Name: Culture Series: James Baldwin at 100: Celebrating the Enduring Witness
Start: 2025-01-09T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-01-09T20:30:00-05:00
Location: Busboys and Poets

Culture Series: James Baldwin at 100: Celebrating the Enduring Witness

"I am witness to whence I came, where I am ... witness to what I've seen and the possibilities that I think I see." ― James Baldwin
About this Event

Join HumanitiesDC and guest curator Tracy Chiles McGhee for an exploration of James Baldwin's profound legacy in "James Baldwin at 100: Celebrating the Enduring Witness." This event marks the centennial of Baldwin's birth and explores what it means to 'bear witness' in today's world and how we, as artists, writers, and citizens, use our voices to confront injustice and inspire change in the spirit of Baldwin. The evening will feature a compelling panel discussion alongside artistic expressions including music, readings, and interactive elements.

ASL Interpretation will be provided.

Featuring:

Panelists: E. Ethelbert Miller, Soyica Diggs Colbert, Ph.D. & Dr. Natalie Hopkinson

Moderated by: Dwayne Lawson-Brown

And a special performance by Charles Reese: https://www.charlesreeseexperience.com/

More About the Curator: Tracy Chiles McGhee is a multi-genre author and cultural curator focused on celebrating narratives of the African Diaspora. Her award-winning historical novel, Melting the Blues, explores themes of identity, cultural remembrance and healing. Founder of My Published Book and the WoMANIFESTING online community, McGhee amplifies women's voices through community-building, leading key initiatives, and consulting with several organizations in service to sisterhood.

McGhee is a FY25 Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) Independent Fellow Grantee. She is also a 2024 HumanitiesDC Independent Practitioner Fellow and its Inaugural Literature Fellow. She was awarded an Inaugural Residency by the Last Resort Artist Retreat (2024). McGhee holds degrees from Catholic University Law School and Georgetown University and resides in Washington, DC.

Please note: RSVPs are not required for entry, and entry is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. We appreciate your donations, but please note that if the event reaches capacity, donations will not be refundable.

For reasonable accommodation requests regarding access and inclusion, please contact Jimmy Watkins ([email protected]) no later than five business days before the start of this event.