Leading The Pathway To Afrofuturism

An Interview with Performing Artist

Written by Kimberly Knight 

Photography provided by Jonathon Leach

Pierce Freelon poses on the steps of NorthStar Church of the Arts in Durham, NC

Grammy nominated musician and Emmy Award-winning co-creator of the PBS series the “Beat Making Lab”, Pierce Freelon, has served as an advocate, community activist, and former Durham City Council Member in the Durham community for many years. He is the co-director, writer, and composer for the PBS animated series, “The History of White People in America”, which has caught the attention of the Tribeca Film Festival. His work as a professor, musician, and his creative talents have earned him numerous accolades. He is a founder of Blackspace, an Afrofuturist digital maker space for children that empowers them to dream creatively and explore various forms of art. He is the founder of the children’s boutique media company, Galactic South and he released the album, AnceStars, with his mother, multi-Grammy nominated artist, Nnenna Freelon. This historical release signified the first time a mother and son were nominated for a Grammy during the same Grammys Ceremony. 

How iconic is that and Freelon has released music and videos centered on honoring African American history, culture, families, and artistry. He released a music single and video dedicated to African American actor, director, and television personality, Levar Burton. His video “Braid My Hair” starring his daughter, Stella Freelon, became an empowering video of showing an African American father and his daughter bonding while enjoying time for self-care. In May 2023, he released a book entitled, Daddy & Me, Side by Side, a children’s book focused on a father and son spending in nature while creating new memories together. However, it’s Freelon’s attention to detail, connection with his art, and community-driven ambition to inspire others to dream, that makes him someone to watch. He’s been featured on major networks and programming such as CNN, MSNBC, Today Show, NPR Morning Edition, and of course Substantial Magazine.

It’s true, Freelon has accomplished many amazing accolades. However, his role as a husband and a father has shined brightly through his talents and you can see that it is his greatest accomplishment of them all. An accomplishment he was able to share within in his creative works but also in honor of his beloved late father and renowned architect, Phil Freelon. The Substantial Team President, Greg Hedgepeth, had an opportunity for a candid interview with Freelon in honor of the North Carolina Museum of Art exhibition of two-time Oscar-Award winning costume designer, Ruth E. Carter and Freelon’s perspectives on Afrofuturism.

When did you really develop? You mentioned that you’re an artist? When did you really develop a passion for the arts?

I think this world is full of art and so is Durham. I don’t know if you could hear just in the faint distance that train whistle? To me, that’s growing up in Durham. Hearing the explosions of the fireworks from the Durham Bulls stadium at the end of a Durham Bulls game is music to my ears. Being immersed in nature where you are kind of walking through looking underneath rocks and it was spending time with my dad and my siblings in the woods. That is a beautiful landscape. The artist is God and just look at this beautiful creation. A creator made this stuff, right and we as people also have the privilege of creating things. Life is art. Speech and voice is song, Movement is dance, especially as Black folks. I feel like our DNA is laden with creative energies and vibrations. It is one of the reasons why you know, we hear a beat, like it’s just in us. It is tethered to our souls. So, for me, I don’t know a time that I wasn’t living an art-filled creative life. I just found a way to take the practices that felt intuitive, natural, abundant for me, and make money while doing it. That’s really when you become an artist, presumably, when you can sustain yourself in capitalism through the art that you make. That started, I guess, in high school and college when I started doing shows. So, but you know, I guess I would say I’ve always been an artist and now I just get paid to do it.

Pierce Freelon serves as host of Substantial's Afrofuturism talk in collaboration with the NC Museum of Art

We’re talking about Afrofuturism and I would like to know how do you get that? How do you know? What is that feeling? What has been challenging in that process?

So that’s three questions. Extraordinary. So, I’ll start with the, you know and so I learned very early in my career, I wear a lot of hats. You look at my Wikipedia page and be like, “Hey, brother, how you do all that?” I don’t do it all at the same time. I’ve learned through experience that I can only do three things at a time. That’s my limit. Well, let me put it this way, I can only do three things well at a time. Therefore, any one of those things is like a family. You know what I mean? I can’t take on more than three projects simultaneously. My family is so wonderful, graceful, and considerate of my career. You hold it down with the fam for a minute while I go get this work, you know what I mean. She’s able, as a mother, to be able to hold it down for the family. To make sure that kids are cared for and nurtured with the attention of all the things they need. While I go for five weeks in the Dominican Republic to handle this residency that I just wrapped in November. So that that requires, again, a village of folks who can pour into my kids. So, they don’t feel at a loss when I’m doing what I need to do for my spirit, my community, and for breaded for sustenance for our family. So yeah, I know my limits. I think part of it, too, is something my dad taught me, you know, which is to quiet myself if I can. That if I have a serious, conflicting set of opportunities that are all dope, and I need to come to a decision knowing that my limit is like three things. It’s like, what do I need to put down in order so I can pick this up?

Talk to me about the influence of your mother and father, your whole family really. I think I’ve even read somewhere where it was saying you are the first family of art and creativity in Durham. How did they nurture you to where now you have this clear perspective of your career?

Yeah, it’s really simple. We’re fathers, right? Yes, number one. Love is that simple. You pour love into your kids. They’re gonna be alright, we’re gonna be all right. They’re gonna be all right. That’s the number one ingredient. They love me. They put me in situations with other people who love me who poured into me. You know, I could name dozens. It is cliche, but it is so true, it takes a village to raise a child. Mrs. Mozella Lambert McLaughlin passed away two years ago at 104. You know, it was being at her house and eating her collard greens. You know what I mean? It was running around in her backyard. It was Miz Mc and it was Baba Chuck Davis, it was sister Cydia. You know what I mean? These elders who cared for me and loved on me. Who told me you’re worthy, you’re dope, you’re creative, you can do what you want to do creatively, and be who you want to be professionally. Listen, that’s why I can’t help but mentor other people. Otherwise, you hold on to those blessings and try to hoard them then you’re just going to be soaking wet. The vessel can only hold so much. So, I understand. Just like my parents have people pouring into them until they’re overflowing, I know that my vessel is full. Part of my responsibility is to use that surplus to nourish others around me. That’s other colleagues, other artists, other youth, my own children, my wife, and I need to pour into them. Because not everyone has been blessed with a large vessel or a thirst-quenching abundance of nourishing things to put to drink. You know what I’m saying? Some people out here are parched.

What’s one project you’re most proud of?

This project we just wrapped in the Dominican Republic, making beats and building puppets with girls in the Dominican Republic.

Who’s the most creative in your family? Most Creative?

That has to be tough, are you talking about my immediate family or the family that I came from with my parents and my siblings. The family that I grew up in, I would say my dad was the most creative. In my immediate family, I would say I’m the most creative with my daughter right there in a close second.

Cover art of new children's album titled "Ancestars" by Pierce Freelon and Nnenna Freelon

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

Oh, wow, collaborate with anyone who would it be? It would be my mom and I’m doing that right now.

NEW CHILDREN’S ALBUM BY PIERCE FREELON & NNENNA FREELON: “ANCESTARS” OUT NOW!