The following is a list of events from A Detroit Literary Calandar, a project of Elijah Sparkman.
Join the War Memorial & Next Chapter Books for an engaging author talk, just in time for the holiday season. On Monday November 9th, we’ll welcome Author Bonnie Jo Campbell, in conversation with local author Kelsey Ronan, for an in-depth discussion of her latest book, The Spirits.
Every year, OU’s Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film hosts the Maurice Brown Memorial Poetry Reading. Our guest poet this year is Maria Zoccola. She will read from her poetry, answer questions, and sign books.
Books will be available for purchase: Q&A will follow reading.
Refreshments provided. Free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Oakland University’s Department of English and Creative Writing program, in memory of Professor Maurice Brown. With special thanks to Judy Brown and Mathilde Brown Swanson for their continued support of this reading series. Co-sponsored by the Young Honors College.
About Maria Zoccola
Maria Zoccola is a poet and writer from Memphis, Tennessee. Her work has previously appeared in The Atlantic, Ploughshares, Kenyon Review, The Sewanee Review, and elsewhere, and has received a special mention for the Pushcart Prize. Her debut poetry collection, Helen of Troy, 1993 (Scribner, 2025), was a New York Times Editors’ Choice pick and was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker and NPR.
Overview
Don't miss Pulitzer Prize winning author Marcia Chatelain in conversation with the inspiring Aya M. Waller-Bey to celebrate her new book!
We are excited to host Dr. Chatelain to celebrate her new book How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March of Washington in a rich conversation with Aya Waller-Bey. The event will take place at Source Booksellers. There will be a opportunity for questions and a book signing line. We are big fans of her book Franchise and happy to host her in Detroit.
How to Join:
There are free and book tickets at this link. We will have copies of book for purchase after its release date of September 29th. The books in the book ticket can be picked up at the event.
Everyone is welcome to celebrate with us, we think civil rights history buffs and fans of women's history in particular would enjoy this conversation and cherish the findings in the book.
About the book:
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Franchise comes the untold story of the pioneering Black women artists and activists who were seen, but barely heard, at the 1963 March on Washington
There is no shortage of footage immortalizing the men who spoke at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when 250,000 Americans gathered beneath the Lincoln Memorial to call for an end to segregation. There were reverends and rabbis, activists and Rat-Pack icons—and of course the day’s headliner, whose prophetic dream of a post-Jim Crow world has forever defined the Civil Rights Movement. But there is no “class photo” of the Black women who helped organize the march, performed on its main stage, or were honored during its Tribute to Negro Women Fighters for Freedom.
In How Bright the Path Grows, Marcia Chatelain weaves a gleaming group portrait of these singular women. Among this cohort were several household names: vaudeville icon Josephine Baker, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, and Daisy Bates, champion of the Little Rock Nine. But many were relative unknowns, including Eva Jessye, the choir director who designed the day’s musical program; and Anna Hedgeman, the coordinator who pushed in the eleventh hour for a tribute to Black women’s work.
How Bright the Path Grows is a scintillating group biography, rendering the lives of thirteen Black women visionaries—some famous, others soon to be—in novelistic detail and like never seen before.About the Author:
MARCIA CHATELAIN is a Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of South Side Girls (Duke University Press, 2015) and Franchise (Liveright, 2020), which won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in History, the James Beard Foundation Book Award, the Hagley Medal for Business History, and the Lawrence Levine Award from the Organization of American Historians. An active public speaker and educational consultant, Chatelain has received awards and honors from the Ford Foundation, the American Association of University Women, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
In conversation with:
Aya M. Waller-Bey is a sociologist, educator, and advocate working to create a more equitable and inclusive higher education system. Aya completed her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Michigan, where her research examined how race, identity, and trauma narratives in the college admissions process inform meaning-making and definitions of worth. Aya is a Gates Cambridge Scholar alumna and earned an M.Phil. in Education from the University of Cambridge. She also holds a B.A. in Sociology from Georgetown University, where she worked as an admissions officer.Aya’s work combines research and storytelling to explore the intersections of race, education, and equity. She has written for publications such as The Atlantic, Forbes, and The Detroit Free Press and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Slate. Aya is a sought-after speaker and has given dozens of invited talks, keynotes, and presentations, including TEDxDetroit, SXSW EDU, the National Association for Fellowship Advisors, Detroit College Access Network, Claremont McKenna College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, and the Aspen Center for Physics.
