Join us for an intimate exploration of personal narratives from past and contemporary activists who have shaped civil rights history. We’ll hear from three justice activists, shaped by their personal experiences, who have turned their insights into books that inspire action and shape policy.
The lives and experiences of our notable historians, writers, and activists, past and present, tell us much about how we can engage in bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice. In this panel, we hear from three contemporary activists who use the literary form of memoir to encompass larger truths. Discover how the personal lives of these leaders, real people with triumphs, flaws, and trauma, shaped their commitment to human rights.
The evening includes a discussion with poet and activist Staceyann Chin, and Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, author of his new book, Kamala, The Motherland and Me. Dara Baldwin, author of To Be A Problem, will also share her experiences as a disability activist, offering insights into the disability movement and centering the voices of disabled individuals of color.
This event highlights how the personal lives of these leaders have profoundly influenced their commitment to justice.
Panelist:
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey: Author of Kamala, The Motherland and Me which chronicles his journey to his paternal homeland with VP Kamala Harris on Her Historic Trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia. Quarter is also a Pepperdine University professor and prominent convener in the fields of dialogue and social change.
Dara Baldwin: 20-year activist and author of To Be A Problem: A Black Woman’s Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement, a searing critique of the disability rights movement from within, and a call for collective liberation that is pro-black and centers disabled people of color.
Staceyann Chin: Co-writer and original performer in the Tony award-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, American book award winner, author of the poetry book Crossfire and the memoir, the other side of Paradise, is also a champion for LGBTQ+ Rights.
Moderator:
Sheldon Scott: Multi-genre Visual Artist and Storyteller
Plus a Special Spoken Word Performance by Staceyann Chin
Books available for sale courtesy of Mahogany Books
Ticket Price: Free with RSVP
