RIP The Voice and The Vibe, MBF, and Upcoming Events
Hey Y’all,
Two African Americans who represented the dreams of their community made their transition this week, and I’m taking a moment to celebrate how they embody the apex, diversity, and massive creativity of blackness.
RIP to Arkabutla, Mississippi, native James Earl Jones aka The Voice who has the distinction of being the rare person capable of being everything his community needed and wanted him to be simply because he understood that all black people want from you is to be good at your job, give a hundred percent every time, and produce work that shows the complexity of being black simply because it’s merely another layer of the complexity of being human. I won’t waste y’all’s time itemizing the amazingly long list of television, film, and stage credits of Jones that y’all already know and can easily google if you don’t know. Instead, I simply want to highlight that Jones was talented and conscious enough to kill two stereotypical birds with one stone. Like Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye constantly evolved and never made the same album, Jones was meticulous in how he chose roles that would challenge and expand his skills while also challenging and expanding the one-dimensional limitations often projected onto black actors because black people are still viewed as a monolith. Yet, just as Prince sought to show that humans are pie charts with multiple slices, Jones has left a mosaic of roles that teach us how to be better humans by presenting the value of all humans. Whether he was portraying a bombardier, medical doctor, boxing champion, US President, sanitation worker, house painter and poet, baseball player, journalist, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., mentally challenged homeless man, sci-fi villain, college professor, judge, community elder, African king, scary neighbor, and even the leader of a pride, Jones’ ultimate gift was his ability to show that protagonists and antagonists are often labeled as such through their circumstances as much as through their actions and that what makes anyone heroic is not the victory but the pursuit to be better today than one was yesterday.
Now, allow me to make one thing perfectly clear. I am not talking about Jones choosing roles that present “positive” characters in the most narrowly defined way to appease and make white folks comfortable. I am talking about the feeling I got as a pre-teen watching Jones play a working-class man who is so confident that he can pull a fine-ass woman like Diahann Carroll from the back of a garbage truck. In Clarksdale, Mississippi, we call that a hoochie coochie man aka a mane, as signified by Muddy Waters, ‘cause blues people know that it ain’t the clothes or the job that make the mane, but it’s the mane who loves himself enough to bring essence and value to anything he does or touches. As an eleven or twelve-year-old, I already knew that mane on the back of that garbage truck because my HBCU-educated parents remained surrounded by those salt-of-the-earth black folks who poured life into their child, expanding and deepening what I understood about being a constructive person. I knew black folks who were too poor to afford grass; yet, they woke every morning and swept their dirt until it looked like marble. This is the type of dignity that Jones reflects on the screen, even from the back of a garbage truck. So, when showing how the US government used welfare to destroy rather than heal and build black families, Jones and Carroll are showing the type of dignity that sustained the black community for hundreds of years until reality television and popular music driven by the toxic trinity of gang, dope boy, and strip club cultures made dysfunctionality the norm of what it means to be black.
Purely for sentimental reasons, my favorite Jones work is The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings for two reasons. One, I am not just a former mediocre baseball player who earned a college baseball scholarship, but my grandfather, Robert McInnis, participated in Negro League barnstorming. To be clear, he didn’t play in the Negro Leagues, but when Negro League teams would barnstorm across the South, my grandfather was one of the players who would represent the local team against the Negro League players. Thus, that film doesn’t just celebrate sports but shows how for black folks even sports was a tool to be used in their sociopolitical and economic civil rights struggles in which black folks were forced to embrace multiple roles to move themselves into full citizenship. Two, participating in an ensemble cast, which includes Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, and others, Jones readily accepted roles in works that unflinchingly address the debate over black authenticity, integration versus Black Nationalism, what it means to be a constructive black person, and what is the line of demarcation between self-hate and playing a role to navigate and circumvent white supremacy. All of this is shown in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings with Jones being the rock of dignity yet also being a well-crafted enough actor to leave room for others to show that even dignity manifests in a multitude of ways. This is the epitome of Jones’ career in which black folks got to see every aspect of themselves illuminated for the world to know their contributions to global civilization.
Additionally, RIP to Frankie Beverly of Frankie Beverly and Maze aka The Vibe of a people. With so many great testimonies having already been given, I will provide only four points to summarize the legacy of Beverly and Maze.
One, Beverly’s voice represents the encyclopedia of black vocalization, starting with doo-wop, transitioning through Motown and Philly soul, with songs, such as “If That’s What You Wanted,” with his first band The Butlers, and settling into a smoother Stax sound in which Beverly merged the grit and passion of the church with the coordination or sophistication of jazz to give himself and Maze their unique sound that never stopped resonating with black people. Maze was initially too gritty for the Motown and Philly sound, which is what forced them to relocate to San Francisco. The results were soulful grooves dripping with sunshine sensibilities.
Two, because Maze created so many soothing sing-alongs, they don’t get the credit for or are not celebrated for their superior musicianship like Parliament/Funkadelic, Earth, Wind, & Fire, War, Sly and the Family Stone, and others. But, groove for groove, Maze has been sampled as much as most 70s bands because their compositions are anchored in “the one” while also providing serene grooves that create a tranquil atmosphere of familyhood and romance. In short, Maze was your favorite band’s favorite band and must be remembered as such.
