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Steller’s Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) – A marine mammal discovered in 1741 and driven to extinction within 27 years by European fur traders.

Echolocation & Sound Navigation – Used by marine mammals like dolphins and whales to navigate and communicate, challenging human-centric concepts of vision and awareness.

River Dolphins & Environmental Adaptation – The unique sensory adaptations of river dolphins, which rely more on echolocation due to their often murky environments.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems – Māori meteorologists have studied Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) as indicators of weather patterns.

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Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History

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Skin & Bones - Animal Life: Steller's Sea Cow

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North Atlantic Right Whale & Colonial Exploitation – Hunted nearly to extinction for their blubber, once a resource for lighting colonial expansion.

Weddell Seal Maternal Teaching – Baby seals learn to swim through forced immersion, a metaphor for growth and resilience.

The Role of Whales in Carbon Sequestration – Whales contribute significantly to the earth’s carbon cycle, potentially as impactful as entire forests.

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North Atlantic Right Whale & Colonial Exploitation - Bing

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Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you're looking for and rewards you.

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Amazon River Dolphin (Tucuxi) – The only marine mammal that has retained its Indigenous name, resisting colonial erasure.

Hybrid Dolphins & Transatlantic Histories – The Clymene dolphin, whose range mirrors the transatlantic slave trade routes and is a hybrid species.

Captive Marine Mammals & Human Prisons – Parallels drawn between captive dolphins and imprisoned individuals, such as Debbie Africa and Assata Shakur.

Harriet Tubman & The Combahee River Raid – A historical act of liberation, tied symbolically to marine mammals appearing in the river.

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The inclusion of "Sharon Bridgforth"'s "oceanic oracle decks" connects the chapter's theme of practice to a Black feminist artist and writer whose work often explores spirituality, ritual, and connection to water and ancestry.

"Lana Garland," a Black feminist filmmaker who translates the Pilates method, highlights Black women's contributions to practices of embodiment, healing, and self-care.

The reference to the author's sister "Yashna Maya Padamsee" reminding to "remember your breath" in yoga videos emphasizes a personal connection to practices of grounding and resilience.

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A 2023 United States Artists Fellow and 2022 Winner of Yale's Windham Campbell Prize in Drama, Sharon Bridgforth is a writer that collaborates with actors, dancers, singers, visual artists and audiences to install moving soundscapes of her ritual/jazz texts. Her work is featured in Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones's book, Theatrical Jazz: Performance, Àṣẹ, and the Power of the Present Moment, Volume 110, No. 4, Winter 2022 of The Yale Review, Teaching Black: The Craft of Teaching on Black Life and Literature edited by Ana-Maurine Lara and drea brown, Mouths of Rain an Anthology of Black Lesbian Thought edited by Briona Jones, and the creative contribution section of Feminist Studies Volume 48 Number 1 honoring 40 years of This Bridge Call my Back and But Some of Us Are Brave! curated by Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Sharon's new book, bull-jean & dem/dey back (53rd State Press 10/2022) features two performance/novels that will be produced by Pillsbury House + Theatre in Minneapolis 2022/2023.

A New Dramatists alumnae, Sharon is a 2020-2023 Playwrights' Center Core Member, a 2022-2023 McKnight National Fellow and has received support from The Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, Creative Capital, MAP Fund, and the National Performance Network. A touring artist since 1993, Sharon's work has been featured at: New York's SummerStage Festival; Rites and Reason Theatre's Black Lavender Experience at Brown University, The New Black Festival at The Lark, Pillsbury House + Theatre, The University of Texas at Austin's John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies and Links Hall. Sharon's dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/Home - a Creative Capital project - launched in Minneapolis, MN May 2018 in partnership with Molly Van Avery, City of Lakes Community Land Trust and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/Performance Installation premiered at allgo in Austin, TX in August 2018 and dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/The Show premiered at Pillsbury House Theatre in Minneapolis, MN in June 2018, and is streaming on Twin Cities PBS (Episode #131).

A MAP Fund Scaffolding for Practicing Artists Coach, Sharon is a long time member of Pangea World Theater and Art2Action's National Institute for Directing and Ensemble Creation. She has served as Artist In-Residence for: Thousand Currents; Brown University's MFA Playwriting Program; University of Iowa's MFA Playwrights Program; The Theatre School at DePaul University; The Department of Performance Studies at Northwestern University; and has taught for The University of Texas at Austin African & African Diaspora Studies Department. Sharon was a writer and performer in Amara Tabor-Smith's REVIVAL: Millennial Remembering in the Afro NOW and was writer, dramaturg and voice over performer for Ananya Chatterjea Dance Theatre's, Dastak: I Wish You Me. She served as a dramaturg for: Marjani Forté-Saunders + Everett Saunders 7NMS; the Urban Bush Women Choreographic Center Initiative's Choreographic Fellowship program; Maria Bauman-Morales', Desire: A Sankofa Dream; Ni'Ja Whitson's, Dark Matter Cypher Residency of The Unarrival Experiements; Rebecca Mwase & Ron Ragin's workshop of Vessel's at June Bug Productions; and was Embedded Writer for Marjani Forte-Saunders's Memoirs of a...Unicorn residency at Florida State University in Tallahassee at the The Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography in partnership program with the Urban Bush Women Choreographic Center Initiative's (CCI) Choreographic Fellowship program.

