In October of 2021, Converge Media commissioned Seattle-based Poet & Author Chelsey Richardson to compose a spoken word piece to commemorate the launch of our Black Media Matters Studio in downtown Seattle and specifically to uplift our iconic interview wall, which was curated by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and designed by Creative Lou. 

In her poem Still Golden, Richardson reminds us that it is our right to take up space, to believe in a world where our ancestors live and breathe themselves into our work. She calls on those who are with us and those who are gone as if to say being “here” before this commemorative wall signifies our refusal to blend in and disappear. We are still here and still lighting up spaces in an effort to leave a clear and steady path behind us. We’re still golden. 

“We are honored to have Chelsey Richardson as the very first artist of any genre to perform in our Black Media Matters Studio. May her words set the tone for the future of these facilities,” said Converge Media CEO Omari Salisbury 

Chelsey’s book, All Water Has Perfect Memory, is out and available now at http://chelseyrichardson.org/