Three, well into the age of hip hop, Maze was one of the few groups that carried the bloodstained banner of live musicianship through the 80s and into the 90s so that people’s ears could never forget the beauty and power of live musicianship and spontaneous crowd interaction. It seems like I saw Beverly and Maze every year from the age of 15 through 27. Seeing them live was the combination of a family reunion and a church revival that gave the attendees an aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual experience that enabled them to return to their lives with the knowledge and inspiration to overcome the hell of an unequal life. In a time in which technology has almost overshadowed musicianship, Maze’s primary legacy is their live performance. It’s not just that they have nine Gold albums but that two of those albums—Live in New Orleans and Live in Los Angeles—are staples, not only of their catalog, of popular live music. While “Southern Girl” and “Back in Stride” are my favorite Beverly and Maze songs, I often turn to the live versions when I want to hear them because the mark of a great band is to sound better than the record, and they do!
Finally, Beverly and Maze’s legendary career is proof that black artists can become major stars and make major money all in the black community. They are proof that, if you provide creative music with constructive lyrics that give love to the black community, the black community will love and support you forever. At some point, black folks must learn that being loved by their own is more than enough. Nothing illustrates this more than the career of Beverly and Maze, which was nurtured, sustained, and amplified by black people. Of course, this is a two-way street in which black folks must remember that we can have “nice things” if we support them financially. White flight has never destroyed a city. What destroys a city is when the black middle class abandons a city, following white flight because black people don’t understand and love themselves enough to know that they can sustain what they need and want. “According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth, Black buying power was $1.6 trillion in 2020. That’s higher than the gross domestic product of Mexico. It’s projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2024; that growth is outpacing White buying power” (Abioye). The career of Beverly and Maze is a great example of a constructive circular relationship between business and community in which both parties got what they needed to grow into their best selves. Thus, it’s not just about black artists valuing black audiences; it’s also about black audiences supporting work that nurtures rather than that destroys them as has become the case, which is illustrated wonderfully by Childish Gambino in his video for the song, “Big Foot Little Foot.”
With the passing of Frankie Beverly and James Earl Jones, the black community has lost two beings who reflected the best of who we are. RIP to The Voice and The Vibe—may their careers be an example that art and ritual don’t just coexist but that separating art from ritual only produces spectacle, particularly a spectacle that breeds the worst of what humanity can be. (Click here to watch me discuss the legacy of Beverly and Maze on media veteran and Prince scholar Tony Pendleton’s program, Reality Check, on WURD in Philadelphia, PA, which is Beverly’s hometown. When you get to the page, go to the 2:39:42 mark to hear our discussion, which aired last Wednesday.)
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For a final belated RIP, we extend our condolences to poet, editor, and activist Julia Wright for the loss of her sister Rachel Wright—the youngest daughter of novelist, essayist, and poet Richard Wright. In The Man Who Lived Underground, originally written in 1942, Wright chose the name Rachel for the wife of the hounded and persecuted protagonist, Fred Daniels. He also dedicated The Outsider to “Rachel, my daughter who was born on foreign soil.” In a special edition of the Richard Wright News Bulletin, Julia adds: “Rachel was the child of Richard’s expatriation, the child of his hope, the child of his established literary fame but also the child of the darkness of his persecution by McCarthyism and the State Department in post-world war two Paris. Rachel was a child of chiaroscuro...” For more information, contact Julia Wright at richardwrightcentennial.jw@gmail.com.
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Tomorrow, the Mississippi Book Festival: A Literary Lawn Party will unite readers and authors in an exhilarating celebration of books. The Capitol’s stately rooms and nearby Galloway Church become venues for distinguished panelists, the streets in-between transform into a bustling marketplace for booksellers, and the grounds and Capitol Rotunda become a hub of lively exchange. Free and open to all, the festival brings the written word to fun, festive life with authors, panel discussions, book signings, family-friendly activities, food trucks, live music, and more. MBF has tapped C Liegh McInnis as the moderator for the poetry panel, which will include another stellar group of poets: Leona Sevick (The Bamboo Wife), Hannah V. Warren (Slaughterhouse for Old Wives' Tales), A.H. Jerriod Avant (Muscadine), and Adam Clay: (Circle Back). Earlier, we informed y’all that Diane Williams—co-author with Richelle Putnam of A Guide to Mississippi Museums, best-selling and award-winning novelist Angie Thomas, and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and US/MS Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey have been announced as panelists for this year’s Mississippi Book Festival. For a complete list of panels and authors, see the calendar of events below.
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Today, Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) will host a digital one-day course, Introduction to the Black Lit Network, taught by the dynamic duo of Tougaloo College alums Dr. Howard Rambsy and Dr. Kenton Rambsy. For more information, see the calendar of events below. Additionally, KU HBW is creating a Digital Humanities (DH) Resource Toolbox, a curated collection of DH resources. The goal of the toolbox is to build a glossary of DH teaching resources, with the target audience being teachers and professionals at the high school and undergraduate level. HBW is seeking your recommendations for:
Specific Articles, Digital Publications, and/or Books
Websites – i.e., for specific tools related to DH
Organizations
Additional resources – i.e., resource pages with a large collection of useful links and tools
Along with this project, HBW will be hosting, curating, or participating in several DH workshops. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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The Jackson State University Creative Writing Program is preparing for its annual Writers Series and will host poets James Cherry and Jerriod Avant. The Writers Series will include a Masterclass in Poetry from 10:00 a.m. – noon, a Poetry Reading by James Cherry followed by conversation with Dr. Kelly Ellis and a JSU student from 1:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., and a Poetry Cafe featuring Jerriod Avant and an Open Mic with JSU students from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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The Louisiana/Mississippi Branch of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators will host a few events this month. For full details, see the calendar of events below.