Sharon is Executive Producer and host of, Who Yo People Is, a podcast series that gives space to artists whose work and artistic practices are rooted in serving our communities through healing/Spiritual and cultural traditions - centered in Love. Thanks to funding from Solidaire Networks' Black Liberation Pooled Fund Sharon and her wife, Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones have created Called By Water, which includes a cohort of people of African descent gathered to use ancestral exploration, somatic insights, creative process, truth telling, and Joy making towards the development of a world that leads with Love, generosity, gratitude, and authentic connections of every kind.

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A 2023 United States Artists Fellow and 2022 Winner of Yale's Windham Campbell Prize in Drama, Sharon Bridgforth is a writer that collaborates with actors, dancers, singers, visual artists and audiences to install moving soundscapes of her ritual/jazz texts. Her work is featured in Dr. Omi Osun Joni L.

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The quotation of "Toni Cade Bambara"'s phrase “the seabirds are still alive” connects her insightful observations on Black community resilience to the collaborative spirit observed in marine life.

The naming of "great organizers with pantropical visions" like Claudia Jones, Shirley Chisolm, Mila Aguilar, and Mama Tingo explicitly centers Black and Third World women's leadership in movements for social change as a model of collective action.

The description of the Subversive Sirens, a synchronized-swimming team committed to Black liberation, queer visibility, and body positivity, provides a contemporary example of Black feminist principles in practice through collective performance and activism.

The detailed account of Ida B. Wells organizing a mass exodus from Memphis in response to racial violence showcases a historical instance of Black collective resistance and self-determination.

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Pacific White-Sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) – These social marine mammals form "close-knit" alliances, sometimes marked by scars. This made me curious about marine mammal social structures and how trauma affects bonding.

Pantropical Spotted Dolphins (Stenella attenuata) – The chapter mentions how some of these dolphins in the Atlantic do not have spots, suggesting an adaptation to avoid detection. I’d like to learn more about how marine species change their appearance due to environmental or survival pressures.

June Jordan – The author references poet and activist June Jordan, which makes me interested in exploring Jordan’s writings, especially those related to resilience and struggle.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1996 novel by Terry McMillan, 1998 film) – This reference appears briefly, and I’d love to investigate how it connects to the themes of transformation, vulnerability, and healing in the book.

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A Showy Dolphin Super-Pod | Destination WILD

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The extended reference to Alexis De Veaux and her 1982 Essence Magazine article connecting the struggles of Black women in the US to the liberation of Namibia directly addresses themes of Black feminist solidarity, global consciousness, and the interconnectedness of liberation movements across geographies.

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Writer

Alexis De Veaux has written in multiple genres-poetry, fiction, memoir, journalism, biography, children's literature and plays. Writing is a way she reimagines the inequities of race, gender, sexuality and class in black diasporic lives.

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Alexis De Veaux has written in multiple genres-poetry, fiction, memoir, journalism, biography, children's literature and plays. Writing is a way she reimagines the inequities of race, gender, sexuality and class in black diasporic lives.

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The author compares the fierceness of a leopard seal to the "incisive Toni Morrison," a renowned Black woman author, suggesting a parallel in their powerful and insightful nature.

The mention of the Lummi people and their naming ceremony for the orca Tokitae (Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut) highlights Indigenous perspectives on the natural world, which often intersect with Black feminist thought on environmental justice and sovereignty.

The significance of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut as a name meaning "home" resonates with Black diasporic experiences of displacement and the longing for belonging, a central theme in much Black feminist writing.

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Diver Encounters Deadly, 13-Foot Leopard Seal | National Geographic

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The mention of Terri McMillan's How Stella Got Her Groove Back touches on themes of Black women's vulnerability, self-discovery, and reclaiming agency in the face of societal pressures.

The recurring theme of kinship and love as healing, particularly in the phrase "our kinship is the kind of salve that heals whole oceans," resonates with Black feminist emphasis on relationality and community as sources of strength and resilience.

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Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.

