North Carolina Writers Plan First Black Southern Writers Conference To Be Held In Durham
Durham, NC – On November 9 -12, 100 Black writers from all across the South will gather to hone their craft, culture, community, and career acumen as tools for their professional writing career at the Griot and Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference. Hosted by Griot and Grey Owl, a local nonprofit organization for Black writers, this 3-day conference will feature some of the South’s biggest and brightest Black writers, authors, storytellers, and spoken word artists, such as keynote speakers Piedmont Poet Laureate Dasan Ahanu and Glenis Redmond.
Founded by dynamic Durham poetic duo, Khalisa Rae Thompson and Eric Thompson, Griot and Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference was created out of a need. As decade-long Bull City Slam team members, the Thompsons strive to fill the crater that the pandemic caused in the Black arts community, not just in Durham, but in the South. After surveying hundreds of Black writers throughout the South, they learned that Black artists needed community, resources, and connection.
Answering that need, the two award-winning writers and their team have planned a robust bevy of panels, workshops, showcases, and roundtables for the fall that center Black Southern narratives set to the backdrop of downtown Durham historical locations. The hope is that by coming to Durham and learning in spaces such as the Pauli Murray Center, Stagville, NC Mutual, Parrish St, and more, writers will be inspired to create great works of literary art that will last them a lifetime.
This ground-breaking conference also includes the first ever all-Black Carolina Poet Laureate Palooza, Saturday, Nov 11th at the Durham Arts Council, featuring Glenis Redmond, Fred Joiner, Dasan Ahanu, Angelo Geter, Jay Ward, DJ Rogers, CJ Suitt, Asiah Mae Thomas, and more.
Some organizers include Dasan Ahanu, Crystal Simone Smith, Gale Greenlee, Raina Leon, Regina Carter Garcia, Chris Tonelli, Nadeli Yaziyo, Derrick Weston Brown, CJ Suitt, Gideon Young, and more.
“Far too often Black narratives are pushed to the margins and Griot and Grey Owl is a response to that silencing that has gone for so long,” says Khalisa Rae Co-Founder of Griot and Grey Owl, and acclaimed author. Right now, the group is in their fundraising stage, as they prepare for their Black Art Auction and Writer Reception fundraiser, on Feb 23rd at the Hayti Heritage at 7:30 pm. Current conference sponsors include Hayti Heritage Center, Nasher Museum, Rubenstein Art Gallery, Duke English Dept, Durham Arts Council, 21 C Durham, Owlsey Fork Sanctuary, Bump the Triangle, several area universities, Rofhiwa Books, and So & So Books.
Registration is scheduled to be announced in late April, or early May. Patrons of the literary arts and performing arts are encouraged to attend the preliminary events and support the cause to assist in helping them meet their fundraising goal.
If you would like to sponsor an event, a group of tickets, a workshop, or make a one-time or recurring donation, please use the following link: https://donorbox.org/griot-grey-owl and contact the team at: griotandgrayowl@gmail.com to discuss sponsorship packet options.
About Griot and Grey Owl:
Griot and Grey Owl is a nonprofit organization based in Durham NC. The founders are award-winning authors, poets, and activists curating a three-day writing conference for Black Southern writers packed with world-class workshops, panels, and historical tours that cover culture, career, and community.