November 1st-3rd, 2024 | Durham, NC
Theme: Home & Heritage
Welcome to the official home of the Griot & Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference, a powerful gathering of Black Southern voices dedicated to exploring and celebrating the rich narratives of home, land, and heritage. This year’s conference will take place in the heart of Durham, North Carolina, from November 1st to 3rd, 2024.
About the Conference
The Griot & Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference brings together a diverse range of Black writers, poets, scholars, and cultural influencers to celebrate the stories rooted in Southern soil. This year’s theme, Home & Heritage, explores the complexities of place, identity, and history through the lens of literature, spoken word, and artistic expression.
Expect a weekend filled with insightful workshops, keynote speeches, live performances, book talks, and community conversations centered on how the South shapes our stories. Whether you are a writer, artist, scholar, or supporter of the arts, this conference offers a unique space to engage with the themes of cultural resilience, memory, and Black Southern foodways.
Keynote Speakers & Featured Artists
We are honored to host some of the most celebrated voices in Black Southern literature and art, including:
- Michael Twitty: Award-winning author and culinary historian known for exploring the intersections of food, history, and culture.
- Prentice Hemphill: Writer, somatics teacher, and therapist exploring the intersections of healing and social justice.
- Alexis Pauline Gumbs: Poet, scholar, and author whose work centers on Black feminist thought and environmental justice.
- Tiana Clark: Award-winning poet known for her powerful exploration of race, identity, and place.
- Justin Reynolds: Acclaimed author of young adult fiction, bringing fresh narratives to the exploration of Black youth and their futures.
- Airea D Mathews: Poet and essayist whose work navigates between the personal and the political, revealing deep emotional landscapes.
- Tyree Daye: Poet rooted in Southern tradition, exploring Black rural life, family, and memory.
and Jamilia Mannicks, Phillip B Willians, Ladee Hubbard, Alicia D Williams, Khalia Moreau, Roscoe Burnems, and more!
Why Home & Heritage?
This year’s theme, Home & Heritage, speaks to the deep connection between land, history, and identity in the Black Southern experience. Through workshops, readings, and discussions, we will explore how stories of home, migration, displacement, and reclamation shape our sense of self and community. We will also look at how agricultural metaphors, foodways, and the Southern landscape are woven into the fabric of Black literature, offering both challenges and opportunities for reflection.
What to Expect
- Workshops: Engage in interactive writing workshops led by renowned authors and poets.
- Panels & Discussions: Deep dive into the intersections of literature, culture, and social justice with thought-provoking panels.
- Live Performances: Enjoy powerful spoken word performances and poetry slams by some of the best Black Southern artists.
- Book Signings: Meet your favorite authors and get signed copies of their latest works.
- Community Conversations: Join in community-driven discussions about the future of Black Southern literature and art.
Get Involved
We invite you to be a part of this dynamic cultural experience. Whether you want to volunteer, become a sponsor, or simply join us for a weekend of transformative literary and artistic events, we welcome your participation.
For more information on tickets, schedules, and how to get involved, explore the rest of our website.
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#GriotGreyOwl #HomeAndHeritage #BlackSouthernWriters
Join us this November as we celebrate the voices, stories, and histories that make up the heart of Black Southern culture.