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This month’s Torch Literary Arts feature is Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton—award-winning author of Black Chameleon and Newsworthy and a lauded playwright, director, performer, and critic. To read more about Mouton and her work, go here. And, this week’s Torch Literary Arts feature is poet and editor Chidima Anekwe. To read more about Anekwe and her work, go here.
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The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) will curate multiple events this month, including the Meridian Symphony Orchestra presenting “Blue like Jazz,” featuring African-American pianist Clayton Stephenson, and a Gospel Lunch featuring singer/songwriter Krista Overby. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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Join the Jackson State University Department of English and Modern Languages and new Mandarin instructor, Na Li, as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the festival dates back over 3,000 years. Similar festivals are celebrated by other cultures in East and Southeast Asia. During the festival, lanterns of all size and shapes – which symbolize beacons that light people’s path to prosperity and good fortune – are carried and displayed. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology. The celebration will feature traditional Chinese clothes, games, and food. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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The Jackson State University Margaret Walker Alexander Center has posted its latest newsletter, which includes information about various upcoming events, including its HBCU Radio Preservation Project, which can be read here and here.
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Third World Press, one of the largest black-owned publishers on the planet, has wonderful collections of poetry, fiction, and prose by award-winning and historic writers. To browse their catalog, go here.
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Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC)—a private nonprofit corporation funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide public programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines to serve nonprofit groups in Mississippi—has posted its upcoming events that y’all can read in the calendar of events below.
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Muntu Dance Theatre hosts dance workshops on various Saturdays throughout the month. For the next workshop, see the calendar of events below.
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On the eve of the Harris-Trump Debate, two insightful commentaries were provided that assessed where America is at the moment and what VP Kamala Harris must do to keep it from returning fully to its Jim Crow past. Poet, playwright, editor, and cultural critic Charlie R. Braxton offered “An Open Letter to Kamala Harris (here),” and poet, professor, literary theorist, editor Dr. Tony Bolden offered “A Word on Tonight’s Debate Between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump (here).” Despite being posted before the debate, these commentaries offer insightful words of charting a path to the White House and beyond.
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The Jackson Advocate, one of the oldest African-American newspapers, has more insightful articles, including an insightful article by Dr. Ivory Phillips of the possibility of turning Mississippi from red to blue, which can be read here. Then, y’all can read more great articles here. Also, JA has a weekly podcast that y’all can access here and here, and to receive notifications of future episodes contact janews@thejacksonadvocate.com.
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You are invited to a Musical Kwanzaa Celebration with opera phenome DeAnna Tisdale Johnson and Friends. For more information, see the calendar of events below and contact Jackson Advocate Editor Emeritus Alice Tisdale at alicethomastisdale@gmail.com.
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Sunny Hostin—legal journalist, author, and co-host of ABC’s The View—has been announced to deliver the keynote for the Jackson State University Mary E. Peoples Scholarship Luncheon. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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November 1 – 4, 2023, the Jackson State University Margaret Walker Alexander Center curated the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the original 1973 festival, which hosted most of the major black women writers of the day. In the same vein, last year’s festival hosted many of the major black women writers of today. As part of the 2023 festival, JSU’s The Researcher: An Interdisciplinary Journal published a special issue (In Our Own Words: The Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue) that y’all can read here. Y’all can also purchase a print copy of the issue here. C Liegh McInnis has a poem, “For Sappho, Margaret, Marie, and Iley (After Catherine Pierce’s Message to POL),” and an essay, “The Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival as Performative Manifestation of Margaret Walker Alexander’s Literary Manifesto and Genius,” included in the issue, along with great works by scholars and poets, such as Dr. Tiffany Caesar, Alissa Rae Funderburk, Angela Stewart, Dr. Craig Meyer, Dr. Shanna Smith, Patricia Jones, Ming Joi, Barbara Brewster Lewis, and Dr. RaShell Smith-Spears. Special thanks to Dr. Candis Pizzetta, editor of The Researcher, for compiling this wonderful special issue. This commemorative issue was crafted before the actual festival as a way to promote and highlight the festival as it was occurring.
Additionally, Callaloo, one of the three major African-American literary journals on the planet, will be publishing a special proceedings issue of the 2023 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival that will include scholarly essays, poetry, fiction, and artwork presented during the festival along with interviews, reflections, and photography from the festival. Combined, The Researcher Commemorative Issue and the forthcoming Callaloo Proceedings Issue will make a great collection to document this historic gathering of scholars and artists. The Callaloo Proceedings Issue will be published in November as a one-year celebration of the festival, and we’ll include info for preorders as soon as they are posted. For more about Callaloo, go here.
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Off the critical success of Black Fire This Time, edited by Dr. Kim McMillon, Black Fire This Time, Volume Two, edited by Dr. Derrick Harriell and Professor Kofi Antwi is available for preorder here and here, and the publisher has scheduled dates for a national tour to promote the anthology. To see the upcoming dates, go here and scroll to the bottom of the page. Louisiana Poet Laureate Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy has written the introduction for the anthology. And, we are proud to inform y’all that C Liegh McInnis will have a poem, “Mississippi Like…” and a short story, “Kroger Cart,” included in this new volume. Like Volume One, Volume Two will have some of the most noted black poets, fiction writers, and essayists in the tradition of the Black Arts Movement.
