Erica Hawkins
Filmmaker, Researcher, Educator, Cultural Producer
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Bio
Erica Hawkins is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, researcher, educator, and cultural producer in the Greater Philadelphia area. Erica has been a community production facilitator for Scribe Video Center’s Precious Place Projects and the Documentary History Project for Youth for the past five years. Erica is committed to community storytelling and media making and believes that individual community members are the preservers of their stories and experiences. Erica’s films have been featured on WHYY and recently on display at the Philadelphia International Airport as a part of The Colored Girls Museum Sit A Spell exhibit.
As a filmmaker and media artist, I am driven by an insatiable passion for historical narratives and a deep commitment to community collaboration. My creative journey is an ongoing exploration of the intricate layers of the past, seeking to unearth forgotten stories and amplify marginalized voices through the transformative power of storytelling.
I approach each project with a reverence for history, recognizing its capacity to illuminate the complexities of human experience and provide invaluable insights into our shared humanity. Through meticulous research and an unwavering dedication to authenticity, I strive to breathe life into the past, weaving together narratives that resonate with contemporary relevance.
Yet, my creative process extends far beyond the solitary confines of a studio or museum. Collaboration lies at the heart of my practice, as true artistic innovation emerges from a community's collective wisdom and diverse perspectives. Whether working alongside historians, activists, or local storytellers, I am constantly inspired by the wealth of knowledge and lived experiences each collaborator brings.
Together, we embark on a journey of exploration and discovery, engaging in meaningful dialogue and exchange to unearth untold stories and challenge prevailing narratives. Through this collaborative process, my projects reflect the collective spirit and resilience of those whose voices we amplify.
But my work is not merely an exercise in historical reclamation; it is also a call to action—a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to effect meaningful social change. By illuminating forgotten histories and marginalized experiences, I seek to challenge entrenched systems of power and privilege, fostering empathy, understanding, and solidarity across cultural divides.
As I continue on this artistic journey, my commitment remains unwavering: to harness the power of film and media as a catalyst for transformation, to amplify marginalized voices, and to forge connections across time and space that transcend the boundaries of race, gender, sexuality, and class. In doing so, I aim to inspire audiences to engage critically with the past, interrogate their beliefs and assumptions, and envision a more just and equitable future for all.
“Only the Black Woman can say ‘when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole...race enters with me.’”
- Anna Julia Cooper, 1892
Current Work
