Unerasing Incarcerated Women

Women behind bars are mostly invisible in the public discourse around mass incarceration. Their absence has translated into policies that are equally silent on solutions that respond to their needs before, during and following imprisonment.

Black women are incarcerated at 1.6 times the rate of white women; many are survivors of abuse and violence and most are mothers.

Unerased | Black Women Speaks aims to support the movement to end mass incarceration by showcasing the stories of incarcerated Black women whose voices have been absent from the public discourse.

Prison Beyond the Walls

Bold and unbossed Unerasing Incarcerated Women

Rebuilding the Ballot Box: The Journey to Voting Rights Restoration for Formerly Incarcerated People

Bold and unbossed Unerasing Incarcerated Women

From Incarceration to Advocacy: Kemba Smith Pradia’s Unyielding Fight for Voting Rights and Justice

Just Saying Unerasing Incarcerated Women

Cheffery with a Cause

Unerasing Incarcerated Women: Kemba Film Screening and Talk Back

Date: September 19th
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Parkway Central Library – 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Sponsored By: Unerased I Black Women Speaks & The Free Library of Philadelphia

The evening will begin with a screening of the film “Kemba,” which tells the harrowing yet inspiring story of Kemba Smith’s journey from a college student to a federal prisoner, and her eventual pardon. Kemba chronicles a young woman’s transformation from a victim targeted by the federal government’s “war on drugs” to a champion for other Black women trapped inside prison cages across America. Kemba sheds light on the profound issues within the criminal justice system that disproportionately affect women, particularly women of color.

Following the screening, we are honored to host a talk-back session with Kemba Smith and Kadida Kenner, CEO of New Pennsylvania Project. Author, advocate, and speaker, Kemba will share personal insights, delving deeper into the film’s themes. Her takeaway emphasizes the urgent need to protect the rights and dignity of women behind bars and a transformation of this nation’s mass incarceration system.

Local Advocacy Partners:

Atlanta, GA