Memoirs in the Movement

When one’s perspectives - shaped by family, community, ancestry, education and life experiences - are captured with pen and paper, a memoir is born.  

Join us for an intimate exploration of personal narratives from past and contemporary activists who have shaped civil rights history. We’ll hear from three justice activists, shaped by just these factors, who have turned their insights into books that inspire action and shape policy. 

The evening includes a discussion with poet and activist StacyAnn Chin, Dr. Nii-Quartalei Quartey, author of his new book, Kamala, The Motherland and Me. Dara Baldwin, author of To Be A Problem, will also share her experiences as a disability activist, offering insights into the disability movement and centering the voices of disabled individuals of color. 

This event highlights how the personal lives of these leaders have profoundly influenced their commitment to justice.

Panelist: 

• Nii-Quartelai Quartey, author of Kamala, The Motherland and Me which chronicles his journey to his paternal homeland with VP Kamala Harris on her historic trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia.
•  Dara Baldwin, 20-year activist and author of To Be A Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement, a searing critique of the disability rights movement from within, and a call for collective liberation that is pro-Black and centers disabled people of color. 
• Staceyann Chin, co-writer and original performer in the Tony Award-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, American Book Award winner, author of the poetry book Crossfire and the memoir, The Other Side of Paradise, is also a champion for LGBTQ+ rights. 
  

Moderator:

• Sheldon Scott, multi-genre visual artist and storyteller 

Including a special Spoken Word Performance by Stacyann Chin 

Host or Publisher March on Washington Film Festival