Spotlight: Black Rural Life

In a world where urbanization and technology often overshadow the beauty and richness of rural life, Jazzie Jelks is creating space to honor the legacy and future of Black communities in rural and urban environments alike.

Her project, Spotlight: Black Rural Life, is a community-driven, multimedia initiative that weaves together the powerful stories of Black Americans preserving and innovating cultural traditions. From Alabama’s rural landscapes to the nation’s largest cities, the project seeks to shine a light on the ways these communities sustain themselves and each other through the enduring practices of self-sufficiency, art, and culture.

Jazzie, the founder of Jazzie Jelks Creative Studios, has poured her lifelong passion for storytelling into this effort, leveraging her background in film, writing, art, and creative production. Raised in Alabama, where she continues to live and work, Jazzie grew up with a deep sense of pride in Black culture, largely thanks to the homeschooling education her parents tailored around African and African-American arts. Her upbringing sparked a love for storytelling and creative expression, which now fuels her determination to preserve and celebrate Black traditions through this ambitious project.

Originally conceptualized as an activity book for children focusing on Black history, Spotlight: Black Rural Life has since grown into a multifaceted endeavor, including an activity book, documentary (in production), and online archive (in development), with plans for a nationwide book tour in 2026 in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black-owned bookstores.

Jazzie’s vision is as wide-ranging as it is deeply rooted. She recognizes the importance of keeping traditions alive but also insists on innovation as a means to move forward. “The age-old art of making something out of nothing, no matter the location or circumstances, is an invaluable skill that’s not being passed down to future generations,” she explains. Her project aims to offer a solution to this, showing how these practices—farming, quilting, food preservation, and more—can be adapted to modern life, regardless of whether one lives in a city apartment or on rural farmland.

Each element of the project works together to extend its reach and impact. The book tour will bring the project to diverse audiences across the country, promoting Black cultural preservation through firsthand interactions. The documentary is set to highlight the work of Black farmers, artists, and cultural practitioners, reaching audiences across screens nationwide. Finally, the online archive will be an ever-growing repository where individuals can share their family stories and cultural practices, ensuring that this rich history lives on for generations to come.

What makes Spotlight: Black Rural Life particularly unique is its intergenerational approach. Jazzie is intentional about bridging the wisdom of elders with the fresh perspectives of younger generations. She explains that the project was initially built around interviewing older Black Americans to capture their stories and cultural practices. However, as the team faced resistance—particularly from elders reluctant to relive personal traumas linked to land and labor—the focus shifted. Now, the project highlights cultural traditions in a broader sense, allowing participants to share knowledge without delving into painful personal memories.