• Sarah Wang and Zuri Smith

  • The Gods Life

    Advising

    This multi-media series depicts re-enactments of pivotal moments in my subject's grandfather, Clarence Edward Smith's life. Clarence, also known affectionately as Put or Puddin by close associates, Clarence 13X in the Nation of Islam, or Allah as he renamed himself, is the founder of the Five Percent Nation or Nation of Gods and Earths, a school of thought aimed at uplifting and educating the Black American community in Harlem by way of historic lessons and scientific facts. One man's legacy is retold through the lens of his grandson and related back to an esoteric numerology system called the Supreme Mathematics that the Nation of Gods and Earths use to decipher personal daily meanings. The series explores how the past informs the present in the context of the spaces that Clarence occupied in his lifetime. The oral histories shared through audio will contribute to the archive of information already out in the world about Clarence but this time with the unique perspective of his grandson. More than anything this project is a chance for a grandson to reclaim his family narrative and tell his side of the story for the very first time.

  • Program Details

    Inspired by this work? Explore program features, curriculum, faculty, and more.

  • Related Work

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Close