The Brief – February
FEBRUARY 2022 CONTENT Ubuntu The Festival of Ideas at Charlotte SHOUT! 5 Questions with Arts Advocate David R. Taylor, President and CEO, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture A Word JULY 2021 Ubuntu On this the final day of Black History Month, a brief reflection on the African term Ubuntu rises as fitting.
“Humanity” is one translation of this Bantu word. In fact, its meaning carries subtle differences across southern Africa’s Bantu family of languages, which comprising Kikuyu, Swahili, Xhosa, Zulu and hundreds of languages and dialects. A common interpretation is: I am who I am because we are who we are. Or more simply put, I am because we are.
The revered and recently deceased South African theologian Desmond Tutu expressed it this way:
One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu: the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks specifically about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation.
Africans have elevated the concept of Ubuntu to a philosophy. In this moment of tensions and crises exacerbated by the global pandemic and now looming threat of a world war, this is a philosophy that extols our interdependence and mutuality. Jeffrey Davis, The Charlotte Center's last Forum speaker, spoke of Ubuntu in terms of being open to finding wonder in the genius and humanity of every person. Ubuntu holds power to heal each of us as well as communities and the world.
In the spirit of Ubuntu, please ponder: Who are we to become? What might we imagine for us? How might we flourish together?
We are excited to announce The Festival of Ideas at Charlotte SHOUT! “AN IDEA IS SALVATION BY IMAGINATION.”
–FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Join us April 8-10 for three days of extraordinary forums, discussions, and performances fueling ideas for a more flourishing community. Register today! 
5 Questions • David R. Taylor An interview with the arts advocate and president of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
BY VALAIDA FULLWOOD
David R. Taylor has served as president and CEO of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture since 2009. Building long-term sustainability, while providing impactful programming, has been a major goal. In a 2017 fundraising campaign, The Gantt raised $7MM to support programming and its Initiative for Equity and Innovation. In 2020, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded The Gantt $1MM for digital transformation. Taylor has successfully led The Gantt through the challenges of the pandemic. His leadership in Charlotte has also included board service with several nonprofits, including the Urban League and the Arts and Science Council.
Your earlier career was in the finance industry, what drew you to an arts and culture organization?
After career success in the financial services business, one day a peer spoke to me about getting involved in public service through volunteering and supporting nonprofit organizations. At the time, I was encouraged to get involved with the Urban League of Central Carolinas. That was my foray into involvement with community-based organizations. Once I completed six years of service there, the question came up about where I wanted to serve next. I had been the Urban League’s board chair, treasurer and building committee chair. I realized that I wanted to serve on the board of the Afro-Am Center (a former colloquial name for The Gantt).
That was my focus, because I believe it is important that Charlotte’s Black leaders have the courage to get involved with and to lead Black organizations to ensure these organizations benefit of our talents and resources. Historically there’s the tendency to sit on the boards of mainstream, predominantly white organizations. I, personally, thought it was important to serve a Black organization. We know some of our organizations struggle, and we need our best leaders navigating them to a better position.
At the same time, I was serving on a mainstream board and realized I wasn’t motivated to serve that organization, because I really was not needed. I wanted something that better reflected who I am and my culture. The Gantt was that place.
After more than 15 years on the board and then staff of The Gantt, has being surrounded by art and regularly engaging with artists changed you? If so, how?
It has certainly helped me grow, no question about it. It has allowed me to understand the power of art. Expression of art is a common denominator that brings diverse people together. Art is part of what can close the divides that exist in our society.
I’ve also learned more about the great diversity of artists. They represent facets of America. I get to work with a cross-section of people, which has helped me develop a deeper appreciation for diversity. I have the opportunity to see who these artists are and what they are about. In many respects, this has perhaps been the most rewarding part for me.
My happy place, as boring as it may seem, is really gaining achievements here at The Gantt. As we continue to elevate and reach new milestones, those are the moments I’m most proud of and when I’m my happiest. It is what drives me. Seeing the Center ascend and continue to make impact in this community and across the region is my happy place.
We’re wrapping up Black History Month, how do you view The Gantt’s role and accomplishments in preserving Black history in Charlotte?
The Gantt’s role is critical. It is important that we tell the story of Black history and Black culture, as we recount the past achievements of icons and great historical figures. We also want to make it relevant today, in terms of the impact of Black people on this country, our journey of the past 400-plus years, and what we’re continuing to contribute now in real-time.
We advance the truth about what Black people have accomplished and contributed to America. The Gantt provides that recognition and helps set that table for a greater appreciation of Black people’s integral role in what this country has become, particularly for people who normally may not pause to hear that. We go beyond “preaching to the choir”.
We want to ensure more Black people are included and are a part of creating new American history. Focusing on what’s happening now, it is important that we champion this generation and the next generation having the opportunity to shape what’s to come, just as we have for over 400 years.
The Gantt is coming up on 50 years, what are your hopes for its next 50 years?
Fifty years ago, we were a new organization, emerging simply from the idea of some college professors and college students. To be around 50 years later, having spanned five or six decades, is amazing.
What excites me about the next decade or next five decades is that we are now positioned to be the blueprint of what institutions of color can be. We come to work every day, and we have the privilege of being the architects of that vision. We haven’t had many examples to follow among Black-led institutions.
Fifty years is a long way down the road, yet in this decade we have the opportunity to be recognized as one of the country’s premier organizations that is inclusive in telling the story of America. The Gantt is positioned to be a champion of equity, inclusion, and the power of the arts to close gaps and to bridge differences. Follow David’s work at The Gantt!
About The Charlotte Center WHERE THE CURIOUS ENGAGE FOR GOOD.
Our mission is to help people and communities flourish. The Charlotte Center accomplishes its mission by bringing people together to explore challenges and opportunities that affect human flourishing through the lens of the humanities and civic imagination. Our programs deepen human connection and strengthen personal and civic agency.
The more we know about ourselves, the wiser we are in what we do.
Why must we gather? OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. gratitude to our sponsors 
Thank you to all of our generous donors and sponsors that make our work possible. A WORD 
Until you know how African you are, you will never know how American you are.
ROBERT FARRIS THOMPSON, PH.D. American art historian and professor 
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Word to the Wise is compiled and edited monthly by Valaida Fullwood Design by Goldenrod Design Co. |
