Works of Justice 110 - A Stronger Desire to Live

PEN America

Our society is in the middle of a radical awakening. The twin pandemics of COVID-19 and the state-sanctioned killing of Black people have caused millions to rally for justice. “A STRONGER DESIRE TO LIVE” draws together a roster of powerful artists standing in to voice a tremendous series of prose, poetry, and drama works penned by award-winning incarcerated writers who have all experienced the brutal realities of what our nation calls justice. Tied together with original music by Kenyatta Emmanuel (https://kenyattaemmanuel.com), an artist and activist who has shared his music from Sing Sing to Carnegie Hall, the program is a moving tribute to the immense—and often hidden—talent behind the walls. The live release event was in partnership with Haymarket Books and featured an original slideshow with artwork sourced from Artists at Risk Connection, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, and The Confined Arts, and invited listeners to join in a live chat. View the amazing artwork slideshow at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxPA9FWkuIM