18th National Black Writers Conference: Expanding Conversations on Environmental Justice, Popular Culture, Resilience, and Peace
18th National Black Writers Conference:
Expanding Conversations on Environmental Justice,
Popular Culture, Resilience, and Peace
(program subject to change)
Black writers have historically turned lived struggle into powerful art—illuminating truth, inspiring action, and envisioning new futures. This Conference brings together voices of the African diaspora whose words push boundaries and empower change. Their narratives offer critical insight into the struggle for civil and human rights, using literature to confront obstacles, illuminate injustice, and inspire change while sustaining and strengthening us through challenging times. This Conference will explore how writers across the African diaspora address these issues through fiction, poetry, scholarship, technology, and plays.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Location: Founders Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Opening Program for the 18th National Black Writers Conference: Expanding Conversations on Environmental Justice, Popular Culture, Resilience, and Peace with:
Nikole Hannah-Jones in Conversation with Michael Harriot
Moderator: Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Executive Director Emeritus, Center for Black Literature, Professor of English, Medgar Evers College
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Location: EOJ AND AB1 DINING HALL (2nd fl.), 1638 Bedford Avenue
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS for Students involved in CBL’s ROLL (Re-envisioning Our Lives Through Literature)
Middle School and High School Students
Elementary School Students
Note: Closed to the public. Available only for ROLL parents, teachers, TA’s, and other interested elementary, junior high and high schools
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Virtual Scholarly Presentations on Conference Theme
Via ZOOM
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
STUDENT ROUNDTABLE
How does popular culture influence social thought, interaction & activism?
Location: EOJ
Location: AB1 Building, 2nd Fl. Dining Hall, 1638 Bedford Avenue
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Dr. Edith Rock Elders Writers Workshop Reading
Narratives presented by members of the Dr. Edith Rock Writers Workshop.
Note: Presenters will be in-person and via Zoom
Location: Central Public Library (10 Grand Army Plaza), Dweck Center
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Poetry Cafe
Presented in Collaboration with the Central Brooklyn Public Library
Friday, March 27, 2026
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
All Roundtables Discussions will be held at AB1 Dining Hall, 1638 Bedford Avenue
Vendors located in the lobby of 1638 Bedford Avenue
(program subject to change)
10:00 am – 11:30 am
African Diasporic Literature: Paths Towards Resilience, and Healing
Panelists will discuss ways in which diasporic literature reflects on the experiences and struggles of individuals navigating displacement, identity, and trauma; and how these themes can be woven into narratives using various techniques to illuminate the complexities of resistance and healing.
Honoree Jeffers, Lee Hawkins, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
Moderator: Dr. Uche Blackstock
12:15 pm – 1:45 pm
The Representation of Resistance in the Literature by African Diasporic Writers
Panelists will explore how resistance can encompass various forms of defiance, resilience, and opposition to social, political, cultural, and historical oppressions that individuals within the African diaspora have faced and how it is depicted and explored by African diasporic writers.
Regina Mahone, Renee Bracey Sherman, Jennifer L. Morgan
Moderator: Ijeoma Oluo
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
The Influence of Media and Technology in Literature by African Diasporic Writers
Panelists will examine how various forms of media and technology impact the creative processes, themes, and styles of literature produced by writers within the African diaspora.
Victor LaValle, André Brock Jr., Attika Torrance
Moderator: Sabrina Schmidt Gordon
Saturday, March 28, 2026
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
All Roundtables Discussions will be held at AB1 Dining Hall, 1638 Bedford Avenue
Vendors located in the lobby of 1638 Bedford Avenue
(program subject to change)
*Note: Names with asterisks indicate that confirmation is pending.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU TO KNOW
Please Take Note Here
- The NBWC2025 program schedule is subject to change.
- After their discussion, authors will be available for book signings on site. Their books will also be available for purchase.
LOCATION ADDRESSES
* Medgar Evers College, CUNY, is located in Crown Heights, Central Brooklyn. Get directions HERE.
* The Welcome Center is at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Get directions HERE.
* The Edison O. Jackson Auditorium and AB1 Building are located at 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Get directions HERE.
* The Founders Auditorium is at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Get directions HERE.
* The Brooklyn Public Library (Central Library) is at 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY. Get directions HERE.
Contact the Center for Black Literature
● GENERAL INFORMATION: info@centerforblackliterature.org
● REGISTRATION INQUIRIES: info@centerforblackliterature.org
● COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL OR SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES: Charlotte Hunter at hunter@centerforblackliterature.org
● CBL DIGITAL DIRECTORY
> Website: www.centerforblackliterature.org
> CBL Facebook: @CenterForBlackLiterature
> NBWC Facebook: @NationalBlackWritersConference
> Twitter: @Center4BlackLit
> Instagram: @Center4BlackLit
> YouTube: @CenterForBlackLiteratureMedgarEversCollege
Contact Us
Center for Black Literature (CBL)
at Medgar Evers College, CUNY
1534 Bedford Avenue | 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11216
(Click HERE for the Postal Mailing Address)
Main Phone: (718) 804-8884
Main Office: info@centerforblackliterature.org
Donate to CBL Today!
To carry out our literary programs and special events, we depend on financial support from the public. Donations are welcome year-round. Please click HERE to donate. Thank you!
We're Where You Are!
Get The Latest News!
Sign-up to receive news about our programs!
Copyright © 2023, Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College.