Khalia Davis reflects on the joy and celebration shared within Black storytelling

Khalia Davis

During Black History Month, we will spotlight the voices of Black creatives. From content creators to co-founders, we’ve asked questions to those that inspire us to tell us what’s on their mind. The interview questions remain the same throughout, but the answers provide a unique view of every single person. 

Meet Khalia Davis, who is described as “a Black female artist staying young at heart by creating and celebrating work for and by young people.” With her nationwide known stories, she has helped reach thousands of young people through an interactive experience of both education and entertainment. She was recently named the Artistic Director at the Bay Area Children's Theatre, and previously held a position as Director of Inclusion and Education at Brooklyn Children’s Theater. 

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

Black History Month is a time to remember the pioneers and trailblazers that made a way for us to move ever more freely as ourselves in the world today. It is a time to reflect on the tenacity of the spirit of our ancestors who guide us on our collective journeys. It is a time for us to celebrate our heroes who refused to ignore injustice. I use Black History Month as a time for gratitude. I thank my icons for breaking down barriers and pushing aside obstacles I never have to face. I thank them for paving the way for future generations. I see this month as an opportunity to acknowledge those who are leading us today. Our history is happening now. We must embrace all of it, learn from it, and grow a brighter future because of it. 

How does your storytelling speak to the Black experience?

My identities are an essential part of how I show up in the world and in my work. As a Black woman, I am always looking to uplift and amplify the Black experience in positive ways. We are the most resilient people because even after enduring 400+ years of oppression, we are still a people who find joy in ourselves and in what we do. It is so infectious that others do all they can to emulate and even appropriate our culture. Whenever I produce a project or direct a show, I make sure to find a way to add joy to the narrative no matter what the initial subject is. Recently, I adapted and directed a new work based on the best-seller ‘A Kids Book About Racism’ by Jelani Memory called ‘A Kids Play About Racism’. In it, we follow our main character, Jelani at 12 years old, as he grapples with the harsh reality of racism in his life and how it personally affects him. This is a work for young audiences so I wanted the truth fully represented of what many in our community experience for most of our lives growing up in this world, but I also wanted them to see the smiles, the laughter, the joy and the ultimate celebration in who we are. The story I want to tell is one that says that yes, there are many who have worked tirelessly to extinguish our light but they will never succeed because we can't help but shine brightly in all we do.

What kind of stories do you feel still need to be highlighted for the Black Queer community?

I am a product of two beautiful, well-educated, God-fearing black mothers who brought me and my sister into the world but then realized that they were not meant to be together and split up. I experienced the life of sharing two homes growing up. I would love to see more Black families with queer parents. And more importantly, see them live their lives fully and with love: working, going to school, job searches, relationship issues, and general growing pains. So often the storyline follows the child's Queer journey in self-discovery, but I would love to showcase the normalcy of being raised by two Black Queer people. It will hopefully be a reflection for others like myself to see their life amplified in this positive way as well as an opportunity to normalize the beauty of all types of families for our young audiences. I have created a digital series called Nia's Neighborhood that centers on a Black puppet named Nia who is 7 years old and loves to explore her neighborhood and meet her neighbors. Here is a recent episode from 2020 Pride Month!

In celebration of Black History Month, Revry has curated a powerful collection of stories told by Black artists featuring films, TV series, music, and more. See the playlist on Revry.