement, education, and advocacy. We hold this acknowledgment as a living commitment, not a single gesture.
Why We Acknowledge
This acknowledgment is a step toward truth-telling and repair. It aligns with BBDC’s mission to center African diasporic culture and to work toward equity in the arts and society. We recognize that these lands and this labor history have shaped Baltimore’s cultural landscape, and through our work, we seek to honor, uplift, and continue these legacies.
Our Commitments
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Education & Awareness: We will share resources, offer programming, and integrate the histories of Indigenous and African diasporic peoples into our educational and performance work.
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Representation & Partnership: We will create space for Black voices in our programming, collaborate on projects, and amplify cultural perspectives often erased or ignored.
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Visibility & Advocacy: We will use our platform to advocate for cultural sovereignty, equitable access to the arts, and policies that advance justice for Indigenous and Black communities.
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Reparative Practices: We will contribute a portion of our fundraising proceeds to Black-led organizations that preserve culture and empower communities.
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Living Commitment: This acknowledgment will be revisited regularly and tied to measurable actions in our annual strategic goals.