Racism Is A Sickness.

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Racism Is A Sickness. Documenting the emotional toll of racism since 2015. Reconnect. Reflect. Rebuild.
10yearsofracismisasickness.com

is an anti-racism art installation and community engagement project created in 2015 by Tieshka K. Smith, Philadelphia-based photographer and community activist. Smith collaborated with a group of 14 Philadelphians to create a series of photographs, and with the community at large to create several mixed media works. The installation as a whole is a commentary on race, the costly problem of police brutality, and the damage it continues to inflict on public discourse. She sees racism as a contagious virus that infects and incapacitates us all, while weakening and eroding our social, political and economic institutions. Smith believes that continuing to ignore, rationalize and/or minimize the negative impacts of racism puts America in grave danger. She hopes that will inspire people to think deeply about racism, and motivate young people to use their voices, gifts and talents to take a stand for racial justice, equality and healing for individuals, families and communities.

One Day Left to RSVP!We're getting closer to Routes & Roots, our October Chat & Chew at G-Town Radio!On Saturday, Octobe...
10/16/2026

One Day Left to RSVP!

We're getting closer to Routes & Roots, our October Chat & Chew at G-Town Radio!

On Saturday, October 24, we'll gather around the table for an afternoon of maps, food, stories, and connection as we explore movement, migration, arrival, and belonging.

No lectures. No panels. Just neighbors coming together to share experiences, listen, reflect, and learn from one another.

If you've been thinking about joining us, now is the time to reserve your place at the table!

The RSVP deadline is tomorrow, Saturday, October 17.

Registration closes on that date and will not reopen. This allows us to plan thoughtfully, prepare the space, and make sure we're ready to welcome everyone who has registered.

Routes & Roots: An October Chat & Chew
Saturday, October 24 | 2–4 PM
G-Town Radio

Space is limited, so RSVP by October 17 to reserve your spot. The link to RSVP will be in the comments.

We look forward to gathering with you!

WHAT DO WE THINK WE KNOW ABOUT VOTING?We all carry ideas about voting.Some were passed down through our families. Others...
10/15/2026

WHAT DO WE THINK WE KNOW ABOUT VOTING?

We all carry ideas about voting.

Some were passed down through our families. Others were shaped by what we learned in school, heard in our communities, encountered in the media, or experienced firsthand.

Some of those ideas are so familiar that we rarely stop to question them.

“Every vote counts.”

“Your vote is your voice.”

“If you don't vote, you can't complain.”

But what do these statements actually mean? Are they always true? Can two seemingly opposing ideas about voting both have merit?

And what happens when we begin questioning beliefs we've held for years?

These are some of the questions we'll explore during Unmasking the Vote, the third and final Chat & Chew gathering of my residency at G-Town Radio.

We're not gathering to debate candidates or political parties. We're creating space to examine our assumptions, consider different perspectives, and reflect on how our beliefs shape our understanding of voting, civic participation, and the right to vote.

As the November 3 midterm elections approach, I encourage everyone who is eligible to exercise their right to vote—and to give some thought to the ideas they're carrying with them when they do.

UNMASKING THE VOTE
Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 2–4 PM
G-Town Radio

RSVP DEADLINE: Sunday, November 1. Reserve your spot ASAP because space will be limited. The RSVP link will be in the comments.

Bring a Dish. Share a Story.Food has a way of connecting us to the places we've been, the people we've known, and the me...
10/15/2026

Bring a Dish. Share a Story.

Food has a way of connecting us to the places we've been, the people we've known, and the memories we've made along the way.

Sometimes it's a recipe passed down through generations. Sometimes it's a dish we discovered after moving somewhere new. Sometimes it's something we learned to prepare from a neighbor, friend, or family member whose journey was different from our own.

And sometimes, a single bite can take us right back to a place we haven't visited in years.

For Routes & Roots, we're making our October Chat & Chew a potluck!

We're inviting you to bring a dish that represents some part of your movement story—whether it's connected to where you came from, somewhere you've lived, or something you've discovered along the way.

And when we gather around the table, we'll have an opportunity to share not only the food, but the stories behind it.

No need to prepare anything elaborate or bring enough to feed a crowd. And if bringing a dish isn't possible, that's perfectly fine, too. We'll provide snacks and beverages, and your presence and participation are what matter most.

Because food, like people, travels. It carries history, culture, memory, and meaning. And when we share it, we create opportunities for connection.

What dish tells part of your movement story?

Routes & Roots: An October Chat & Chew
Saturday, October 24 | 2–4 PM
G-Town Radio

Space is limited, so RSVP by October 17 to reserve your spot. The link will be in the comments. Registration closes that day and will not reopen.

UNMASKING THE VOTE: What Do We Think We Know About Voting?When I conceived in 2015, I was deeply concerned by the ongo...
10/14/2026

UNMASKING THE VOTE: What Do We Think We Know About Voting?

When I conceived in 2015, I was deeply concerned by the ongoing attempts to rollback the protections established by the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Eleven years later, I'm still examining those concerns, but with a deeper understanding of how the law can remain intact on paper while changing interpretations affect what those protections can actually accomplish.

As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, another set of questions comes into focus.

What do we believe about voting? Where do those beliefs come from? What assumptions do we carry with us when we cast our ballots? And how do those assumptions influence our ideas about who deserves the right to vote?

