The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY on Thursday will present "The History and Legacy of the Center for Black Literature: An Online Exhibition" to celebrate the launch of the organization's digital archives.
The event, both in-person and on Zoom, will commemorate CBL’s new website, an archival online space that highlights the impactful legacy of the organization, as well as the birth of the National Black Writers Conference.
Through rarely seen images over CBL’s 21-year history, the site captures many Black cultural influencers, ranging from poets, novelists,screenwriters, and essayists to editors, critics and institution-builders.
“Archiving our history has been a top priority for a few years," said Dr. Brenda M. Greene, the founder of the Center. "Digitizing and publishing content that chronicles 20+ years’ worth of empowering events from the Center for Black Literature and from 17 National Black Writers Conferences is our way to spotlight not only our work across genres and generations but to also highlight what our communities of writers and readers deem important."
The world of Black writers, a few of whom started off as teaching artists at CBL, will be featured in the exhibit. The program will also feature discussions with CBL’s archivists, a demonstration, and interactive activities, slated to start at 6:30 p.m. at Edison O. Jackson Auditorium on the Medgar Evers campus.
"The new CBL archive represents an inspirational story that bridges the connection between some of today’s greatest Black writers and the mutually dependent relationship they have with the world," Dr. Greene said. "We are honored to share access to this timeless story. On behalf of the CBL staff, I welcome everyone to take advantage of this gift.”
To register for the event, click here.
