Speakeasy Session: Say Your Name

The Speakeasy Sessions: Volume 4 — Say Your Name, brought to you by BIPOC Poetry Night.

This time, we gather in honor of the brilliant James Baldwin—writer, witness, and truth-teller whose words still shake rooms and shift hearts. Baldwin spoke fearlessly about love, identity, rage, race, and what it means to be human in a world that tries to erase you. So this night is for naming it all—your grief, your joy, your anger, your love. Say your name, say your truth.

Here’s what’ to expect:

✨ Social Writing – A prompt-driven writing experience led by our featured poet, inspired by Baldwin’s legacy and the urgency of being seen and heard.

🎤 Open Mic Poetry Performances – Share what you just wrote, something you’ve been holding, or just be present for the realness others bring to the mic.

🎶 Live Vocals & Poems – Enjoy the vibes of a vocal set that will open up the mic

Whether you're naming your heartbreak, your lineage, your hope, or your anger, this night is yours. Come say what needs to be said.

And yes, the drinks will be flowing. The vibes will be rich. The room will hold you.Pull up, write with us, cry if you need to, and leave a little lighter.

About Our Feature:

Jayshawn Lee is a Harlem-based scholar-artist and poet whose work bridges creativity and social impact. As a Poet and with Ars Poetica, a global creative agency, Jayshawn has collaborated with notable organizations such as the Smithsonian Museums, Pleasing, and Campari. Previously featured on the Today Show, he highlighted how typewriter poetry fosters community, creativity, and meaningful connections. Jayshawn is also the founder of the Elysium for Social Poets, an initiative that harnesses poetry and social action to empower local communities. His work has been featured at Governor’s Island on exhibition with the Climate Imaginarium, as activations with Amnesty International’s Banned Book Café, and in classrooms as a teaching artist with Poet’s House.

About Us:

The Speakeasy Sessions is a monthly BIPOC-centered gathering in Harlem that blends poetry, music, and community. It’s designed for both seasoned creatives and those who may not consider themselves artists but appreciate the arts, and want to step outside their comfort zones. Each month, we highlight and teach about a different legendary Black artist whose work continues to inspire, using their legacy as a spark for writing, performance, and conversation. Guests are encouraged to share their work, connect with new people, and leave not only with meaningful connections but also with a new piece of art started during the evening. It’s a space where creativity, community, and culture meet, all in the best speakeasy Harlem has to offer.

As always, BIPOC Poetry Night is meant to uplift Black and Brown voices, curating community in Harlem. All are welcome to our events but we ask that you do not touch the mic if you don't identify as BIPOC. There are few spaces completely dedicated to hearing only BIPOC voices, we are one of them. If you can't respect that, attendance is a choice.

Host or Publisher Brianna Clara x Avrilililly's