Project Description

BU’s Race, Prison, Justice Arts Project brings together student artists with incarcerated individuals at Suffolk County Jail to share in music, theater, spoken word, movement, visual art, and other creative works and to work collaboratively to explore story telling through various artistic mediums. The BU Prison Arts project believes in the power of the arts to build community and understanding, express and affirm identity, and to cultivate joy and meaningful connection. 
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The theme of our fall 2023 visits was, “Why the Caged Bird Sings” based on Maya Angelou’s book. We centered this theme on considering what it means to be human and how we all create cages for ourselves. All of us have a right to sing, to share our stories, to express our lives, dreams, sorrows, and experiences. These masks were created by all participants to represent a time in their lives when they needed to hide a part of themselves. The mask represents where they have been and the act of taking off the mask is a vision of where you want to be, a vision for the future.

The works you see featured below have been submitted by our participating artists
Caged Bird
by MAYA ANGELOU
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

​The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

 Maya Angelou, “Caged Bird” from Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?
Copyright © 1983 by Maya Angelou.

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FEATURED ARTWORKS

Banana Me and Once Lost

by Science

True feelings from a man who has never written content for public viewing. Soon to be known - in television, movies, and books.

Feel free to reach out with any encouragement at  [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Self-Portrait

By Thomas Banguela  

This is a picture of me now and in the future. A bold, strong, and confident manifestation of who I am. 

Change Starts With You

By Rebecca Bartholomew

​A poem I wrote and image I traced inspired by our class and "why the caged bird sings." 

Everlast 

By "Universe"

This poem was made to motivate one to higher heights within themselves to accomplish the extraordinary. I am a person who loves to inspire. I believe in connecting with one another and I live to be alive. ​

A Jail Bird's Song, Death to A Flower, Remembering Our Future, Reviving...Please Stand By, The Violinist. & Untitled Drawing

By John Fifi

Haitian born, came to America at the age of 4 years old. I love dancing, ice skating, snowboarding, long boarding, cooking, and love writing!