For Immediate Release:
And Then We Heard the Thunder:
Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way
10th National Black Writers’ Conference To Be Held March 25-28th Celebrating
Toni Morrison, Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite & Dr. Edison O. Jackson
The Tenth National Black Writers' Conference (NBWC), hosted by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, will be held from March 25-28, 2010. Celebrating over 25 years of history since its inception in 1986 under the visionary leadership of John Oliver Killens, the Conference assembles some of the brightest minds and finest pens in literature. John Oliver Killens was writer-in-residence at Medgar Evers College from 1981 until his death in 1987.
The theme of the National Black Writers' Conference is And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way. Through a series of panel discussions, roundtables, author readings and storytelling, the National Black Writers' Conference will use the metaphor of thunder, memory and light to examine the historical representation of the literature of Black writers and the representation of new and future directions for contemporary and emerging literary voices. With Toni Morrison as the Honorary Chair, the National Black Writers' Conference will also honor Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite and Dr. Edison O. Jackson. Black writers will come from throughout America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. The NBWC has grown to boast a stellar list of participants and honorees including Cornel West, Susan Taylor, Randall Robinson, Marita Golden, Sonia Sanchez and Terry McMillan. This year’s conference attendees can again look forward to panels, readings and workshops from highly regarded writers Sonia Sanchez, Kamau Brathwaite, James McBride, Edwidge Danticat, Kevin Powell, Bernice McFadden, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Colson Whitehead, Toure and Stacyann Chin among others.
The NBWC is designed to uplift, strengthen and empower the community – the writers’ community, the student body community and the community at large. It is an opportunity for young writers to connect with more seasoned writers, benefitting from the tutelage and insight as well as gaining an understanding of the real challenges in publishing. It is also an opportunity for writers and readers to intellectually spar on the hot topics in the community, which are often reflected in literature and to debate with some of the sharpest minds in American culture. It is a conference dedicated to the exploration of “emerging themes, trends and issues in Black American literature.”
Since its inception, the Conference has attracted writers, scholars, editors, agents, faculty, students and the general public. Conference themes have addressed stereotypes in Black literature, the direction of Black literature, the renaissance in Black literature, access and expanding conversations on race, identity, history and genre Each conference has built upon the previous one celebrating outstanding Black writers through the world.
Dr. Brenda Greene, who is the Conference Chair as well as the Executive Director for the Center of Black Literature, remarks, “We are honored to have literary legends in our midst as well to have the opportunity to nurture and support the literary legends of the future. It is our responsibility to light the path for the new generation of writers and help mold them into the writers they will become. We gladly accept the responsibility to do so.”
For more information and the full schedule, please visit www.nationalblackwritersconference.org. For media credentials or to schedule interview requests, contact Joy Doss at East West PR, joy@eastwestpr.net or 646.489.4432.
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