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As most of y’all know, the Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South has been selected to march in the 2025 Rose Bowl Parade, and there is a fundraiser to cover some of the costs. Although entities are selected for the Rose Bowl Parade, they must finance their way there. Here is the link to the fundraiser. After a successful day of raising over $200,000 for “Give the Boom Their Roses Day,” the Jackson State University Thee Sonic Boom of the South and the Prancing J-Settes invites fans and supporters to continue to donate to help send Thee Sonic Boom of the South to Pasadena, CA, for the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda! For more information and to donate, go here, here, here, and here.
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Tougaloo College grad Dr. Howard Rambsy II aka Doc HR is the author of two excellent books, Bad Men: Creative Touchstones of Black Writers and The Black Arts Enterprise and the Production of African American Poetry. He has dedicated time over the years to chronicling the work of C Liegh McInnis at his wonderful website Cultural Front, which can be read here. His latest commentary on McInnis’ work, “A Local Conscious Poet Who Knows a Lot about Prince,” can be read here.
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I am both honored and excited to have been interviewed by the brilliant Scott Woods, editor of Rock Critics.com, which features interviews with some of the most noted music journalists of the past sixty years. (This Scott Woods is not to be confused with the other brilliant Scott Woods who is a noted Prince scholar.) The title of the interview is “The Aesthetics of Prince: An Interview with C Liegh McInnis” and can be read here. It’s a very lengthy interview of my work as a Prince scholar and engages a few things that I haven’t discussed regarding my work on Prince. One of the coolest parts of the interview, for me, is that I got to shout out Prince scholar Harold Pride about midway through the interview and that I got to shout out the Polished Solid Prince Symposium and What Did Prince Do This Week? at the end of the interview. RockCritics.com is also on Twitter, which y’all know that I’m not. So, if y’all feel so inclined, locate and checkout his tweet about the interview as well. I hope y’all enjoy the interview and, as always, feel free to hit me back with your thoughts or feedback.
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The Jackson State University Creative Writing website is live and can be accessed here. Also, to give to this new program, go here. Once you are at the page, complete the amount and contact information, type “Department of English, Creative Writing,” in the “or other” box at the bottom of the form, and submit payment. And, here is a link to poet, short story writer, and Prince scholar C Liegh McInnis discussing the newly established JSU Creative Writing Concertation and Minor.
The JSU creative writing offers a concentration and minor for its Bachelor of Arts program. Unlike many creative writing programs across the country, JSU’s creative writing concentration and minor will allow students to specialize in multiple genres if they desire. Additionally, unlike most creative writing programs across the country, JSU’s creative writing concentration and minor will encourage and prepare students to use their writing to engage social justice and socio-political issues by offering a capstone class that will match a student with an organization or institution that is doing the type of social justice work that the young writer desires to engage with one’s writing. This new concentration and minor were developed as a collaborative effort between Dr. Ebony Lumumba—Chair, Dr. RaShell Smith-Spears—Graduate Coordinator, and C Liegh McInnis. For more information, contact Dr. Lumumba at ebony.o.lumumba@jsums.edu or Dr. Smith-Spears at rashell.smith-spears@jsums.edu.
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Thanks to everyone who sent kind and encouraging feedback regarding my interview with 1$t Letter—an emcee, educator, and entrepreneur who is doing a lot with his talents to improve our community. Since the interview is so long, here are links to a few clips:
First, for my Prince folks, I discuss Prince mostly from the midway point of part two and all of part three: here and here.
Here is a clip where I discuss how Charlie Braxton, Jimmy Kimbrell, and Jeff Gibson all impacted me early as a writer. I’ve discussed Charlie and Jimmy at length before so I’m glad that I got to discuss how Jeff impacted me as a JSU classmate, watching him be a serious writer while we were in college. At the end, I briefly discuss how my embracing the myth of American Individualism kept me from being tutored by Margaret Walker Alexander when I was in college. The entire segment is about five minutes and thirty seconds long. Y’all can stop watching when I begin discussing how James F. Cooper almost caused me to fail eleventh grade English.
Here is a clip where I discuss how my wife and stepchildren taught me the real definition of manhood.
Here is a clip where I discuss having multiple part-time jobs in college and learning how not to be a toxic male.
Here is a clip where I discuss my respect for local poet, emcee, and activist Skipp Coon and people not supporting conscious artists yet being disappointed when the artists they do support don’t meet a major moment with impactful art.
And, y’all can watch the entire interview here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Again, thanks to all of y’all who emailed your feedback and especially to y’all who watched all six parts. That is, indeed, some true love and support. In the words of the great poet Smokey Robinson as vocalized by David Ruffin of The Temptations, “I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame. I’ve got all of the riches one man can claim. What makes me feel this way? My folks, my folks, my folks, talkin’ ‘bout my folks!”
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Props to the Jackson State University Faculty Senate, under the leadership of Dr. Dawn Bishop, for passing the “Resolution of the Jackson State University Faculty Senate Defending Academic Freedom to Teach about Race, Gender Justice and Critical Race Theory Adopted by the Faculty Senate January 27, 2022,” which reads, in part, “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Jackson State University Faculty Senate resolutely rejects any attempts by bodies external to the faculty to restrict or dictate university curriculum on any matter, including matters related to racial and social justice, and will stand firm against encroachment on faculty authority by the legislature or the Boards of Trustees… BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate affirms the Joint Statement on Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism, authored by the AAUP, PEN America, the American Historical Association, and the Association of American Colleges & Universities, endorsed by over seventy organizations, and issued on June 16, 2021.”
