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This event takes place in person at Charis and simulcast on crowdcast, Charis' virtual event platform. If you would like to watch the event virtually, please register HERE. Please note that you must be physically in person to participate in the open mic portion of the event but can listen/view from anywhere. Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic & reading series that celebrates new voices and seasoned veterans alike. Co-hosted by Karen G. and Theresa Davis, all are welcome to come and share their work. If you would like to participate as a reader or performer, all you need to do is arrive by 7:15 pm ET to sign up on the list. If you are a non-acoustic musician and would like to plug your instrument into our sound system, please contact [email protected] ahead of time to let us know so we can have the right setup for you! There are no genre, style, or form requirements, but please keep your set to under five minutes to allow everyone to have a turn!
This month's featured poet is Kelsey L. Smoot in celebration of we was bois together. we was bois together examines identities and belonging through the lenses of Blackness, queerness, and gender non-conforming narratives. The poems act as an homage and an ode to traversing these identities from childhood through adulthood. The collection is a testament to the author's deep bond with their longtime best friend, weaving together shared memories and the evolution of their connection. Central to the narrative is "boihood worldmaking," a term coined by the author to express the collaborative process of shaping their own realities and narratives. Each poem resonates with authenticity, offering a glimpse into a world where resilience, friendship, and self-discovery intertwine to create a powerful narrative of belonging and empowerment.
Order the book here: https://www.charisbooksandmore.com/book/9781957840291
Kelsey L. Smoot (they/them/he/his) is a gender theorist, a committed Southerner, a writer, and a poet. Their work and writings explore the process of identity formation at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality. Selfhood and cultural constraints—such as masculinity and its associated expectations—coalesce in their writing. Their autoethnographic style has become a lens through which they understand their personal experience traversing the US sociopolitical landscape. Having grown up bicoastal and spending the majority of their adult life in a state of transience, Kels draws from his eclectic life experiences both deep fear and great optimism regarding what people are capable of. This tension is reflected in his published writing which can be found in Barely South Review, The Guardian, HuffPost, Voicemail Poems, The Amistad, and at their website, www.queerinsomniac.me When not writing, Kels can be found performing at The Space (a premiere open-mic based in Kennesaw, Georgia), perusing an antique store, or running the streets with their bois.
This is a Charis Circle From Margin to Center Literary Event. The suggested donation is $5, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Accessibility:
Charis Books is a fully wheelchair-accessible space with on-site van-accessible parking, two ramps, and additional overflow-accessible parking nearby. Most of our shelves are on wheels and can be moved to provide additional access. Our bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral with motion-activated fixtures. Both bathrooms have wheelchair-accessible baby changing tables. Our directional signs are written in braille. Our events are mic'd for sound. We caption videos when we show them in the space. Free ASL interpretation is available for most Charis Circle programs upon request. Please email [email protected] to request interpretation as early as possible. We have several different kinds of seating for events. If you need a wider or sturdier chair and don't immediately see one available, please let us know and we will help you find one that fits your body. The space has all LED lighting. The space is not scent or chemical free but we do our best to minimize the use of chemicals and scents throughout the space and use low-VOC materials whenever possible. If you have specific questions about the space or how an event can be made more accessible to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
184 S. Candler St. , Decatur, GA, United States, Georgia 30030
Tickets
