The air inside the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute was filled with an undeniable sense of purpose, warmth, and celebration as community members, artists, and advocates gathered to mark a monumental milestone: the We Live In Color 100th Episode Live, hosted by Deaunte Damper in September.
With actor Christopher Livingston as the special guest, the show was a reminder of what happens when spaces are intentionally created to uplift, center, and honor stories that are too often pushed to the margins.
A Space built on Community and Purpose
From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and love. Livingston expressed a desire to celebrate Damper and the dedicated team behind the production.
"I'm expecting to see celebration. I'm expecting to see people of color, Black people, queer people. I'm expecting to see love... I'm expecting to see Deaunte get his flowers and everyone a part of this fantastic team get their flowers,” Livingston said.
For many, showing up was not just about entertainment—it was an act of communal support and necessity.
"Everybody loves Deaunte. We all love Deaunte... And community got to show up for its people,” soul singer Adra Boo said. “The people working the hardest, the people who we know need all the sleep... Who else of color is going to show up for us if we don't show up for us??
Centering Truths and Lived Experiences
Wrapping its fourth season this year, We Live In Color is uniquely resonant thanks to the show’s commitment to intersectionality and radical authenticity. The platform goes beyond surface-level dialogue to address the full spectrum of the human experience.
"[We Live In Color] centers the faces, the voices, the stories, the lived experiences, the truths, the hurts, the traumas of Black folk and queer folk and folks that were told no,” singer and songwriter Ariyah Jané said. “And Deaunte Damper has a beautiful way of not just inviting people to sit down for a conversation, but inviting people to sit in front of a mirror—to see themselves, to see their support, and to see how much more there really is for each of us to do."
Why We Live In Color
The core philosophy of the show was best summarized by reflections on why embracing color in identity, storytelling, and truth is vital.
"We live in color because life is not black and white. It is a beautiful rainbow, and we all come from all parts of the light spectrum,” Seattle Gay News Managing Editor Madison Jones said.
As the 100th episode celebration drew to a close, the overarching message left with the audience was one of bold self-acceptance and continuous advocacy:
"Don't ever think that your voice doesn't matter. Never be complacent. Being loud is not a bad thing. Always be loud. Always be proud of where you come from and who you are. Don't be afraid to take up space,” Seattle Gay News columnist Mattie Mooney said.
Reaching 100 episodes is an exceptional milestone, but for We Live In Color, it feels like just the beginning of expanding spaces where everyone gets to show up fully, authentically, and in full color. Stay tuned for updates on Season 5 of We Live In Color on all Converge platforms.