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Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., Afrikan Art Gallery & Bookstore (800 North Farish Street) will hold weekly meetings every to discuss and organize around the newly published Long Term Strategic Plan for Black America. For more information contact Asinia Lukata Chikuyu at afrikan_tbt@yahoo.com.
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The first Tuesday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at the Capital Club, Women for Progress of Mississippi, Inc., will host its monthly Lunch and Learn, featuring various women in impactful leadership in the city and around the country. For more information, contact mail@womenforprogress.net.
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Every Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., Dependable Source Corp. Center for Community & Workforce Development, which is a black woman-owned business, hosts The Working Woman Report, which is a live podcast that curates conversations on a variety of topics with professional women. Y’all can join the conversation here, and for more information contact Willie Jones, owner and CEO of Dependable Source Corp at williejones@drivingyourfuturems.com.
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Every Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Refill Jackson—a nonprofit designed to equip young adults ages 18 – 24 with the skills needed to enter the workforce and be self-sufficient—holds its Friday Forums, which are at 136 S. Adams Street Jackson, MS 39203. For more information, contact Nicole McNamee at nmcnamee72@gmail.com or visit their website here.
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The first Friday of each month, at 8:00 p.m. at The Event Center (716 S Gallatin Street), Spoken Soul Open Mic holds its monthly open mic readings and performances. Hosted by Queen Speaks, the cost is $10. All poets and performers welcomed. For more information, contact Erica Garrett at ericamvsu03@gmail.com or (601) 500-3502.
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The first Saturday of each month, the Mississippi Museum of Art will begin its Access for All: Free First Saturdays. For more information, go here.
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The second and fourth Saturday of each month, Dr. RaShell Smith-Spears (rashell.spears@jsums.edu) and Dr. Shanna Smith (shanna.l.smith@jsums.edu) coordinate a creative writing workshop that meets via Zoom. That group has been meeting for almost ten years now, and many of the works developed in that workshop have been published. In fact, I’ve had at least four works that I had workshopped by the group to be published later.
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Two Saturdays a month, Afrikan Art Gallery will host program, Freedom School Saturdays, for middle and high school students that is modeled after the 1964 Freedom Summer/School Project. The mission is to will help with the intellectual empowerment of our children with course in Civics 101, A Meeting with the Elders: What to Expect in Life, Spiritual Pilgrimage to the Mississippi Delta, Spiritual Pilgrimage to Africatown, AL, photo-journalism exercises, cultural expressions and performances for Black-centered events through their Speech - Choir and Afrikan Cultural Pride Dance Troupe, financial literacy workshops, and so much more. For more information, contact Asinia Lukata Chikuyu at afrikan_tbt@yahoo.com.
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Every Saturday, noted Prince scholar and NYU Professor De Angela Duff is beginning another Prince project, What Did Prince Do This Week?, a very, very, very slow read of Duane Tudahl’s entire Prince Studio Sessions book series through an interactive, online, weekly book club web series. Professor Duff will be live via Streamyard video every Saturday at noon ET on YouTube and Facebook to discuss the parallel week, beginning in 1983. The weekly discussion will be recorded if y’all cannot attend the livestream. The first Saturday of the series, Duff was joined by Tudahl, and y’all can watch the recording of the first session here. To get notifications or to join Duff’s listserv, go to
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Each Sunday at 5:00 p.m. CST, award-winning novelist Ellen Morris Prewitt, author of In the Name of Mississippi, and Alisha Johnson Perry, children’s book author, social justice advocate, and certified fundraising executive, have joined forces to establish Contemplative Writing Group. Each week is led by a member of the group. They catch up on their writing week, then the leader offers a contemplative writing prompt. They write for 30 - 40 minutes and share if anyone want. It’s come-and-go/participate when you can and of indefinite duration—as long as folks are getting something from it, the workshop will be offered. To join the group, folks can email the School of Contemplative Living at livingschool12@gmail.com or go here.
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Mississippi-based funnymen Merc B. Williams and Cocky McFly...real-life brothers…have joined forces to create The Vibe Controllers, which is a podcast that shows the two of them in their natural element discussing various topics, with a little humor and lots of sibling banter! Y’all can checkout the podcast via Soundcloud or YouTube at soundcloud.com/thevibecontrollers and The Vibe Controllers Podcast - YouTube.
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The Center for the Study of Southern Culture has posted its September events in its latest newsletter, which can be read here.
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Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC)—a private nonprofit corporation funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide public programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines to serve nonprofit groups in Mississippi—has posted its September that y’all can read here. For more information, contact kam@mississippihumanitiescouncil.ccsend.com.
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September 13, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) will host a digital one-day course, Introduction to the Black Lit Network, taught by the dynamic duo of Tougaloo College alums Dr. Howard Rambsy and Dr. Kenton Rambsy. To participate:
Zoom link: https://kansas.zoom.us/j/89299370189
Meeting ID: 892 9937 0189
Passcode: 0913
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September 14, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., at Kennedy King College, Muntu Dance Theatre will facilitate a Community Class with Koya Odum. For more information, contact info-muntu.com@shared1.ccsend.com and go here.
