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15th National Black Writers (Virtual) Conference 2020
November 12, 2020 at 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Originally scheduled for March 2020 on the campus of Medgar Evers College (MEC) in Brooklyn, New York, the National Black Writers Conference (NBWC2020) will be virtual this year. The Center for Black Literature (CBL) supports the public health protocols that have emerged because of COVID-19, including social distancing. With that in mind, we have decided to present NBWC 2020 as a series of webinars, online.
The 15th National Black Writers Conference (NBWC): “Activism, Identity, and Race: Playwrights and Screenwriters at the Crossroads,” November 11- November 14, 2020, will continue conversations generated at the 2019 National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium. Black playwrights, screenwriters, and filmmakers will examine contemporary trends in theater and film and the ways race, politics, and popular culture shape the plays and films produced.
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DAY TWO: Thursday, November 12
PRESENTATION OF CONFERENCE PAPERS
Scholars and writers discuss works of honorees and featured speakers who have had their work developed into dramatic plays, screenplays, and documentaries. Curated by MUDIWA PETTUS (Assistant Professor of English, Medgar Evers College, CUNY).
11:00 AM – 12:20 PM
“The Wake Work of ‘Cartography” | Nicole Walker (Lehman College, CUNY)
“‘wild until we are free’: community, culture, and the self, in The Chi” | Allia Abdullah-Matta (La Guardia Community, CUNY)
Moderator/Respondent: Mudiwa Pettus (Medgar Evers College)
12:30 PM – 1:50 PM
“From Researcher to Content Creator: One Scholar’s Journey” | Donnetrice Allison (Stockton University)
“Where We Stand: Afrika, the Black Aesthetic in Theatre, and Audience” | Ms. Akulah Agbami (Director of BLACK* artists on the move; Artistic Dir. of Sheba Soul Ensemble)
Moderator/Respondent: Joanna Sit (Professor of English, Medgar Evers College, CUNY)
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
“Mad Science: A Brief Survey of Medical Bias In Superhero Origin Stories” | Arlene Ducao (Adjunct Associate Professor, NYU School of Engineering; Research Affiliate, MIT; CEO, Multimer)
“From Short Story to Screen: James’ Coming of Age and Transformation from Boy toMan (and Not Bum) in Ernest J. Gaines’ “The Sky Is Gray” | Dr. Pearlie Peters (Rider University)
Moderator/Respondent: Dr. Carlyle Van Thompson (Professor of English, Medgar Evers College, CUNY)
DR. EDITH ROCK ELDERS WRITING WORKSHOP PRESENTATION
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Members of the Dr. Edith Rock Elders Writing Workshop will present readings on the theme called “Home Remedies.” Also, they will survey the African Diaspora with sharp, funny memories of poultices, powders, and potions created to maintain wellness in our diverse Black communities. They see this as resistance to gentrification, big pharma, and the racism that manifests in the form of disease when we aren’t vigilant about strengthening our physical selves. Curated by EISA NEFERTARI ULEN (Workshop Instructor, Center for Black Literature, MEC).
Moderated by AMBER MAGRUDER (Writer and Editor, Office of Communications and Marketing, MEC).
NBWC POETRY CAFÉ
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
The Center for Black Literature, in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library, will present its Poetry Cafe.
Host: Hermina Marcellin
Emerging Poets: M. A. Dennis, Chevon Guthrie, Kirk Hill Jr., and John Gavin White
Curated by WENDY ROBINSON and TAI ALLEN.
NBWC FILM DISCUSSION
“Milestones: A Celebration of Revolutionary Music & Thought”
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
The 15th National Black Writers Conference and African Voices magazine will present this selection of films celebrating the power of music to inspire community action and empowerment. The showcase includes a slice of award-winning films from Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Academy qualifying festival for short narratives devoted to showcasing films produced, directed, and written by women of color.
NOTE: Conference attendees will have access to the films before the Conference.
Curated and coordinated by AFRICAN VOICES/REEL SISTERS OF THE DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL.
HOW TO REGISTER
Before you register, view the full program schedule HERE
(Dates, Times, Event Descriptions, Speakers, Moderators, and More!)
EARLY REGISTRATION: SEPTEMBER 1 – OCTOBER 16, 2020
All Three (3) Days General Donation $65
1 Day General Donation $25
1 Day Students/Faculty/MEC Alumni $20
1 Day Senior Citizens $20
Free MEC Students $0
REGULAR REGISTRATION: OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020
All Three (3) Days General Donation $75
1 Day General Donation $30
1 Day Students/Faculty/MEC Alumni $25
1 Day Senior Citizens $25
Free MEC Students $0
STANDARD REGISTRATION: NOVEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 14, 2020
All Three (3) Days General Donation $80
1 DAY General Donation $35
1 Day Students/Faculty/MEC Alumni $30
1 Day Senior Citizens $30
Free MEC Students $0
TALKSHOPS (Talkshops Run Concurrently)
- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM) – Playwriting & Screenwriting
- SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM) – Playwriting, Fiction, Poetry, or Publishing
NOTE: Attendees may register for one session each day. Each session is $30.
Registration for NBWC 2020 is managed by Eventbrite: www.centerforblackliterature.eventbrite.com
