Other Countries x Native Son — Summer Solstice 2026
About this Event
Other Countries x Native Son — Summer Solstice 2026
Brotherhood to Brotherhood
As Other Countries celebrates 40 years of Black queer literary culture and Native Son marks its 10th anniversary of building community and visibility for Black gay and queer men, the two organizations come together for a special Summer Solstice gathering dedicated to brotherhood, fellowship, and collective storytelling.
Bringing together writers, poets, artists, activists, and community members across generations, Brotherhood to Brotherhood honors the enduring legacy of Black queer creativity through readings, conversation, performance, and an open mic. Rooted in the spirit of Pride, the event creates space for both established and emerging voices to share their work, forge new connections, and celebrate the communities that sustain us.
This anniversary year offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the impact of both organizations while looking toward the future of Black queer cultural production, advocacy, and community building. We are honored to welcome a distinguished group of featured readers and speakers whose work continues to shape and expand the landscape of Black queer literature, art, and activism.
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Featured Readers and Speakers
Cary Alan Johnson is an author, activist, and public health leader whose work has focused on HIV advocacy and global health. Raised in Brooklyn, he currently serves as Country Director for Population Services International in Burundi. Johnson is also the editor of Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS, a landmark anthology of Black queer writing.
Douglas E. Jones is a writer, poet, and author of the debut novel The Fantasies of Future Things. His poetry and nonfiction have appeared in Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS and Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature & Art. A graduate of Morehouse College and Columbia University, he was an inaugural Lambda Literary Fellow in 2007.
George M. Johnson is an award-winning Black nonbinary writer, activist, and New York Times bestselling author. Their acclaimed memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue has become a defining work of contemporary Black queer literature and one of the most challenged books in the United States. Johnson's work centers Black queer identity, storytelling, and social justice.
Emil Wilbekin is a writer, educator, and media executive, and the founder and CEO of Native Son. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles at Vibe, Essence, and Afropunk, helping shape conversations around Black culture, style, and community. He is also an Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Darnell L. Moore is an award-winning author, activist, and cultural strategist from Camden, New Jersey. His memoir No Ashes in the Fire received a Lambda Literary Award and was named a New York Times Notable Book. Currently President of Native Son, Moore's work explores Black freedom, queer life, and social justice through writing, media, and advocacy.
About Other Countries
Other Countries Founded in New York City in 1986, Other Countries is a Black queer men's writing collective dedicated to creating space for Black LGBTQ+ writers, artists, and community members to share their stories, support one another, and build community through literature and cultural programming.
For nearly four decades, Other Countries has fostered dialogue, creativity, and connection through writing workshops, public readings, performances, and publications. The collective has published three landmark anthologies: Other Countries: Black Gay Voices (1988), Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS (1993), and Voices Rising (2007).
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/other.countries.7
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About Native Son
Native Son Founded in 2016 by Emil Wilbekin, Native Son is a community and advocacy organization that celebrates, uplifts, and connects Black gay and queer men. Through cultural programming, leadership initiatives, storytelling, and public events, Native Son fosters visibility, community, and opportunity while amplifying Black queer voices across generations.
Website: https://nativeson.us/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nativesonnow/
Presented by Other Countries and Native Son. Organized by Kevin McGruder, L. Philip Richardson, and LaTefy Dolley; support from Emil Wilbekin and the Native Son team.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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