Season 1 Episode 4: Black Women Be Creating With Michelle Browder

Using art to reveal truth...today we talk with Michelle Browder: artist, activist, and artivist who creates art commemorating Black women in joy and love. Michelle describes the inspiration and process in building The Mothers of Gynecology monument, as well as purchasing the building at the site of Dr. Marion Simm’s experiments, reclaiming it as a space for the maternal health of Black women, and changing the medical profession through her art. Offering:  Letting the spirit of a Black woman emanate in your space. For more content created for Black women, by Black women, visit tarryingplace.org.

Our guest today:

Michelle is a native of Denver, Colorado. At the age 7, Michelle and her family moved to rural Verbena, Alabama in the late 70’s. Michelle experienced bullying through racial bias at an early age. Out spoken as a child, Michelle began combating her attackers through physical confrontations leading to multiple suspensions. During her last suspension,  Michelle’s father gave her an ultimatum, “Prison or Art.” He challenged her to seize the moment to be creative. At the age of 13, Michelle harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit and started a hand painted T-shirt business. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia and attended the Art Institute of Atlanta studying Graphic Design and Visual Communications. For nearly 35 years, Michelle has used art, history, and “real talk” conversations to mentor marginalized and disfavored students through visual arts and spoken word. She has created and branded art diversion programs used by juvenile detention centers in Atlanta, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. Michelle’s art has been shown in galleries across the country notably the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. She has painted for Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, and countless other stars. She opened a gallery and restaurant called PJR’S FISH AND BBQ RESTAURANT that employed high school students, returning citizens, and the homeless. Michelle has traveled across the country speaking and motivating our children to be More Than a statistic, generalization, or stereotype. She challenges all children and students to defy the odds of victimization. Today, Michelle is the founder and director of I AM MORE THAN... Youth Empowerment Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. She owns and operates More Than Tours, a social business providing educational tours for nearly 10,000 underserved students in marginalized communities of color. Michelle’s mission is simple,“Exposing Our Children To The Truth, Will Give Them Access To A Seat At The Table.” The 2023 Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey Second Annual Day Of Reckoning