Ain't I A Griot

My name is Karen Marie, founder of Culture of You, a storytelling platform that centers identity and lived experience, healing, wisdom, and community. I’m launching Ain’t I A Griot!, a live storytelling series and digital archive that uplifts the voices of Black, Queer, and/or Trans people in Columbus, Ohio.

This project is inspired by the 1851 'Ain't I A Woman' speech Sojourner Truth delivered at The Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. In this speech, Sojourner Truth makes the case that America does not treat all women the same and with care...but yet...ain't she a woman? She shares her hardships and how no one but Jesus heard her cries and held her woes. My experience with storytelling is that everyone appreciates the product, but does not always understand how much funding is necessary to do it well, honor the individual participants, create the right environment, and produce quality archives. It is even more challening with the most historically marginalized identities. Sadly many of her statements from 1851 still ring true. My hope for this campaign is to show all of the ways I AM a griot and have people join in the storytelling and community building movement. 

We are living in a time when our stories are being twisted, censored, and erased in real-time by political forces and public systems. What’s at stake is not just representation, it’s our legacy. Ain’t I A Griot! is our response. Through live events, podcast recordings, produced communal entertainment opportunities, and a growing digital archive, this project captures the truth, brilliance, and resilience of Black and /or LGBTQIA+ lives, told directly by us, not rewritten by others.

There is currently no formal platform in Columbus dedicated to preserving and amplifying the personal narratives of Black, Queer, and/or Trans communities in this way. This is a cultural, political, and artistic gap—and also a massive opportunity. Columbus has nearly 1 million residents, with a vibrant population of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creatives, yet their stories are often overlooked in both historical documentation and public media.

Ain’t I A Griot! will solve this problem by:

• Hosting 20 live storytelling events that honor and celebrate Black, Queer, and Trans voices (within a 20 month period)
• Professionally recording and editing each story for YouTube release
• Transcribing and archiving each narrative in a free, accessible digital archive (YouTube)
• Creating a downloadable conversation guide for educators, community leaders, and cultural organizations

We are seeking funding to:

• Secure venues and pay featured storytellers equitably
• Hire professional editors and sound engineers
• Host and maintain the digital archive platform
• Promote the project locally and regionally

Our team includes:

• Myself, Karen Marie (artist and pen name) – a seasoned storyteller, culture bearer, cultural strategist, facilitator, multi-disciplinary artist, and founder of Culture of You
• A cohort of four Black and Queer drag kings over 40 and creatives as guests, story tellers, co-curators and performers
• A small, trusted production team skilled in recording, archiving, social media, and audience engagement

This project is about documenting history now. When the future looks back, I want them to have our voices, our truth—not just what they made up about us. Your support will make it possible for this powerful community archive to exist. Thank you for seeing the value in truth-telling, in cultural preservation, and in the magic of our people.