“Loves music. Loves
dance.
Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit.
Loves love
and food and
roundness.
Loves struggle.
Loves the Folk.
Loves herself.
Regardless.”
–Alice Walker’s definition of Womanist, 1983
I’m a writer, dancer, and cultural curator building a creative humanities practice to amplify Black women’s stories and to inspire Black communities towards healing and collective liberation throughout the African Diaspora and Africa.
Primary ancestral influences
Maya Angelou, Ntzoke Shange, Katherine Dunham
Research interests
Black feminism, Pan-Africanism, Womanist Theology, Black Liberation Theology, archives and archival practices, African Diasporic spiritual practices, African Diasporic dances and dance traditions, Black migration, Black identity, intangible cultural heritage preservation
What I create and curate
memoir, essays, poetry, fiction, hybrid genres
choreography
workshops, courses, study guides, tours, exhibitions, public programs
The Black WRAP
CREDENTIALS
VONA
Disquiet
MFA, Rutgers University-Camden
Public History Certificate, Rutgers University-Camden
Screenwriting Certificate, UCLA
Published In: Longreads, Ninth Letter, The Common, Salon, EBONY, The Feminist Wire, National Catholic Reporter, Courier-Journal, Apiary, and more
Teaching artist with: The ArtWell, Rutgers Early College Humanities (REaCH) Program, Art Sanctuary, Mighty Writers
Awarded by: Leeway Foundation, U.S Fulbright (finalist), Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (EMMY) – Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Rutgers University, Society of Professional Journalists – Louisville Chapter, Kentucky Women Writers Conference, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Arts Council, Fulbright (finalist), University of Louisville Juneteenth Playwriting Festival, Rutgers University
Mariam I. Williams
Writer. Dancer. Cultural Curator.
© 2026 by Mariam I. Williams
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