There are a few individuals in the world that continue to shore up my belief in a just social future, one that can be forged and sustained through performance. Every time I encountered Sekou Sundiata, I felt so deeply inspired to believe and to act.

Last year I witnessed Sekou perform the 51st Dream State at the Walker. That performance, conjuring a more just future vision of the United States, and ensuing conversations about citizenship, inspired me to invite Sekou to speak this June at the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference. Sekou shared powerful poetry and quiet insights, including the belief that documents such as the Declaration of Independence can sustain their radicality through ongoing dialogue. It’s all of our great misfortune that Sekou’s keynote address turned out to be his last public conversation.

Sekou inspired so many to believe that the arts and storytelling could lead to dialogue rather than diatribe. I’m so sorry the man himself is no longer with us but the words and ideas live on.