ONLINE EVENT—The Art of Storytelling: Black Joy

Join us for an evening of performance and conversation moderated by writer and professor of poetry/social action and composition studies Daniel Summerhill in conversation with two young writers from the Black Joy anthology, Samuel Getachew (former Oakland Youth Poet Laureate) and Elijah Hynson alongside their poet mentors. Featuring performances by award-winning writers Tongo Eisen-Martin, Darius Simpson, and Vernon Keeve III. Black Joy: An Anthology of Black Boy Poems is an unapologetic, unrestrained, and defiant celebration of culture, friendship, and community. This compilation of poems by black boys from Oakland is an elaborate and heartwarming guide through the intricacies of what it means to be young, black, and undoubtedly alive in today’s day and age. The Black Joy creative writing and publishing program was organized by Chapter 510 in partnership with Nomadic Press. Chapter 510 is a made-in-Oakland youth creative writing, publishing, and bookmaking center dedicated to supporting all Oakland youth to write with confidence and joy. This project was supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.  

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020 Time: 5:30-6:45 pm (capacity is limited)

  The Art of Storytelling is a series of exhibits based in the Oakland office of California Humanities at the historic Swan’s Market. The series celebrates California’s rich cultural and artistic histories and dynamic changing demographics through a variety of visual media. In order to continue exploring the stories of California while also protecting each others’ health, The Art of Storytelling is continuing online for the time being. For more information about Chapter 510, visit www.chapter510.org To purchase the anthology, visit, www.nomadicpress.org