New Orleans Loving Festival – NATIVE. HOMELAND. EXILE.

NATIVE. HOMELAND. EXILE.
Five New Orleans Women of Color Writers Capture The Coming Of Age In America’s New South.

“A thousand camera flashes light the way as Black Indians dance even to the grave.” – J. Hilt

“Sometimes the only way to rid yourself of an abomination is to bury it.” – A. Citchens

“Teeming with insatiable music producers and entertainment moguls, Atlanta offers suitors and obscurity for the exiled daughters of New Orleans.” – K. Robinson.

There will be a short Q&A following the readings. Some readings include adult themes that may not be suitable for children.
Free Admission & Refreshments

About The Writers:
Addie Citchens is a Mississippi native, and New Orleans based writer of literary fiction. She has been featured in the Oxford American’s Best of the South edition, in Calloloo journal, and others.

Jeri Hilt is a former lecturer of African Studies and International Development issues at Tennessee State and Dillard Universities. She has also worked with research, development, and teaching projects in South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, and the United Kingdom. Hilt, a Louisiana native, currently teaches literacy intervention at an elementary school in New Orleans.

Ambata Kazi-Nance is a writer and teacher living in her hometown New Orleans, LA with her husband and son. She writes for Azizah magazine and Grow Mama Grow, a blog for Muslim mothers.

J.R. Ramakrishnan’s journalism has appeared in Style.com, Harper’s Bazaar, Chicago Tribune, and Grazia, amongst other publications. Her fiction has appeared in [PANK]. A graduate of the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies and Columbia School of Journalism, she arrived in New Orleans by way of Brooklyn, London, and Kuala Lumpur, her original hometown. She is director of literary programs for the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival.

Kristina K. Robinson is a native New Orleanian and graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. She has taught Literature at Dillard University. Her poetry appears in The Baffler and The Xavier Review. As well as other writing in (1)ne Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race and on media outlets, such as, Racialicious, Room 220, and Breakthrough Magazine.

This event is funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from Poets & Writers, Inc. New Orleans. For more information visit www.pw.org.

Hosted by the 4th Annual New Orleans Loving Festival in partnership with Press Street’s Antenna Gallery, Cox Communications, Southern Eagle and Whole Foods Market. The New Orleans Loving Festival is a multiracial community celebration and film festival that challenges racism through outreach and education.

For more information about Loving Festival events visit www.lovingfestival.org and follow the New Orleans Loving Festival on Facebook. The New Orleans Loving Festival is an initiative of Charitable Film Network, a Louisiana state non-profit.

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