Brittany "Bk" King, Theatre Artist

“Birds don’t make a plan to migrate, raising resources to fund their way, packing for scarce times, mapping out their pit stops. They feel a call in their bodies that they must go, and they follow it, responding to each other, each bringing their adaptations.” —adrienne maree brown

Brittany King (Bk) is a Poet, Playwright, Actor, and Community Organizer living in Miami, FL USA. A native of South Florida, her work lies at the intersection of ‘Artivism’ which fuses art, storytelling, and activism into work that challenges and moves communities to stand in solidarity with those agitating for a more just, freer world. She aims to shift the harmful narratives that are often painted about her communities, by exploring different ways to view and interact with one another. Through the cultivation of music, poetry, art, storytelling, and theatre, Bk is transforming her world one story at a time.

TAP Work:

"Since joining the TAP cohort, I've been in community with artists across the nation. We've figured out ways to integrate theatre into our online spaces, and have started to collaborate and create curriculum that is youth-centered and interactive, perfect for teaching during a pandemic."

Most Memorable TAP Moment:

"I really enjoyed when we got into non-traditional art practices, it reminded me that more often than not we have everything we need to succeed nearby and readily available, gonna try making paint with blueberries more often!"

Find out more about Bk here:

• www.bktrenise.com

"Soul Eyes"

To feel his gaze

ignites a fire under my belly

within confines of attraction

I find myself envisioning a life never lived

a love never given

an intimacy unknown

You look to me and I feel like a girl again

playing hide and seek in the park

just to find you

to be alone

under our favorite tree

This feeling like magic

my body like glitter

is whipped matter formed

by the weight of his being

Quiet as kept I hold no fear

I know him

his heart calls to me

something deep inside me

slowly silently answers

as we yearn for nearness

for closeness

for touch

whenever your gaze is embraced

a memory replays

a timeline of a life yet to be lived

A life yet to be explored

you give me next lifetime vibes

when we lock eyes

each time

I'm reminded

we’ve existed in

spaces and time

on another plane

I see in your eyes dances of our souls between galaxies

This love be universal as it flows over around and through us

Our ancestors played upon lavender scented purple-gold fields

Our hearts danced a paso doble

on the dark side of

a melancholy blue moon

Our children laugh and play between your scalp

and the grooves of my fingertips

I get lost in these memories when you look at me.

Your presence is familiar

Your voice is similar

Your eyes

I have always remembered

and yet

I have never truly looked

I have never truly touched

I have never truly known

the crease of your smile

the hum of your lips

the vibration of the energy between us

speaking to me in syncopated rhythms

in uncontained heat that dances

between our ephemeral bodies

speaking to me

the soul in your eyes

"Cuba Libre: A Fortnight"

Have you ever felt freedom in your bones?

I'm talking late night

Early morning joneses

bright light

small city

rooster crows

Bienvenidos

Yallah

Mis Amores

freedom love jones

That let's make love in the club and I don't care who sees

kiss me til my lips hurt

shh don't tell

secret glances

ignited memories

type of bliss

Does your revolution sing?

Afro-cubano

Celia

Reggaeton

I never wanna let you go

kiss me hold me love on me

til I can't let go like I can't let you go

You dance like

a Cubano Afro-princess

Are you from the Caribbean?

You move like this land

Your feet move like

like the way you move like

Come tell me about your past

your future goals like

Mi familia roles

like familiar notes of

dark chocolate sweet

epic tales to spark

revolutionary fervor

hurt me burn my

heart and soul to the ground

and pick me back up type of

love

Like, have you ever felt freedom in your bones?

I'm talking late night

Early morning joneses

bright light

small city

rooster crows

Bienvinidos

Yallah

Mis Amores

freedom love jones

You've known this land

Your feet move like

come tell me about your past

and future goals like

mí familia roles

like familiar tales to spark

revolutionary praxis

hurt me burn my heart and soul to the ground and pick me back up like

Truth or Dare?

Truth: You run this place

Dare: I dare you to start this revolution

"Seeds"

History.

Stolen.

Memories...

choked to silence

by tear gassed

skunk flavored waters

US-aid-package bombed

streets terrorized

homes terrorized

this is how they’ve killed from ‘48 til

Olive trees rooted tout crimson blood red cries

ripped and torn of the nurturing in their foundation

their fruits bear sorrow, reminiscent of southern trees

dreams of freedom whispering through her vines

generations displaced to western shores

yearning

needing for motherlands sweet reprieve

If soil spoke truth

It would story tell a tale

a thousand years past the facade of their empire

‘pushed into the sea’ they’ll claim it

then create martyrs of the roots

those they’d relegate to weeds

more akin to seeds

fighting to exist

existing and resisting

In the face of ignorance and tyranny

all the while grasping

keeping Keys

preserving precious memories

Hold on, fight on, stand strong

like those ancient trees

they want you to be silent

so they can say you were complicit

In your history they will attempt to rewrite the narrative

Falastine

Let the truth be told even if it hurts

Even when it breaks you

Even as you shake with anger and frustration

Even as the allied dwindle and compromise

Let it be told

hold your keys

Habibi…

Habibti…

From the river to the sea, she will be free.