These are the questions behind Unmasking the Vote, the third and final Chat & Chew gathering of my residency at G-Town Radio.

This won't be a debate about candidates or political parties. It's an invitation to examine familiar ideas about voting, consider opposing perspectives, and engage in thoughtful conversation about what we think we know.

And, as we prepare for Election Day on November 3, I encourage everyone who is eligible to exercise their right to vote.

UNMASKING THE VOTE
Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 2–4 PM
G-Town Radio

RSVP DEADLINE: Sunday, November 1. Reserve your spot ASAP because space will be limited. Link in comments.

Last week, as we continued our journey toward Routes & Roots, we explored the paths we travel, the places we leave behin...
10/13/2026

Last week, as we continued our journey toward Routes & Roots, we explored the paths we travel, the places we leave behind, and the experiences that shape us along the way.

This week, we're turning our attention to roots.

When we move from one place to another, we rarely arrive empty-handed.

We bring memories, traditions, recipes, languages, beliefs, family histories, and ways of seeing the world. Some things we carry intentionally. Others travel with us without our even realizing it.

And as we settle into new surroundings, those things can take on new meaning.

A family tradition might find a new expression. A recipe might change as new ingredients become available. A familiar song might remind us of a place we once called home. And the people we meet along the way may introduce us to traditions and experiences that eventually become part of our own stories.

Over time, we begin to put down roots—not necessarily by leaving everything behind, but by finding ways to connect what we've carried with what we've discovered.

That's part of what we'll explore at Routes & Roots: how movement shapes our sense of identity, community, and belonging.

So here's something to think about:

What did you bring with you, and how has it shaped the life you've built along the way?

Join us for an afternoon of maps, food, stories, and connection.

Routes & Roots: An October Chat & Chew
Saturday, October 24 | 2–4 PM
G-Town Radio

Space is limited, so RSVP by October 17 to reserve your spot. Registration closes that day and will not reopen. The link to the RSVP form will be in the comments.

Did you sample Bartender Barry's Lavender Lemonade during POST weekend? We'd love to hear from you!Now we're asking you ...
10/13/2026

Did you sample Bartender Barry's Lavender Lemonade during POST weekend? We'd love to hear from you!

Now we're asking you to take one more step.

As Barry continues preparing his beverage for market, your feedback will help him understand what people enjoyed, what could be improved, and what potential customers think about the product.

Whether you sampled the alcoholic or non-alcoholic version, your opinion matters!

So if you enjoyed a tasting this weekend but haven't completed the feedback form, please take a quick moment to do so.

SIP. SAVOR. SCAN.

Scan the QR code or go straight to the feedback form using the link in the comments:

Thank you for supporting the efforts of this fantastic and talented mixologist/entrepreneur and helping turn a promising product into something ready for the marketplace!

10/12/2026

This past weekend, during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) at G-Town Radio, I bore witness to the power of art to bring people together.

People came to see photographs, share memories, ask questions, and engage in conversations about race, family, belonging, and the histories we carry.

Through these encounters, something became clearer: My assignment isn't to force change or assume the role of healer. My role is to be a space-holder—creating environments where people can lay down their armor, encounter an honest mirror, and hear themselves speak.

This is the work of , and I'm grateful to everyone who helped make POST weekend possible.

Special thanks to the POST team at CFEVA; G-Town Radio's Tom Casetta, Jill Saull, Community Outreach Committee, and programmers; Bartender Barry of SIPREME'S Lavender Lemonade; Nick Thaete of Cane-Rush in Maplewood Mall, along with Kathryn Pannepacker, Michael Vandergrift and Kevin Wayne Jordan; Blew Kind, for bringing the next generation of young creatives into the conversation; Maureen and Harvey Smith; Paula Paul, one of the original 14 Is a Sickness co-creators; Sarah Robbins; Gary Hines; and every visitor who came through the doors, including Brian Rudnick, Alex and Teddy C.!

NEXT UP: Routes & Roots — the 2nd of three Chat & Chew Gatherings

Saturday, October 24 | 2–4 PM
(RSVP by October 17 to secure your spot at 10yearsofracismisasickness.com
G-Town Radio, 24 Maplewood Mall, Philadelphia

Join us for a potluck gathering exploring movement, migration, memory, and belonging. Bring a dish to share and a map that tells part of your story!

The residency continues through November, and so do the conversations.

10/12/2026

The Pentagon is planning to livestream an ex*****on by firing squad. That is not justice. It is spectacle.

We should be horrified by any attempt to turn state-sanctioned killing into public viewing. Violence does not become moral because the government carries it out. Death does not become justice because it is legal.

We must be able to hold people accountable for horrific acts without becoming more comfortable with killing.

A society that normalizes public ex*****on is not moving closer to justice. It is moving further away from humanity.

10/11/2026

I sat down with G-Town Radio station manager Tom Casetta who enjoyed a cup of Bartender Barry's lavender lemonade. He gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up!

Don't let chill of this rainy Sunday afternoon stop you. I'm here til 6pm so come by, I'd love to see you!

10/11/2026

Recapping Day One of POST, where Bartender Barry's Lavender Lemonade turned out to be a success! Stop by today between 12-6pm if you want to try it out!

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1906 S. Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA
19103

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