I met Lacretia Springer in the Spring 2023 at Southern HIV Impact Fund. Her smile welcomed me while her open arms waited for me to arrive. Lacretia was a woman with vibrance and authority. She showed me all the things I could dream of being as I matured. She was a joy to speak and laugh with, while being a general fashion inspiration. We matched each other's fly immediately.
In Spring 2025, we sat down together for Melanated Movement's Movement Talks series, connecting virtually from Memphis to New York City. We spoke about the many scenes of Lacretia’s life from early childhood, advocacy as a young adult, the entertainment industry and her many homecomings back to the South. The call to advocacy, college and the life of creatives drew her outside of her hometown where her life spiraled into success. Lacretia knew that there was more to her than normal that her neighbors were forced to endure, and “(she) started dancing and music took my mind off of all the chaotic situations and issues of the time”. Living independently, she built a chosen family that saw her for all of whom she was without limitations. Simultaneously, the demand to stand up for the Black Community and civil rights remained consistent as a thread throughout her many careers.
Lacretia's insights on emerging from the torn South contributed to her skillful navigation in immensely challenging situations. Decades into the work, Lacretia shares “Today, I want to stand up and fight for people of color who have not yet found a way to be themselves, openly accept themselves”. Listen to my interview with Lacretia where we discuss dreams, resilience and ending the HIV epidemic for
Melanated Movement’s storytelling series, Movement Talks.
About Melanated Movement: The Melanated Movement Fund and Melanated Movement Engaged works to address the rate of HIV by expanding access to tailored HIV prevention and care through strategic funding, capacity building, and technical assistance. This initiative supports community-based organizations in delivering comprehensive services that address the unique needs of Black cis and trans women, fostering advocacy, education, and holistic well-being.