“Marcia Chatelain has written an engaging and compelling saga about the women who were the torchbearers and sinews of the Civil Rights Movement. How Bright the Path Grows lets us see the complexities of these women’s lives, feel their pain, be emboldened by their strength, and marvel at their ability to cut through the thicket of racism and sexism. We can be empowered by their visions of freedom and justice. And as such, we can mourn what could have been.”—Carol Anderson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of African American Studies and New York Timesbestselling author of White Rage
"Chatelain has done what I didn’t know was possible. She has rendered, with clarity and care, the lives of women who shaped the March on Washington but have been relegated to the margins of its memories. How Bright the Path Grows is more than a corrective. It is as much revelation as it is instruction. Chatelain teaches us how to tell fuller, truer stories. This is the model for recovering what we have been quick to forget."—Caleb Gayle, author of Black Moses
“[An] elegant corrective . . . Chatelain’s narration has a riveting, cinematic quality . . . Readers will be utterly engrossed.”—Publishers Weekly (starred)
Overview
Come celebrate the book Where I'm From: A Poetic Journey Across Five Continents with the author Ebony Walden at Source Booksellers
Join author, award-winning filmmaker, and avid traveler Ebony Walden for a conversation celebrating the release of her debut memoir, Where I'm From: A Poetic Journey Across Five Continents. In conversation with Detroit native Aminata B. Sow, Walden will explore how solo travel across 15 countries and five continents reshaped her understanding of identity, belonging, Blackness, and home.
The evening will include a conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing.
A soulful travel memoir blending poetry, global adventure, and personal transformation — a story about seeing the world, and letting it change you.
About the Book
With the interiority of Wild and the global expanse of Eat Pray Love, this soulful travel memoir blends poetry, global adventure, cultural connection, and personal transformation with reflections on race, identity, and belonging.
In 2010, Ebony Walden—a twenty-nine-year-old city planner, poet, and New York transplant—embarked on an eight-month solo journey across fifteen countries and five continents. Propelled by a desire to find adventure and purpose, she travels from teaching English in Guatemala to conducting poetry workshops in Kenya and paragliding over the Swiss Alps.
Along the way, Ebony writes and shares “Where I’m From” poems with new friends around the world, using poetry as a bridge to explore identity, culture, and belonging.
But every destination challenges her in unexpected ways, forcing her to confront long-buried traumas from growing up in poverty in New York. Through travel, volunteering, and cultural exchange, she begins to understand that travel is not just about seeing the world—but about letting it change you.
About the author:
Ebony Walden
Ebony Walden is an author, filmmaker, and speaker whose life's work sits at the intersection of storytelling, travel, and racial equity. Having traveled to fifty countries and all fifty U.S. states, she brings a rare breadth of lived experience to every page, every frame, and every stage she graces.
She is the founder of Ebony Walden Consulting, a racial equity–focused consulting firm that helps organizations build more just and inclusive cultures. She is also the creator of the award-winning documentary series Black Beyond Borders, an exploration of culture, creativity, connection, and cuisine across the African diaspora — telling the stories of Black communities that the mainstream has long overlooked.
Ebony also writes Beyond Borders, a Substack newsletter on travel and transformation, where she shares essays and reflections offering soulful writing about identity, traveling the the journey of becoming.
She lives in Richmond, Virginia — when she is not traveling the globe, she love to spend extended periods in Senegal.
“A beautiful testament to the transformational power of travel. From chosen family to the kindness of strangers, this is a heartwarming reminder that travel can fill the void left by absence with joy and purpose.”—Lola Akinmade, travel writer and international best-selling author of In Every Mirror She's Black
“A bold and beautifully written journey of self-discovery across continents and within the soul. Walden reminds us that our stories, no matter how complex, are worthy of reflection, understanding, and pride.”—Dr. Lynette Charity, author of Escape Plan: Dreaming My Way Out of the Projects
“Ebony draws readers in with her imaginative blend of travel, poetry, personal history, and adventure, while her mesmerizing command of language pulls you effortlessly from one page to the next.”—Elaine Lee, author of Go Girl and Go Girl 2: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure
Our programs start at 6:30pm. People can register for an in-person spot or Zoom link (for virtual talks) at the Library Events Calendar - dearbornlibrary.org.
FIELD TRIP READING SERIES
Featuring readings by:
Sara Wainscott, Carrie Olivia Adams, Nathan Hoks & Safiya Merchant
EVENTBRITE LINK
Overview
FEATURING PHILADANCE! DANCE COMPANY, JESSICA CARE MOORE, DAVID ROUSSEVE, AND MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
The Wright Performances is a multidisciplinary series of performance works created by critically acclaimed American artists. As a companion to The Wright’s Exhibitions and Public Programs, the series complements the holistic exploration of the profound impact of African American artists and historians on cultures throughout the world.
PHILADANCO! Dance Company: Friday, October 30, 2026 and Saturday, October 31, 2026 @7:30 PM $45.00 General Admission
For more than five decades, PHILADANCO! has been a leading force in American dance, preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of Black concert dance while inspiring new generations of artists and audiences. Renowned for its extraordinary dancers, technical excellence, and commitment to artistic innovation, PHILADANCO! continues to shape the landscape of modern dance through works that honor the past while embracing the future.