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I would like to learn more about the hooded seal and its remarkable journey across vast distances after only four days of nursing. The text mentions a young, hooded seal that traveled through the Atlantic, over the Arctic seas, and into the Pacific. I'm curious about the specifics of these migrations and what allows them to achieve this with such a short period of maternal care.

The Baikal seal is another fascinating subject. The text notes that no one knows how this seal ended up in a freshwater lake in Siberia, far from other saltwater seal relatives.... The theories mentioned, such as separation by ice sheets half a million years ago or an undiscovered underground channel, pique my interest. I would like to explore the scientific research on the Baikal seal's evolutionary adaptation to a freshwater environment and the validity of these different theories.

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The inspiration drawn from Bob Marley's quote, "Trust the universe and respect your hair," connects the discussion of marine mammal hair to a powerful symbol of Black identity, self-acceptance, and cultural pride, a significant theme in Black feminist thought.

The imagining of the ringed seal posing for a painting by Mickalene Thomas, a contemporary Black woman artist known for her vibrant and textured portrayals of Black women, links the beauty and complexity of marine life to Black artistic representation.

The repeated mention of Audre Lorde and her poem "The Black Unicorn" establishes a clear connection between Black feminist poetics, mythology, and the metaphorical understanding of marine animals and their struggles.

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The chapter focuses on the endangerment of marine mammals like the vaquita and the North Atlantic right whale due to the impacts of the commercial fishing industry and capitalist practices. I want to investigate the specific threats these animals face, such as gillnets and entanglement in fishing ropes, and the economic factors that perpetuate these dangers.

The mention of Joe Howlett, a lobsterman who died trying to untangle a right whale from fishing ropes, underscores the risks involved in conservation efforts and the complex relationship between human livelihoods and environmental protection. I'd like to learn more about his work and the efforts of individuals and organizations involved in right whale rescue.

The text highlights Moana, a large Maori-owned fishing company in Aotearoa (New Zealand) that is partnering with conservationists to protect the New Zealand white front dolphin (tpoupou). This example of a commercial entity taking action for a non-consumer species is noteworthy, and I would like to research the specific initiatives and transformations Moana has implemented

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The chapter opens by mentioning conversations with theorists Saidiya Hartman and Hortense Spillers in relation to refusing to be seen or known by dominant paradigms. I would like to explore their work, particularly the essays cited ["Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe: An American Grammar Book” by Hortense Spillers and “Venus in Two Acts” by Saidiya Hartman], to better understand their perspectives on visibility, recognition, and resistance, especially within the context of Black feminist thought.

The concept of "the quiet of the hunted" is introduced in conversation with theorist Kevin Quashie, linked to the behavior of the minke whale. I am interested in delving into Quashie's work, specifically his book The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture, to understand this idea of quiet as a form of sovereignty and its implications for marginalized groups and the refusal of dominant forms of engagement.

The disappearance and recent reappearance of the Atlantic gray whales in relation to the transatlantic slave trade is a historical connection I want to know more about. The text raises questions about the potential impact of the slave trade on their extinction and the possibility of an "interspecies pact" or a migration in response to the horrors of slavery. I'm curious about historical records and marine biology research that might shed light on this potential link.

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The Department of English and Comparative Literature

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The allusion to Paule Marshall's Praisesong for the Widow, a novel deeply engaged with Black women's spirituality, historical memory, and the process of letting go of toxic legacies, resonates with the chapter's theme of surrender to larger cycles.

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Praisesong for the Widow by Paule Marshall | RunwrightReads

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The reference to the effort to "oust a colonial governor in Puerto Rico" highlights anti-colonial resistance in a Caribbean context, a region with deep historical and cultural ties to the Black diaspora and aligns with Black feminist anti-imperialist perspectives.

The mention of struggles against exploitation of sacred land in "Jamaica’s sacred cockpit country" points to environmental justice issues within Black geographies, a concern often taken up in Black feminist environmentalism.

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Puerto Rico Protests: Citizens Try to Forge Movement to Oust Governor | NBC New York

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The central use of Audre Lorde's poem "The Black Unicorn" as a framework for understanding the narwhal and Black identity firmly grounds the chapter in Black feminist symbolism, resilience, and the embracing of unique power.

The application of Toni Morrison's description of Blackness as being "may as well be a rainbow" to the Melon-headed whale uses a powerful image from Black literature to celebrate the multifaceted and often misunderstood nature of Black existence.

The reference to cultural celebrations like an "eastern parkway parade" and the "Shinnecock Labor Day powwow" highlights Black and Indigenous cultural expressions, acknowledging interconnected histories and forms of collective joy and resistance.

The focus on the Caribbean monk seal as an early victim of Columbus and the subsequent exploitation of its blubber to fuel the plantation economy directly links the extinction of a Black marine mammal to the history of colonial violence and its lasting impact on Black diasporic communities.

