Please note: familiarity with \;South to America \;is not necessary to either participate or attend the even t. Copies of the book will be available for lending at the event.
\nThis program is part of the Birmingham Reads Project\, a citywide literary event dedicated to engaging and uniting Birmingham community members in r eading one book of fiction or nonfiction in one given year and then discus sing it in book groups and at events throughout the city. This year&rsquo\ ;s selection is Birmingham-native Imani Perry&rsquo\;s \;South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Natio n. This sprawling and ambitious book brings together the perspective of a distinguished historian and the personal narrative of a native-born s outherner\, to better understand the beauty\, tragedy\, and soul of this c ountry.
\nBrianna Jordynn &ldquo\;B.J.&rdquo\; Wright is a writer\, educator and scholar based in Birmingham\, AL. In 2019\, she graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham\, obtaining her Bachel or's of Arts degrees in Anthropology (minor in Women&rsquo\;s Studies) and African American Studies (concentration in Historical Investigation and C ultural Awareness). She is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Africana Studies from Georgia State University (concentration in Community Empowerment). She takes inspiration from classic scholars such as Dr. W.E .B. Du Boise\, Zora Neale Hurston\, Harold Cruse\, Audrey Lorde\, Dr. Huey P. Newton\, bell hooks\, and Toni Morrison. Her current research interest s include\, but are not limited to the impact of language policing on Blac k adolescents\, the role of Blackness in comics and anime\, and conceptual ly defining the Master&rsquo\;s House.
\nTania De'Shawn is a poet\, teaching artist\, and entrepreneur. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psych ology from Berea College\; she is the author of her debut poetry collectio n\, Be Gentle with Black Girls. Her collection serves as an entry point to addressing the adultification bias that negatively affects the education and social development of Black girls across the nation. She is set to be the Keynote Speaker for the Birmingham Public Libraries Local Authors seri es to further discuss her book and hold an open discussion on how to addre ss the adultification bias within her community. Her collection was nomina ted for the 2022 VIP Heavy Hearts Neighborhood Award. Tania's poetry has b een featured at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute\, Sidewalk Film Fest ival\, Birmingham Public Library\, the historic Majesty Lounge\, and more. Her co-choreographed choreopoem "Sister Circle" debuted at the Berea Coll ege Kinetic Expressions showcase in 2018. She uses her craft to keep the l egacy of Ntozake Shange alive by teaching choreopoetry to artists of all a ges and backgrounds. Tania is currently based in Birmingham\; she serves t he community as a volunteer with Flourish Alabama\, which helps young arti sts bloom. Tania is the founder of Element Agape\, an organization that no urishes artists to create art that affects social change.
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