monk estill
"Some call me slave, some call me boy. But the man that you see is Monk Estill — Savior of Fort Boonesborough — The Black Man, who makes Black Powder."
Monk Estill was a pivotal figure in Kentucky history, known as the first Black man to be born free in the state, and noted for his efforts during the Revolutionary War Battle of Little Mountain. Monk, an Affrilachian who exercised his connection to the earth, heroism, and compassion for human life, did so despite being relegated to living property, an enslaved African owned by U.S. Army Captain James Estill.
Malcolm Davis embodies Monk's legacy and story, uplifting the saga of a man and his journey from slave to hero, to preacher, ensuring that his efforts and impacts are remembered for generations to come. He returns a sense of dignity to the story of Monk Estill, reminding us all of the skill, dedication, and perseverance of our ancestors.
“ To witness Malcolm Davis perform is to witness a reclamation.”
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Malcolm’s original piece, “The Slave: Monk Estill,” was featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC. He performed at the Wordsmith Cafe for an international audience, sharing his love of place and the natural world alongside the story of Monk. He led panels and workshops with the Youth Poet Laureates and with the National Association of Black Storytellers.
“ His body, voice, and presence channel histories that were nearly lost—stolen by erasure, whitewashing, and cultural neglect. As a cultural activist and storyteller, Davis doesn’t just preserve Black performance traditions; he embodies them, breathing new life into ancestral truths and affirming their power in our present moment.”
Malcolm Davis
Malcolm Davis is a proud Affrilachian born and raised in Kentucky. He is a theatre practitioner, cultural organizer, and youth advocate whose work is rooted in story, place, and the belief that young people are leaders now.
As a young person, Malcolm was a Caux Scholar, a Telluride TASP Scholar, a youth board member of America’s Promise, and a youth advisor to the College Board. Those experiences helped shape his commitment to expanding opportunity for rural youth and youth of color.
Today, Malcolm carries that commitment into his work as an artist, facilitator, and advocate. He has worked with the YMCA, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the National Park Service, and he served for a year with Lead for America in Appalachian Kentucky. In 2023, he founded the Affrilachian Arts Institute to build Black arts infrastructure for a new generation of artists across Appalachia. He currently serves as a member of Alternate ROOTS and on the Steering Committee of the Waymakers Collective.
To find out more about Malcolm's work and storytelling go to https://www.affrilachianarts.org/
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