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September 14, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CST, The Mississippi Book Festival: A Literary Lawn Party will unite readers and authors in an exhilarating celebration of books. The Capitol’s stately rooms and nearby Galloway Church become venues for distinguished panelists, the streets in-between transform into a bustling marketplace for booksellers, and the grounds and Capitol Rotunda become a hub of lively exchange. Free and open to all, the festival brings the written word to fun, festive life with authors, panel discussions, book signings, family-friendly activities, food trucks, live music, and more. MBF has tapped C Liegh McInnis as the moderator for the poetry panel, which will include another stellar group of poets: Leona Sevick (The Bamboo Wife), Hannah V. Warren (Slaughterhouse for Old Wives' Tales), A.H. Jerriod Avant (Muscadine), and Adam Clay: (Circle Back). Earlier, we informed y’all that Diane Williams—co-author with Richelle Putnam of A Guide to Mississippi Museums, best-selling and award-winning novelist Angie Thomas, and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and US/MS Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey have been announced as panelists for this year’s Mississippi Book Festival. For a complete list of panels and authors, see the calendar of events below. For more information, go here.
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September 14, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST, The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) will present the Meridian Symphony Orchestra presenting “Blue like Jazz,” featuring African-American pianist Clayton Stephenson. For more information, go here.
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September 15, 22, 29, and October 6, 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. GMT, Lolwe is offering a masterclass on “Anatomy of the Short Story” taught by Troy Onyango. In this class, participants will explore the short story structure and its elements. Aspects to be covered in depth include: building a well-constructed plot that drives the narrative forward and using narrative frameworks to add depth and complexity to stories. There are limited slots available, so go here to register.
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September 16, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. CST in room 419 of the Jackson State University Dollye M. E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building, join the JSU Department of English and Modern Languages and new Mandarin instructor, Na Li, as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the festival dates back over 3,000 years. Similar festivals are celebrated by other cultures in East and Southeast Asia. During the festival, lanterns of all size and shapes – which symbolize beacons that light people’s path to prosperity and good fortune – are carried and displayed. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology. The celebration will feature traditional Chinese clothes, games, and food. For more information, contact Dr. Ebony Lumumba—Chair of the JSU EML Department at ebony.o.lumumba@jsums.edu or Ms. Na Li at na.li@jsums.edu.
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September 17, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., via Zoom, the Louisiana/Mississippi Branch of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators will host Monthly Acadiana Meeting (via Zoom) Shop Talk and Open Critique. Please email Denise Gallagher/IC at louisianamississippi-ic@scbwi.org if you would like to participate in the zoom meeting.
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September 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. CST, Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) will host, MindFrame: Exploring Mental Health through Film, a three-part film series based on Noah Saterstrom’s exhibit, What Became of Dr. Smith, which focuses on the depiction of mental health in cinema and Mississippians’ access to mental health resources. In August and September, in partnership with Mississippi State University Psychology Department, MMA will explore two stories of youth facing significant mental health challenges in Mississippi. To register, go here.
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September 18 – 24, 2024, Furious Flower, one of the most important organizations for archiving, nurturing, and promoting black poetry, will hold its annual conference. For more information, go here and here.
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September 19, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST, The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) will present a Gospel Lunch featuring singer/songwriter Krista Overby. For more information, go here.
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September 20, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., in the Critique Space via Zoom, the Louisiana/Mississippi Branch of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators will host Monthly Meaux Jeaux. Open to any and all in the Louisiana/Mississippi region. Format is introductions & overview, solo silent writing & polishing for ten minutes, and then critiques. For any questions, contact Gary Alipio/ARA at louisianamississippi-ara@scbwi.org or Click here to join Zoom Sept. 20 >
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September 21, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the University of New Orleans, Monthly NOLA Meeting. Shop Talk followed by Optional Critique. Eight- to ten-minute readings followed by commentary, as many as can fit. (Optional: Bring printed copies to share). UNO Bicentennial Education Building, 3rd Floor, Room 305Q, Founders Road (across from The Cove), New Orleans, LA 70148. Directions to UNO > For more information, contact Gary Alipio at louisianamississippi-ra@scbwi.org.
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September 21, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. GMT, Lolwe is offering a masterclass on “Writing Crime Fiction” taught by Leye Adenle who will teach the essential elements of writing crime fiction. This includes how to construct crime scenes in fiction and how to write victims, villains, and heroes. Adenle will also share how to build tension in crime stories. There are limited slots available, so go here to register.
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September 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m., at PJ’s Coffee Shop, the Louisiana/Mississippi Branch of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators will host the Gulf Coast/Biloxi Meeting. (Click for Location >) For Co-Writing, critiques, and other questions, email Alisha Johnson Perry at lamscritgroups@gmail.com
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September 28, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Ice House, in Jackson, MS, the Mississippi Coalition against Domestic Violence will host Midnight Blues Gala: A Purple-Tie Event, to honor domestic violence survivors, advocates, and allies. Enjoy great food, drinks, and a silent auction while experiencing a live blues performance. Let’s unite and show our solidarity in the fight against domestic violence. Together, we have strength! For more information about the event, contact support@mcadv.org and go here. And, for more information about the MCADV, go here.
