Tayari's Blog: The Gwendolyn Brooks Writers Conference

Posted by TayariJones on October 21, 2007 03:05 PM
Filed under Book Tour

I'm just back from the Gwendolyn Brooks Writers Conference in Chicago. This was my first time attending the conference, but I've wanted to check it out for years.

This is the month for Black writers conference. Next year is the Callaloo conference which is a difference scene. The Brooks Me & Quaryshconference is held at Chicago State University and founded by Haki Madhubuti and managed by the excellent Quraysh Ali Lansana.
It was thrilling to have so many black writers in one place. The Madhubuti and Sanchezparticipants were mostly poets. I suppose you could critique this, but everyone knows that poets know best how to party. Not that the conference was all about partying. (Indeed, there was also shopping!) But really, many serious discussions took place with keynotes by Martin Espada, Cheryl Clarke and Ed Robeson. Haki Madhubuti and Sonja Sanchez put on a heartfelt public discussion that ended with both speakers and even the audience moved to tears.

This year's conference focused quite a bit on the legacy of the Black Arts Movement on writers today. Cheryl Clarke gave a keynote on the Ladies' Nightrole of women and while tempers didn't flare, there was a feeling of having your hands too close to a hot stove. I suppose it is progress that we are talking about gender in the Black Nationalist movement, without anyone screaming at each other, but I felt like we were all too gentle with each other and failed to get to the beating, wounded heart of the matter.

All in all, this was a really good experience. I'll be back next year if they'll have me.

Yes, I took pictures,
but, as always, Lillian's are way better.

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There are 3 comments on "The Gwendolyn Brooks Writers Conference". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by Sarah Schulman [TypeKey Profile Page]

I Am fascinated that Cheryl Clarke was the keynote at this event. Two questions:
1. Is she writing or has she written a book, or is there a book on women of the Black Arts Movement?
2. Which writers in particular did she talk about?
Thanks, SS

October 21, 2007 06:16 PM

Comment #2, by minaj [TypeKey Profile Page]

I have a question also. What was it that moved Haki, Sonja, and the audience to tears?

October 22, 2007 09:59 AM

Comment #3, by Tara Betts [TypeKey Profile Page]

Hey girl,
thanks for posting your pictures and Ms. Lillian's. It's great to see that you all had so much fun! Especially with that fly skirt that you were modeling too. BTW, in response to Sarah Shulman's question, Cheryl Clarke does have a book called "After Mecca: Women Poets and the Black Arts Movement."

October 22, 2007 10:23 AM

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