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During a live podcast recording, Lena Waithe rendered a very moving tribute to her mother, the renowned artist and poet Vivian Ayers Allen. The recording was so powerful that Waithe found it impossible to refrain from mentioning her mother’s great influence and the perpetual force of her creativity that revolved around liberation and self-actualization. This tender moment of sharing provided a rare glimpse into the artistic and philosophical root of Waithe’s character and career.
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The special TriBeCa X episode, which was a collaboration between the TriBeCa Festival and the TriBeCa Festival, featured a very appreciative Waithe, who said, ‘too small a word’ in reference to her mother’s legacy. She referred to Vivian Ayers Allen as the ‘artist, poet, playwright, scholar, publisher, and eternal light’ who lived for 102 years. With tears in her eyes, Waithe stated that she ‘sits taller whenever the late Vivian Ayers Allen is mentioned,” thus reiterating the profound impact of her mother’s leadership and the wisdom she symbolized.
During the discourse, it was indicated how the specific artistic and scholarly domain of Ayers Allen’s spouse dictated her lifestyle and motherhood. One of the memories of Waithe was about her mother’s major project ‘Hawk’ that she did not allow her child (Waithe) to get out of the picture in her mind, the child’s freedom was the same as the poet’s. Inquiring into the children’s thoughts about the poem, she would set them ‘on the steady run’ as their interpretation would not be so far from hers.
The children’s spirits would be like ‘nine suns up’ if they were to hear living concepts of space and time from their teachers that were not so far away from their mother’s imagination. The Ayers Allen family would engage the children with similar stories every morning so that by the time Waithe’s mother would come they would be rather ‘chirping’ than silent about the epicually rich birthday feast that could be so ‘simple’ for the grown-ups.
The entire time, the conversation revolved around ‘Ayers Allen’s philosophy and spirituality that influenced every new life or change in her life.’ Waithe explained that her mother ‘was always very perceptive about her children’s coping strategies’ hence making them ‘free people’ without any hostility directed towards anyone.
The case of Waithe’s mother’s financial independence through ‘her husband’s dental practice’ was at the end of her marriage when she was going through her divorce and quitting the dental social life and retreating into her writing and the children she raised, which she also did.
The topic of legacy was the major conversation that resonated very deeply with the audience who very often found it hard to have the same listening experience with the speaker. A man said, ‘This is just how I feel, and wow! I feel seen—thank you for being courageous to share it, for it is literally all about being completely free without the bondage that society places on you and that is only by yourself.’ This reaction illustrates that the inside freedom message from Ayers Allen still resonate with the times.
The soothing effect of the mutual communication was also interpreted by another listener’s remark: ‘Her voice has a calm and smoothing quality; I could listen to her for hours…How calming and smoothing.’ The quiet yet powerful nature of the dialogue seemed to create almost a meditative experience for most of the audience—one person even asked if Waithe could ‘begin a meditation series’ based on the thoughtful rhythm and reflective nature of the conversation.
Another issue concerning the collaboration between the artist Ayers Allen and John Biggers was also one of the discussions in the dialogue. Waithe told how recently her sister had displayed the early sketches of ‘Hawk’ that had only been kept hidden until then. This new detail added another layer to understanding the backing of the artist community and the closeness of relationships around people like Ayers Allen.
Several people wrote asking for ways to obtain Ayers Allen’s books, and one person asked, ‘It sounds so lovely; can we buy this book?’ while another commented, ‘Beautiful, I can’t wait to read it. I hope it’s still available.’ The increasing interest among public readers in Ayers Allen’s poetry is a strong indication that conversations about legacy can revive interest in artistic trends that might have otherwise been neglected.
One listener summed up the emotional impact of the discussion beautifully with, ‘This! Speechless but in a good way. Deep bow.’ This sentiment reflects the strong impact of the tale about a mother not only imparting the success but also allowing the freedom of being and developing a person’s potential.
Waithe’s sharing of her mother’s gift comes at a time when many are rethinking the definition of a truly significant life and a lasting impact. By uncovering those personal traits in her mother’s art practices and her philosophical parenting, Waithe has in fact opened the door to the virtues which are still guiding her work in the entertainment business. The exchange is a potent reminder that the legacies that last longest are not usually made from outside with accolades but are built on the internal freedoms that are nurtured and passed on to others.
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The entire event can be viewed later on the Hillman Grad YouTube channel, where the audience gets the chance to fully relish the talk on the inheritance of creativity and the legacy patterns that continue to vibrate through the generations of artists and dreamers. The conversation also touched on Lela Rochon‘s contributions to film. Additionally, Waithe recently hosted The Labor of Justice exhibition in Brooklyn.