Free To Be More: Creative Activism in the Era of Black Lives Matter

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Syrus Marcus Ware (5 Otter Literary Inc.) Ra'anaa Yaminah Ekundayo (5 Otter Literary Inc.)

Free To Be More

Name: Free To Be More
Price: 68.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781779401328

Creative Activism in the Era of Black Lives Matter

Syrus Marcus Ware (5 Otter Literary Inc.), Ra'anaa Yaminah Ekundayo (5 Otter Literary Inc.), d'bi.young anitafrika

$68.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

University of Regina Press
12 May 2026

Social discrimination; Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies; Pressure groups & lobbying

Celebrating the artists at the forefront of a Black aesthetic renaissance and how they harness the arts to shape a freer future

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department and the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet during a health episode attended by Toronto Police Services in the turbulent summer of 2020, communities rose up in rage, grief, and resistance. Alongside mass protests came an outpouring of creative expression by Black artists, producing art that helped make sense of the moment and mobilize for change.

Today, as anti-Black violence persists—fueled by the rise of white supremacy and fascism, even within the highest levels of government—Black artists, too, persist in painting, dancing, drawing, writing, and expressing their outrage and hope.

Free to Be More honours the creative revolutionary labour of Black artists, past and present. This vibrant collection of essays, poems, images, and interviews affirms the deep connection between art and activism. More than that, it’s a testament to how art can amplify a movement and offer tools to gather, organize, and enact transformative interventions in anti-Black racism.

Continuing and expanding the conversation from the bestselling Until We Are Free, Free to Be More brings together contributions from Rodney Diverlus, Ravyn Wngz, Aisha Sasha John, Camille Turner, and other visionary artists to serve as both a singular creative archive and a rallying cry for future changemakers.

With: d'bi.young anitafrika
Edited by: Syrus Marcus Ware (5 Otter Literary Inc.), Ra'anaa Yaminah Ekundayo (5 Otter Literary Inc.)
Imprint: University of Regina Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 150g
ISBN: 9781779401328
ISBN 10: 1779401329
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 12 May 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Scholar, visual artist, activist, curator, educator, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada. An assistant professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University, he is the co-editor of the bestselling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada. He lives in Tkaronto. Dr. Ra’anaa Yaminah Ekundayo (ABD) is a multimedia activist scholar who co-founded and currently chairs Black Lives Matter Sudbury. Dr. d’bi.young anitafrika is an African Jamaican Dubpoet, playwright, performer, and educator. A triple Dora Award winner and author of twelve plays, seven books, and seven Dub poetry albums, they are also the founding Artistic Director of the Watah Theatre and founding Educational Director of the Black Theatre School, both located in Toronto.

Reviews for Free To Be More: Creative Activism in the Era of Black Lives Matter

“A treasure trove of creation & struggle.” -- Sandy Hudson “More than a book, this is your invitation to join a gathering steeped in hope.” -- Dr. Natalie Wall, author of Black Expression and White Generosity: A Theoretical Framework of Race