Shirley Jackson Whitaker
| Dr. Shirley Jackson Whitaker | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | Physician (nephrologist), visual artist, filmmaker, author |
| Known for | Ashes to Ashes |
Shirley Jackson Whitaker is an American physician, visual artist, filmmaker, and author whose interdisciplinary work explores history, racial violence, healing, and cultural memory. She is best known for her involvement in the documentary film Ashes to Ashes, which has been screened internationally and broadcast on public television. Her work has been covered by national and international media including PBS and Al Jazeera.
Early life and education
Whitaker attended Clark Atlanta University and later earned a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. She received her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in 1979.[1]
Medical career
Whitaker practiced medicine as a nephrologist and has spoken publicly about integrating medical practice with community engagement, historical awareness, and healing.[2]
Artistic work
Whitaker’s visual art examines themes of memory, trauma, resilience, and racial history. Her work has been exhibited in institutional and community settings, including Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library and the Mill District in Amherst, Massachusetts.[3][4]
Film
Whitaker is associated with the documentary film Ashes to Ashes, directed by Taylor Rees. The film follows the friendship between artist Winfred Rembert and Whitaker and their efforts to memorialize African Americans lynched during the Jim Crow era.[5]
The film premiered at Mountainfilm, where it received a Mountainfilm Commitment Grant, and was subsequently screened at international film festivals including DOC NYC, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and the Cleveland International Film Festival.[6]
In 2021, Ashes to Ashes was included among the Sandford St Martin Trust’s TV and Video Award selections in the United Kingdom.[7]
Publications
Whitaker is the author of children’s books addressing Black history and identity, including I Did Not Ask To Be Born Black. I Just Got Lucky, which was featured by New England Public Media.[8]
She is also the author of the artist’s book Ashes to Ashes: A Homegoing Celebration for the Unburied, published in 2018 and held in library collections.[9]
Public engagement and media
Whitaker has participated in public discussions, screenings, and lectures at universities and civic institutions, including the Commonwealth Club of California and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.[10]
In May 2024, Whitaker appeared on the PBS series Stories From the Stage in the episode “Body and Soul.”[11]
Philanthropy
Whitaker is associated with the Shirley Jackson Whitaker Foundation, Inc., a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization registered with state and federal authorities.[12][13]
External links
- Official website: https://shirleywhitaker.com
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- ↑ "Dr. Shirley Jackson Whitaker to Visit Campus and Screen Documentary, Ashes to Ashes, as Part of Black History Month". Westfield State University. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ Bednar, Joseph. "In More Than One Way, She Draws on History to Help People Heal". BusinessWest. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Experiences Exhibition – Shirley Jackson Whitaker". Bridwell Library, Southern Methodist University. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Artwork of Shirley Jackson Whitaker at the Mill District". Amherst Indy. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Documentary honoring lynching victims shown at UMass". Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Ashes to Ashes". Mountainfilm. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Sandford St Martin Awards 2021". Sandford St Martin Trust. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "'I Did Not Ask To Be Born Black. I Just Got Lucky,' Honors Black Girls' Positive Self-Images". New England Public Media. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Ashes to Ashes: A Homegoing Celebration for the Unburied". WorldCat. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Ashes to Ashes: Two Artists Addressing Racial Injustice in America". Commonwealth Club of California. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Body and Soul". PBS. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Shirley Jackson Whitaker Foundation, Inc". OpenCorporates. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Shirley Jackson Whitaker Foundation, Inc". Charity Navigator. Retrieved January 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help)
