JA Contributing Writer
Tougaloo College was the site of the Convocation: A Gathering of Black Women Artists. This Convocation was extraordinary and cannot be compared to any other event Tougaloo has hosted. The Convocation spotlighted the artistry and creativity of Black women who have been marginalized and excluded from the mainstream of music, film, musical theater, masterclasses, and literary consumption by gatekeepers in the entertainment and publishing industries.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, raised in Magnolia, Mississippi, and a Tougaloo alum, put a punctuation mark on what Black women artists have to offer that is not being given the exposure, notoriety, elevation, and monetary rewards others receive with half the talent and/or creativity. The Convocation brought a Black sisterhood to life, one existing in an underground way but not been acknowledged or presented openly, as it was during the 3-day gathering October 31 to November 2, 2025…