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Comments & analysis: The black unicorn is greedy. / The black unicorn is impatient. / 'The black unicorn was mi

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The critique of "Lying politicians like Bolsonaro" and his detrimental impact on the Amazon and its inhabitants connects to broader Black feminist concerns about environmental racism and the exploitation of marginalized communities and their lands.

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Brazil BANS Bolsonaro From Politics Over Election Lies | The Kyle Kulinski Show

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The author's reflection on the phrase "give it her all" and the societal pressure to be "tireless" connects to the disproportionate expectations placed on marginalized individuals, particularly Black women, and the radical necessity of rest as resistance, a growing topic within Black feminist discussions.

The reference to Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha and her book Care Work directly brings in a contemporary Black and disabled femme writer whose work examines themes of care, interdependence, and justice, often in conversation with Black feminist ideas.

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The chapter's opening with Toni Cade Bambara and her email signature "Take Care of your Blessings" (TCB) immediately establishes a Black feminist framework for discussing care, community, and well-being.

The repeated citation of Audre Lorde and her powerful words on love, strength, and the responsibility for "our children" (in a broad sense) underscores a central tenet of Black feminist ethics of care and collective nurturing.

The mention of the "Sisterhood of Black Single Mothers in Brooklyn" and their concept of "motherful" family systems highlights historical Black community-based models of care and resilience that challenge traditional patriarchal structures.

The inclusion of June Jordan's assertion that "love is lifeforce" emphasizes a core Black feminist understanding of love as a radical and transformative power.

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Britannica Explores

Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell.

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Toni Cade Bambara | American author and civil-rights activist

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Toni Cade Bambara, American writer, civil-rights activist, and teacher who wrote about the concerns of the African-American community. Reared by her mother in Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Queens, N.Y., Bambara (a surname she adopted in 1970) was educated at Queens College (B.A., 1959). In 1961

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The form of my Padlet project is structured to visually and thematically reflect the fluidity and interconnectedness of marine life and Black feminist thought, as explored in Undrowned by Alexis Pauline Gumbs. I have organized my Padlet into chapters that align with key themes from the book, using a combination of text, images, and hyperlinks to create an immersive and engaging experience. The visual layout emphasizes expansiveness, with each entry forming a branching network of ideas rather than a rigid hierarchy. By integrating multimedia elements, such as YouTube videos and external articles, I aim to create an interactive space that invites exploration and deeper engagement with the material. The choice of an organic, non-linear structure mirrors the ocean’s boundlessness and the fluidity of identity, history, and resistance.

In terms of content, I selected topics that highlight the intersections of ecological awareness, historical injustice, and collective survival. Gumbs writes, "Your name is medicine over my skin. And our kinship is the kind of salve that heals whole oceans" (Gumbs, Undrowned). This idea of kinship as healing guided my inclusion of stories about marine mammals, particularly those affected by colonial exploitation, such as the North Atlantic right whale, which was hunted to near extinction for its blubber. Similarly, the discussion of captive marine mammals alongside imprisoned activists like Assata Shakur serves to emphasize how systems of control and oppression extend beyond human societies. Another key insight from Gumbs is her reflection on scars: "A dolphin with scars is more likely to be known, recognized, named by the watchers" (Gumbs, Undrowned). This notion influenced my inclusion of Pacific white-sided dolphins, who form tight-knit groups marked by their wounds, mirroring how marginalized communities often find solidarity in shared trauma and survival.

Two specific entries that exemplify my approach are the Amazon River Dolphin and the connection between Harriet Tubman and the Combahee River Raid. The Amazon River Dolphin (Tucuxi) is notable for being one of the few marine mammals to retain its Indigenous name, a form of resistance against colonial erasure. This connects to discussions in the course about linguistic and cultural survival, drawing from Saidiya Hartman’s Venus in Two Acts, where she examines the silences and gaps in the historical record as sites of both violence and reclamation. Another entry explores Harriet Tubman’s use of the Combahee River during an act of liberation, drawing a symbolic link between human and nonhuman strategies of survival. This resonates with Kevin Quashie’s The Sovereignty of Quiet, where he discusses how quietness and submersion—both literal and metaphorical—can be acts of resistance and autonomy. These entries underscore how both historical figures and marine life navigate oppression, embodying resilience in ways that align with Black feminist thought.

Through this Padlet, I aim to honor the lessons of Undrowned by foregrounding interconnection, adaptation, and collective care. By drawing on multiple sources and perspectives, my project seeks to illustrate how both marine and human lives are shaped by histories of violence yet persist through strategies of survival, remembrance, and kinship.

References:

Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons From Marine Mammals (2020) by Alexis Pauline Gumbs