PHILADANCO! returns to The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History with a dynamic program that showcases the company’s creative vision, cultural legacy, and enduring influence. Featuring works from four distinctive choreographic voices, this performance highlights the depth, versatility, and evolution that have defined the company throughout its celebrated history.
Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening of movement, music, and storytelling that reflects the beauty, resilience, and innovation of the Black experience. From powerful athleticism to deeply expressive artistry, each piece offers a unique perspective while demonstrating why PHILADANCO! remains one of the nation’s most respected dance companies.
jessica Care moore: Friday, December 11, 2026 and Saturday, December 12, 2026 @7:30 PM $35.00 General Admission
Experience an unforgettable evening of poetry, music, and healing with Wild Beauty, an original experimental opera created by acclaimed Detroit poet jessica Care moore. Blending spoken word, opera, jazz, soul, and orchestral composition, Wild Beauty is a powerful meditation on grief, resilience, love, and the search for joy in the face of profound loss.
This ambitious multidisciplinary work brings together an extraordinary ensemble of artists, including composer De'Sean Jones, pianist Jon Dixon, opera soul soprano Kisma Jordan, vocalist and composer Shara Nova, and Detroit soul artist Ideeyah. Together, they create a rich and immersive performance that transforms personal reflection into a shared experience of remembrance and renewal.
Audiences can expect a deeply moving journey by way of evocative poetry, soul-stirring vocals, and beautiful musical arrangements.
About Wild Beauty
An Experimental Opera Libretto by jessica Care moore
Composer: De'Sean Jones | Pianist: Jon Dixon
Featuring Kisma Jordan, Shara Nova, Ideeyah and jessica Care moore
Wild Beauty is a deeply spiritual work that searches for joy in the midst of so much loss during a global pandemic. The poet weaves her heart and longing for peace and balance around a gorgeous bed of orchestral strings and melodic keys.
Wild Beauty exhales the pain of the poet's losses through powerhouse opera Soul soprano Kisma Jordan, the choral compositions of Shara Nova and the jazzy soul vocals of Detroit's own, Ideeyah.
Original composition by De'Sean Jones and additional musical score by Jon Dixon. Wild Beauty is a trance, a prayer, a song, a remembrance. This ambitious collaborative work by jessica Care moore will make you laugh, cry and heal our heavy hearts through the power of words, music and song.
David Rousseve: Friday, March 26, 2027 and Saturday, March 27, 2027 @7:30 PM $30.00 General Admission
You are invited to join us for a powerful evening with acclaimed choreographer, performer, and storyteller David Roussève as he celebrates the 40th anniversary of his company, REALITY, with Becoming Daddy AF. Part autobiography, part retrospective, and wholly captivating, this deeply personal dance-theater work explores identity, ancestry, love, loss, and the stories that shape who we become.
Becoming Daddy AF reflects the museum’s commitment to presenting artists whose work illuminates the richness and complexity of the human experience. Through movement, music, archival imagery, and vivid storytelling, Roussève traces generations of family history while reflecting on his journey as a queer African American artist whose life and work have spanned decades of cultural and social change.
Audiences can expect a moving and often humorous performance that blends contemporary dance with intimate personal narrative. From ancestral roots stretching back centuries to the triumphs and challenges of modern life, Roussève’s expressive artistry invites viewers into a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring search for connection and belonging.
Meshell Ndegeocello: Friday, April 16, 2027 and Saturday, April 17, 2027 $45.00 General Admission
Visionary musician, composer, and cultural storyteller Meshell Ndegeocello brings her groundbreaking work No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin to The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for an unforgettable evening of music, reflection, and artistic exploration. Inspired by the life and legacy of James Baldwin, the performance honors one of the most influential voices of the twentieth century while examining themes that remain deeply relevant today.
Ndegeocello’s innovative production exemplifies the power of the arts to engage history, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful dialogue. Through a rich blend of jazz, soul, spoken word, and experimental soundscapes, she explores Baldwin’s enduring reflections on race, identity, spirituality, love, and justice, creating a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Audiences can expect an immersive musical experience that transcends genres and invites contemplation, connection, and discovery. Anchored by Ndegeocello’s celebrated artistry and inspired by Baldwin’s prophetic voice, the performance offers a moving tribute to a literary giant while encouraging reflection on the social and cultural questions that continue to shape our world.
EVENTBRITE LINK
Overview
FEATURING PHILADANCE! DANCE COMPANY, JESSICA CARE MOORE, DAVID ROUSSEVE, AND MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
The Wright Performances is a multidisciplinary series of performance works created by critically acclaimed American artists. As a companion to The Wright’s Exhibitions and Public Programs, the series complements the holistic exploration of the profound impact of African American artists and historians on cultures throughout the world.
