Born out of the desire to foster cultural curiosity, Castle of our Skins is a concert and educational series dedicated to celebrating Black artistry through music. From classrooms to concert halls, Castle of our Skins invites exploration into Black heritage and culture, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present. Castle of our Skins takes its name and inspiration from the famed poet Nikki Giovanni’s poem for nina. The poem beautifully captures the sense of adoration, respect and pride for the very fabric that makes us who we are: our skin. Poem (for Nina) we are all imprisoned in the castle of our skins and some of us have said so be it if i am in jail my castle shall become my rendezvous my courtyard will bloom with hyacinths and jack-in-the-pulpits my moat will not restrict me but will be filled with dolphins sitting on lily pads and sea horses ridden by starfish goldfish will make love to Black mollies and color my world Black Gold the vines entwining my windows will grow butterflies and yellow jackets will buzz me to sleep the dwarfs imprisoned will not become my clowns for me to scorn but my dolls for me to praise and fuss with and give tea parties to my gnomes will spin cloth of spider web silkness my wounded chocolate soldiers will sit in evening coolness or stand gloriously at attention during that midnight sun for I would have no need of day patrol if I am imprisoned in my skin let it be a dark world with deep bass walking a witch doctor to me for spiritual consultation let my world be defined by my skin and the skin of my people for we spirit to spirit will embrace this world 12 jan 72 Nikki Giovanni