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Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) is creating a Digital Humanities (DH) Resource Toolbox, a curated collection of DH resources. The goal of the toolbox is to build a glossary of DH teaching resources, with the target audience being teachers and professionals at the high school and undergraduate level. HBW is seeking your recommendations for:
Specific Articles, Digital Publications, and/or Books
Websites – i.e., for specific tools related to DH
Organizations
Additional resources – i.e., resource pages with a large collection of useful links and tools
Along with this project, HBW will be hosting, curating, or participating in several DH workshops. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
Please email your resources to BLACKDH@ku.edu by September 30, 2024.
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October 4 – 29, 2024, in honor of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary, African Voices will present an exciting season of films produced, directed, and written by women of color, during their calendar of in-person and virtual programs that will occur at different venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Enjoy a month of special panels, workshops, network and exclusive events. For more information, go here.
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October 5, 2024, from 11:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST at the Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) will curate a Detroit Public Libraries Workshop, “Gaming and Content Creation Workshop,” facilitated by Dr. Kishonna Gray. For Registration link, email hbw@ku.edu.
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October 5, 2024, at the UNCF-Mellon Conference, Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) will facilitate a Panel on the Digital Humanities and Archives, featuring Dr. Ayesha Hardison, Dr. Doretha Williams, and Ashley Simmons. For more information, email hbw@ku.edu.
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October 5, 12, 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. GMT, Lolwe is offering a masterclass on “Speculative Fiction,” taught by writer Wole Talabi—engineer, Nommo Award-winning author of the critically-acclaimed speculative fiction collection Incomplete Solutions and novel Shigidi, and editor of Africanfuturism: An Anthology. Speculative fiction takes readers on an adventure into worlds entirely different from the one in which they live. This genre proposes novel realities using diverse characters, new rules, and the promise of exciting possibilities. The focus of this class will be Science Fiction as a subgenre of the broad speculative fiction category. You will learn how to build stories around themes that engage futuristic sciences and technologies. With a focus on the African terrain, this class will show you how to craft peculiar narratives unbeholden to the Western gaze. It will also cover tips on how to write an effective science fiction story, embellished with otherworldly elements, yet grounded in reality and entertaining to readers. For the duration of this class, there will be readings geared towards broadening your horizon. You will study the works of various science fiction writers, particularly those of African descent, unravel their styles, and attempt to assimilate same into your work. The class is open to writers at all stages, especially those with a keen interest in the science fiction genre who have hopes of producing work in the short fiction form. To register, go here.
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October 5, 2024, Caltech will facilitate its 5th annual virtual FUTURE Ignited program. Caltech recognizes that the diversity of background, experience, and thought is essential to achieving and maintaining scientific excellence. The FUTURE Ignited program is designed to support and encourage aspiring graduate students by providing the opportunity to learn more about graduate programs at Caltech and, more broadly, the graduate school admissions process. Please share this information with your top rising Junior and Senior students, in STEM fields — who may be interested in pursuing a PhD — to participate. Faculty nominations are not necessary, and students are able to register themselves. For more information, contact Candace Rypisi—Assistant VP and Director of Student-Faculty Programs at candacer@caltech.edu. And, to register, go here.
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October 17, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., Millsaps College and Lemuria Books will host an evening with New York Times bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.
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October 17 – 19, 2024, Cushcity.com will host the annual National Black Book Festival (NBBF). As one of the largest online sources for African-American authors and literature, NBBF attracts a wide array of authors, publishers, book clubs, libraries and individual readers from the Southwest U.S. and nationwide. For more information, including a detailed list of authors and events, go here.
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October 18 – 19, 2024, Kansas University’s History of Black Writing (HBW) will facilitate a BBIP Virtual Mini-Conference. For more information, email hbw@ku.edu.
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October 19, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., join the 16th Annual Langston Hughes Literary Arts Festival at Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. This year’s theme is “Power of the Written Word,” and includes a spoken word artist, an author conversation, a Book Ban discussion, and performances. All presenters’ books will be available for sale. For more information, go here.
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October 19 – 20, 2024, Reel Sisters, the first Oscar Qualifying Film Festival for narrative shorts devoted to women filmmakers, will premiere the original works of women filmmakers at the 27th Annual Reel Sisters Film Festival. For more information, go here.
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October 26 – 27, 2024, Muntu Dance Theatre will host its Rebirth Concert and Rebirth Dance Conference. For more information, see the calendar of events below. The concert will be October 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Kennedy-King College. The conference will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Barbara A. Sizmore Academy. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.
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National Council for Black Studies has a Call for Papers for its Annual Report on the State of Affairs for Africana Communities in 2024 and Beyond. This report will include short APA-style essays (between 2,000 and 2,500 words, or 8–10 double-spaced pages, including references) on new, emerging, and ongoing current issues and innovations of importance to Africana communities in the U.S. and anywhere in the global African world. Their mission is to create a space for their discipline to offer historical context, future projections, solutions, and culturally grounded analyses of current needs, concerns, innovations, and ideas of people of African ancestry anywhere in the world. The theme of this call for papers is refocusing and reaffirming Black studies’ community relevance, particularly in the following areas: 1) Black community approaches to food security, 2) artificial intelligence and its impact on Black families and communities, 3) the visions and works of the founding activist scholars of the discipline of Black studies, 4) Pan-Africanism at the close of the International Decade for People of African Descent, 5) agency and policy analysis in the climate of resurgent reactionism to Black agency, and 6) how to establish disciplinary identity and defining goals in the midst of a diversity of identities and interests within the discipline. For this issue, NCBS is especially seeking essays that engage agentic and culturally grounded methods and approaches to resistance and solutions across the African world. It is important that essays in this report specifically highlight strategies used by African collectives in specific locales of the world to counter oppression, which can be utilized throughout the African world. The deadline to submit is November 1, 2024. For more information, go here.