PHILADANCO! Dance Company: Friday, October 30, 2026 and Saturday, October 31, 2026 @7:30 PM $45.00 General Admission
For more than five decades, PHILADANCO! has been a leading force in American dance, preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of Black concert dance while inspiring new generations of artists and audiences. Renowned for its extraordinary dancers, technical excellence, and commitment to artistic innovation, PHILADANCO! continues to shape the landscape of modern dance through works that honor the past while embracing the future.
PHILADANCO! returns to The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History with a dynamic program that showcases the company’s creative vision, cultural legacy, and enduring influence. Featuring works from four distinctive choreographic voices, this performance highlights the depth, versatility, and evolution that have defined the company throughout its celebrated history.
Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening of movement, music, and storytelling that reflects the beauty, resilience, and innovation of the Black experience. From powerful athleticism to deeply expressive artistry, each piece offers a unique perspective while demonstrating why PHILADANCO! remains one of the nation’s most respected dance companies.
jessica Care moore: Friday, December 11, 2026 and Saturday, December 12, 2026 @7:30 PM $35.00 General Admission
Experience an unforgettable evening of poetry, music, and healing with Wild Beauty, an original experimental opera created by acclaimed Detroit poet jessica Care moore. Blending spoken word, opera, jazz, soul, and orchestral composition, Wild Beauty is a powerful meditation on grief, resilience, love, and the search for joy in the face of profound loss.
This ambitious multidisciplinary work brings together an extraordinary ensemble of artists, including composer De'Sean Jones, pianist Jon Dixon, opera soul soprano Kisma Jordan, vocalist and composer Shara Nova, and Detroit soul artist Ideeyah. Together, they create a rich and immersive performance that transforms personal reflection into a shared experience of remembrance and renewal.
Audiences can expect a deeply moving journey by way of evocative poetry, soul-stirring vocals, and beautiful musical arrangements.
About Wild Beauty
An Experimental Opera Libretto by jessica Care moore
Composer: De'Sean Jones | Pianist: Jon Dixon
Featuring Kisma Jordan, Shara Nova, Ideeyah and jessica Care moore
Wild Beauty is a deeply spiritual work that searches for joy in the midst of so much loss during a global pandemic. The poet weaves her heart and longing for peace and balance around a gorgeous bed of orchestral strings and melodic keys.
Wild Beauty exhales the pain of the poet's losses through powerhouse opera Soul soprano Kisma Jordan, the choral compositions of Shara Nova and the jazzy soul vocals of Detroit's own, Ideeyah.
Original composition by De'Sean Jones and additional musical score by Jon Dixon. Wild Beauty is a trance, a prayer, a song, a remembrance. This ambitious collaborative work by jessica Care moore will make you laugh, cry and heal our heavy hearts through the power of words, music and song.
David Rousseve: Friday, March 26, 2027 and Saturday, March 27, 2027 @7:30 PM $30.00 General Admission
You are invited to join us for a powerful evening with acclaimed choreographer, performer, and storyteller David Roussève as he celebrates the 40th anniversary of his company, REALITY, with Becoming Daddy AF. Part autobiography, part retrospective, and wholly captivating, this deeply personal dance-theater work explores identity, ancestry, love, loss, and the stories that shape who we become.
Becoming Daddy AF reflects the museum’s commitment to presenting artists whose work illuminates the richness and complexity of the human experience. Through movement, music, archival imagery, and vivid storytelling, Roussève traces generations of family history while reflecting on his journey as a queer African American artist whose life and work have spanned decades of cultural and social change.
Audiences can expect a moving and often humorous performance that blends contemporary dance with intimate personal narrative. From ancestral roots stretching back centuries to the triumphs and challenges of modern life, Roussève’s expressive artistry invites viewers into a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring search for connection and belonging.
Meshell Ndegeocello: Friday, April 16, 2027 and Saturday, April 17, 2027 $45.00 General Admission
Visionary musician, composer, and cultural storyteller Meshell Ndegeocello brings her groundbreaking work No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin to The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for an unforgettable evening of music, reflection, and artistic exploration. Inspired by the life and legacy of James Baldwin, the performance honors one of the most influential voices of the twentieth century while examining themes that remain deeply relevant today.
Ndegeocello’s innovative production exemplifies the power of the arts to engage history, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful dialogue. Through a rich blend of jazz, soul, spoken word, and experimental soundscapes, she explores Baldwin’s enduring reflections on race, identity, spirituality, love, and justice, creating a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Audiences can expect an immersive musical experience that transcends genres and invites contemplation, connection, and discovery. Anchored by Ndegeocello’s celebrated artistry and inspired by Baldwin’s prophetic voice, the performance offers a moving tribute to a literary giant while encouraging reflection on the social and cultural questions that continue to shape our world.