Steel Roots is the brainchild of BL Shirelle and Blak Rapp MADUSA, two Philly artists and advocates who came together to raise awareness around The Pennsylvania Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, also known as House Bill 900; which was signed into law by Governor Shapiro in December 2023. The Dignity Act sets basic, overdue standards for pregnant and postpartum people in custody — and extends parallel protections to youth:

No shackles in labor. Strong limits on restraints and solitary. Free menstrual a incontinence products. Trauma-informed care, real training, and public reporting. This is about safety, health, and humanity — and it took organizing to win it. Now it takes us to enforce it.

This 4-track EP - equipped with videos for each song and an accompanying documentary of in-depth interviews with prison-impacted Pennsylvanians, explores the harsh conditions of incarcerated women and their children's quality of life statewide.

Featuring explosive, anthemic music, cinematic music videos and raw oral history, this project will change how you view women's incarceration – especially LIFERS – FOREVER!

The project is made possible by the Leeway Foundation and Bread & Roses Fund.

Full documentary coming soon.