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International Journal of Africana Studies (IJAS) has a Call for Papers on the theme of “The Transatlantic Slave Trade and National Reckonings: Remembering, Repressing, Repairing.” With 2025 representing the 160th anniversary of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing legalized slavery throughout the country, the IJAS invites article manuscripts for a special themed issue to capture this commemorative moment. Focusing on multiple Black Atlantic contexts, the IJAS issue will examine governmental and civil society responsiveness or resistance to efforts to reckon with various legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Guest editors R. Drew Smith and Bertis D. English encourage contributors to explore local, state, national, or international debates; institutional or policy directives; and related topics regarding the public importance of such legacies, especially in the Americas, Africa, and Europe, though contributors may explore other geographical areas. The deadline to submit is November 1, 2024. For more information, go here.
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November 7, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – noon, The Watering Hole, which hosts the only Southern writing retreat for poets of color and draws 50 to 60 poets to the retreat each year, will curate a virtual craft talk with award-winning poet Phillip B. Williams. For more information, go here, and to learn more about TWH, visit their website here.
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November 14, 2024, the Jackson State University Creative Writing Program will hold its annual Writers Series and host poets James Cherry and Jerriod Avant. The Writers Series will include a Masterclass in Poetry from 10:00 a.m. – noon, a Poetry Reading by James Cherry followed by conversation with Dr. Kelly Ellis and a JSU student from 1:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., and a Poetry Cafe featuring Jerriod Avant and an Open Mic with JSU students from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For more information, see the calendar of events below.
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November 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. GMT, Lolwe is offering a masterclass on “Crafting Dialogue” taught by Linda Musita, author of the short stories collection Mtama Road. In this masterclass, Musita will teach you the various elements of dialogue writing, such as how to structure dialogue, how to use dialogue to push a story’s plot forward, and how to write effective and authentic dialogue. There are limited slots available, so go here to register.
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Study the South—the publication of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture—has announced its annual Call for Proposals. Scholars researching the South have an opportunity for funded research in the collections of the Department of Archives and Special Collections at the J. D. Williams Library at the University of Mississippi. The Study the South Research Fellowship, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Department of Archives and Special Collections, will provide funding of $1,500 to one qualified scholar, who will also have access to a carrel in the library and an opportunity to publish an essay in Study the South based on their research. Special Collections has particular strengths in areas that include political history, the blues, civil rights, and the antebellum and Civil War eras. Subject guides and finding aids at Archives and Special Collections can be found at www.libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages. The funds will support travel and lodging expenses, and the remainder serves as a stipend. For more information, see the calendar of events below. Research should take place between January 2025 and December 2025. The deadline for application is December 1, 2024, and the selection committee will notify the awardee by January 15, 2025. Study the South is an online scholarly journal at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. We will ask the successful fellow to either give a public presentation at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture or a short, recorded interview about her or his work, to be shared through Study the South, www.studythesouth.com. All scholars, including advanced graduate students, are eligible for the fellowship. Candidates should send a description of a research agenda (500 words max.), citing research questions and specific collections that seem most useful, to James G. Thomas, Jr., editor of Study the South, at jgthomas@olemiss.edu.
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The National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) is thrilled to announce the annual Dr. Terry Kershaw Student Essay Contest, inviting college professors across the nation to incorporate this enriching opportunity into their fall semester coursework. This contest not only allows students to delve deeper into Black Studies, but also offers a chance to win cash awards for their scholarly work. The Dr. Terry Kershaw Student Essay Contest aims to recognize and reward outstanding academic essays that contribute to the field of Black Studies. This year, as in previous years, we are offering 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash awards for both undergraduate and graduate submissions, highlighting the exceptional talent and scholarly efforts of students nationwide. To submit an essay, email studentessay@ncbsonline.org. The deadline to submit is December 20, 2024. For more information, go here.
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December 26 - 30, 2024, at Santee State Park, SC, The Watering Hole, which hosts the only Southern writing retreat for poets of color and draws 50 to 60 poets to the retreat each year, will curate its Fall Retreat that will include various craft talks, classes, and community gatherings. For more information, go here, and to learn more about TWH, visit their website here.
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December 28, 2024, starting at 5:00 p.m., at the Jackson Convention Complex, you are invited to a Musical Kwanzaa Celebration with opera phenome DeAnna Tisdale Johnson and Friends. For more information, contact Jackson Advocate Editor Emeritus Alice Tisdale at alicethomastisdale@gmail.com.
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Rosarium Publishing has a call for submissions for Planet Black Joy, which will be an anthology of speculative fiction by women and non-binary folk who identify as Black, African, or of Afro-descendent heritage, exploring and celebrating Black joy and pleasure. Planet Black Joy will showcase stories of Black joy in the fantastical and the mundane in the present, past, and the future. They desire a variety of Black joy from catharsis to irreverence to clawing resilience from darkness. From Black Twitter after the Alabama Brawl to the kind of joy that has been constructed in the face of white supremacy and patriarchy. They want to know what Black joy means to you. The deadline to submit is January 1, 2025. Please email submission as an attachment to planetblackjoy@rosariumpublishing.com. For additional information, go here.
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