This program features new works created for our new virtual world by 1Hood Media artists, JM The Poet and Amun Ray. Their multi-genered works respond to the themes of Black Joy and Black Resilience. 1Hood Media is a collective of socially conscious artists and activists who utilize art to raise awareness of social justice issues around the world.

Streamed on The Show Must Go On(line) Pittsburgh channel. (run-time 75 minutes)

Featured Performers:

Amun Ray is a young black multi-platform artist with a stronger focus on visual arts. He was raised within the arts and from a young age he was either painting a picture, writing a story or poem, or on stage performing. For Amun Ray, the arts have always been therapeutic, helping him make sense of the surrounding world. His talents have lead to one of the greatest accomplishments of his life, designing a community park in Wilkinsburg. Overall the arts have always been in his life in one way or another Ray has spent most of his life dealing with both physical and mental health issues, in addition to bullying. Even though he has been painting and drawing from a young age, it wasn’t until 10 did he truly use art-making as expression and an escape. Ray is a Creative consultant/ artivist for 1hood Media.

JM the Poet is a 25 year old artist from Columbia, SC. Now based out of Pittsburgh, PA, he is making a name for himself as a rapper, poet and songwriter. Jay has always been known around his peers as a talented artistic soul, and is dedicated to telling his story using his god given gifts. His lyrical approach to music shows the effort and thought that he puts into work while still being able to catch the listeners’ attention. He is a performing and teaching artist with 1Hood Media and now a label mate on the Driving While Black collective with artists such as Livefromthecity and Jordan Montgomery. Check out his music on all streaming platforms

1Hood Media builds liberated communities through art, education, and social justice. We offer performance, written and visual art to connect communities and amplify messages. We offer consultation to artists seeking to establish a fruitful independent career and organizations who wish to establish a culture of equity and activism. In addition, 1Hood Media provides youth based training in media literacy and the creation of media via 1Hood Media Academy. Focused on social justice and training arts entrepreneurs, the Academy provides a platform for artists to tell their own stories and provides avenues for young people to utilize their own gifts and talents to secure financial sustainability. 1Hood Media also organizes and promotes educational and performance-based forums as a part of our programming. 1hood.org