Hannah Drake offers a powerful, inspirational message that has been heard in various arenas around the world. Hannah has had the distinguished privilege of opening for political and social justice activist, Angela Davis, National Book Award Winner and poet, Nikky Finney, author and motivational speaker, Iyanla Vanzant, honorable judge and TV personality, Judge Gregory Mathis, and rapper and music producer, BIG K.R.I.T. Hannah has served as a presenter at Ideas Festival at WKU and in Louisville, KY as a panelist with CNN chief national correspondent, John King. In April 2017, Hannah had the honor of curating an evening of performance artists for the Festival of Faiths entitled Compassion Rising which reflected how arts could have an impact on the compassion. In November 2017, Hannah’s poem Spaces was selected by the National Academy of Medicine to be featured in a national art exhibit that speaks to visualizing health equity. Also, Hannah was chosen as a 2017 Hadley Creatives, a partnership between the Community Foundation of Louisville and Creative Capital to help local artists build their professional practice, cultivate an expanded peer network and dedicate time for reflection and planning. In December 2017 Hannah was honored for her work by the Kentucky Alliance of Against Racist and Political Repression.
In 2014, she joined Roots and Wings, a dynamic group of artists that seek to bring social change to their community. In 2015 and 2016, Hannah Drake, along with the members of Roots and Wings were able to perform their written plays, The West End Poetry Opera and The Blood Always Returns, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.
“Always leave crumbs & footprints detailing your greatness for those that are coming behind you.”
In 2016, Hannah’s poem Formation poem went viral being shared over 20,000 times around the world. A lover of writing and social justice, Hannah’s new blog offers commentary on current events and has been viewed around the world. Hannah’s work is filled with passion and truth, believing that communication is indeed the beginning of change. Hannah is the author of several works of poetry, Hannah‘s Plea-Poetry for the Soul, Anticipation, Life Lived In Color, In Spite of My Chains, For Such A Time As This and So Many Things I Want to Tell You-Life Lessons for the Journey. Her debut novel Views from the Back Pew was received with stellar reviews and was performed on stage to a sold-out audience. Her follow-up novel, Fragile Destiny has been hailed as life-changing. Currently, Hannah is working on a new collection of poetry and life lessons, entitled Love, Revolution, and Lemonade. Her powerful, honest delivery has garnered her the nickname, "Brimstone." More information about Hannah can be found at her website www.hannahldrake.com.
All your life, you have taken a gamble on everyone and everything else, but this year is YOUR YEAR! Dare yourself to take a chance on you. Your dreams are right in front of you. All you have to do is take a gamble! You have one life. What would your life look like if you decided today, I am BETTING ON ME?
As Black Women working 9-5, second shift, third shift, figuring out how to perform a blowjob or cunnilingus, pick our kids up from daycare, bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan, all while trying to protect our husbands, wives, partners, sons, and daughters from […]
Everybody wants to be Black until it’s time to be Black. Everybody loves the rhythm, but no one wants to deal with the blues. Everyone wants to Milly Rock in the rain, but no one wants to get wet. A Black costume is enough. The reality is, being a Black woman is something no White woman really wants to deal with.
On an episode of The View, Sunny Hostin was speaking about the hypocrisy of Republicans to impeach a president for perjury yet refuse to impeach Trump for clearly attempting to conspire with a foreign government for his gain. Meghan-My-Dad-Was-John-McCain didn’t listen to the totality of what Sunny was […]
For many White people, they have a perception of Black women as caricatures. In their minds Black women are either, The “It’s Handled Olivia Pope” Black Woman, “The Clean Up Our Messes Mammy” Black Woman, “The Eye Rolling, Finger Snapping, Quick Witted Auntie” Black Woman, “The Crack Whore” Black Woman, “The Affirmative Action Served Her Well So She’s Acceptable” Black Woman, “The Hottentot Venus, Arouse Us and Let Us Exploit You,” Black Woman.
How long must we as Kentucky residents dwell near the bottom while Mitch continues to reap all the benefits of being at the top? Mitch McConnell has been in the senate seat for 35 years. Thirty-Five Years. Like Janet Jackson, so eloquently declared, “What have you done for me lately?”
It is not enough to have a Black woman as a figurehead in the diversity, equity, and inclusion department. It is not enough to have an organization with catchy socially aware slogans on the wall and roll out the Pride Flag once a year. It is not the decorations that make a company diverse and inclusive. Inclusivity is a culture, and it is one that takes intentionality. Inclusivity doesn’t just happen. People who care and have the ability to impact the organization have to make it happen. Inclusion starts at the head. Real inclusion cannot be like a bowl of artificial fruit. It can’t be for decoration. If you really want to deal with diversity, equity and inclusion move beyond the “stuff” and start doing the work.
I understand that Daniel Cameron may be a nice person; however, this is NOT the time to root for everybody Black. My goal is not to put down Cameron. I am sure he is a nice man. Invite him to dinner. Invite him to have a beer. You may even invite him to your cookout but do not invite him to the Attorney General seat on Election Day.
In Less Than 3 Seconds.
What is the value and worth of a Black woman’s life?
How long does a Black woman have to reveal her humanity?
How long can a woman be in her home simply existing while Black?
In America, it is less than 3 seconds…
Judge Kemp played into the narrative that White women will always be seen as the victim. It is not Botham’s memory and justice for this life that is the focal point of the nation, but it is Judge Kemp’s response that is now the story. It is now a story of Black people that have been victimized by White people offering White people forgiveness. It is now the story of Black people taking the obligatory high road even as we bury our loved ones.
