Their stories are our stories
We recognize the profound importance of learning from history. Enslaved people deserve to be remembered, and their stories offer life lessons that remain relevant today, providing insights into our current tensions and divisions.
In a time when discussions about race and our history with enslavement are being silenced, understanding our past is crucial. Without this knowledge, we lose sight of how we arrived at this moment. Healing begins with acknowledging the deep wounds left by enslavement and the ongoing erasure of Black lives and histories.
By facing our past, we can move forward—together.
Hannah's WHY
“Seeing the word ‘unknown’ etched on the hanging pillars at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice struck a deep chord within me. The thought that someone could live, only to be erased from history, moved me to tears. I now realize that this is the work I was always meant to do—to unearth the names and stories of enslaved people, because they deserve to have their names and stories not just remembered but also told. If they weren’t afforded that dignity in life, we can offer it in death by acknowledging their existence. Everyone should have the right to say, ‘I was here. I lived. I cried. I laughed. I breathed. I was here.'”
– Hannah Drake, (Un)Known Project co-founder
Josh's WHY
“One memory that will stay with me forever is seeing Hannah Drake and the Black artists of Roots & Wings experience a profound sense of freedom and joy in West Africa, something they had never felt in that way before. For once, they were surrounded by a world that reflected them, free from the weight of white supremacy. When we returned to the U.S., I couldn’t stop thinking about that contrast, or about what we uncovered while working in Natchez and researching enslavement in Louisville. The legacy of enslavement still impacts each of us today, and we all have a responsibility to address it. Through our work at (Un)Known Project, I learned that my ancestors were enslavers—reiterating why I am on this path with Hannah and our collaborators. We each have a role to play in racial healing and reconciliation, and this is one of mine.”
– Josh Miller, (Un)Known Project co-founder
Steven's WHY
“When I think of the importance of creating spaces for racial healing and reconciliation, I think about my mom and people like her. Working for (Un)Known Project has provided me with places and jumping off points to have important conversations about enslavement and how it’s intertwined with both our nation’s history and our family’s history. Through genealogical research, I discovered the existence of people enslaved by my ancestors, and (Un)Known Project provided me a way to honor their lives and experiences. Acknowledging the lives and experiences of enslaved people also acknowledges the experiences of living Black people, many of whom tell me they feel gaslit by the whitewashing of American history.”
– Steven Michael Carr, Development & Operations Director
Explore the trail
(Un)Known Project engages people through public art, performances, immersive experiences, art exhibits, and more. Since launching the Project, over 2,00 names of enslaved people have been unearthed and shared.
EVERY GREAT JOURNEY STARTS WITH A SINGLE STEP
The potential to changes lives through connecting people and their history is limitless. We are striving to create a purposeful path toward understanding, healing and reconciliation. We invite you to support (Un)Known Project and our journey to inspire and heal together.
Expanding (Un)Known Project
After launching (Un)Known Project in Louisville, KY, we saw the desire and need for it to grow beyond Kentucky. Enslavement isn’t the story of just one place or people. It’s a story of our nation. In the coming years, we’ll be identifying partners in other communities throughout the U.S. to help us expand the Project. If you would like to become a part of expanding the (Un)Known Project Trail, please reach out and let us know!
Transforming people, spaces and cultures.
IDEAS xLab’s vision is a world where art is a foundational guiding force in creating and sustaining a just society. As an organization, we recognize that stories are brought to life through art and we seek to unearth and honor community stories that transform people, spaces and cultures.
(Un)Known Project in the News
We're grateful to our funders
Additional supporters include: Elhapa Foundation, Brown-Forman, Owsley Brown III, Fund for the Arts, Louisville Metro External Agency Fund, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Louisville Public Media, Republic Bank, LG&E-KU and individual donors.