Black Art in America Hosts Groundbreaking Conversation on Tradition, Ancestors, and the Black Southern Experience

“Spirits of the South” Brings Art, Ancestors, and African Spirituality to Life in East Point

East Point, GA — On Saturday, May 31st from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, the Black Art In America Gallery will host a dynamic and deeply resonant conversation titled Spirits of the South: A Dialogue on Art, Ancestors, and Tradition. The event brings together three thought leaders at the intersection of creativity, culture, and spirituality: visual artist Najee Dorsey, spiritualist and psychotherapist Dr. Ifetayo Ojeladé, and Morehouse College African American Studies professor Dr. Sam Livingston.

Framed by the evocative visual narratives of Najee Dorsey—whose mixed-media works weave together history, folklore, and ancestral memory—this public dialogue offers attendees a rare glimpse into how the Black South functions as a spiritual and cultural bridge to African tradition.

The conversation will unfold at the crossroads of Southern folklore and contemporary Black art, offering insights into how ancestral practices and spiritual remembrance remain foundational in Black American identity today. The event is particularly timely, resonating with themes popularized in the recent film Sinners—yet it intentionally moves beyond cinematic tropes to confront the real, rooted legacy of African spirituality in the South.

Dr. Ifetayo Ojeladé, founder of A Healing Paradigm and an initiate in the Yoruba Ifa tradition, will explore the psychological and spiritual layers of Dorsey’s work. Joining her, Dr. Sam Livingston will bring academic context to how Southern Black traditions have preserved West African cosmologies and cultural values—often through art, storytelling, and oral histories.

At a moment when popular culture flirts with spiritual aesthetics, Spirits of the South dives deeper—inviting audiences to reflect on what has always been present: a vibrant, sacred continuum between past and present, art and ancestry, Africa and the American South.

Admission is free and open to the public. The event will be held at Black Art In America Gallery, located in East Point, GA. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is limited.