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Writers Live! with Enoch Pratt Library

For the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic year, the COMloquium series has been reinstated along with the continuation of our partnership with Enoch Pratt and their Writers LIVE! series, these conversations can be found in this section below:

Dr. Kaye in conversation with Jason Green, who throughout his book Too Precious to Lose, traces his paternal family through a century of life in a single place. Seeking answers to deeply personal, contemporary questions about belonging, he finds that and more truths from the compassionate, communal-led lives of his forebearers.

In this moving, inspirational memoir, Ke paints a vivid self-portrait, telling both heart-wrenching and funny stories of his early rise, slow fall from the spotlight, the resilience that kept him going through his darkest times, and his eventual resurrection on one of the biggest stages in Hollywood. Never Say Die is the story of Ke’s extraordinary life, a love letter to the movies and people that shaped him, and a powerful testament to never giving up on your dreams.

While not in video form, please look at the information for this stunning conversation Dr. Kaye held with Ke Huy Quan on his new memoir Never Say Die

For Carla Hall, baking is a creative outlet, her source of play, and her first true passion. But her journey from absolute beginner to Top Chef fan-favorite didn’t start until she was well into her twenties with two careers— accounting and modeling —already behind her. Away from home and missing the Southern flavors she grew up with, she took to the kitchen and began to experiment, master, and perfect.

Dr. Kaye joins Hall in discussing the experiences she has had with baking, her connection to family history, and how that has made her the person she is to inspire those who may be new to baking! Find the information for this event

In 1999, Eve Jihan Cooper made history with her solo debut album, Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, reaching number one on the Billboard 200, marking her as the third female rapper to ever obtain that position. She later made history again as the first recipient ever of the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her platinum single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with Gwen Stefani. Following up with three chart-topping albums that made unrivaled waves in the world of hip-hop and music, as well as trailblazing moments in TV/film and fashion, in her new autobiography Who's that Girl Eve now looks back on her groundbreaking career. learn about the discussion she had with Dr. Kaye to learn about this groundbreaking artist's story

In Prayer and Pen, current AFRO publisher Frances Murphy Draper has collected 50 of her beloved grandfather’s original prayers, along with many proverbs and words of wisdom. Each reading showcases Murphy’s authentic conversations with God and the perseverance of a generation called to navigate Jim Crow, two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and other tumultuous, defining moments in United States history. Dr. Kaye joins her in conversation as they reflect on powerful words from a wise businessman, cultural hero, and family patriarch, and learn from his remarkable legacy of finding solace and strength in consistent prayer.

Mother Emmanuel, a sweeping history of one of the nation’s most important African American churches and a profound story of courage and grace amid the fight for racial justice—from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Kevin Sack. Dr. Kaye joins him in conversation about the history of  Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, its trials, tribulations, and contributions to religious practice amongst African Americans to date.

Lerone A. Martin, Centennial Professor at Stanford University and the Faculty Director of the Martin Luther King Institute, traces the youthful roots of this legendary American to reveal the makings of a mighty force. Filled with revelations and written with compassion, Dr. Kaye joins Martin as they discuss his book Young King, which offers a new understanding of the influential preacher and activist’s emotional life, his youthful confusion about his future and career direction, his inspiration to fight for justice, his teenage missteps, and his first revelations of courage. As America undergoes another era of turmoil and change, this powerful biography offers encouragement for readers at a similar moment of life and provides an understanding of how greatness comes to light.

Dr. Kaye joins Jarvis R. Givens for an in-depth discussion about his new book I'll Make Me a World. Throughout this book, acclaimed Harvard scholar Jarvis R. Givens takes us on a personal and political journey through the 100-year history of Black History Month—from its radical beginnings in 1926 as “Negro History Week” to its role today as a celebration and flashpoint in America’s cultural battles. Drawing on archival research, personal stories involving family and students, and especially the wisdom of Black educators, Givens recovers the legacy of Carter G. Woodson and many others who envisioned Black history as a liberatory force—knowledge that shapes who we are, how we resist, and what we dream

Pulitzer Prize–winning former Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson is joined by Dr. Kaye as he tells our nation’s torturous racial history through his own family’s story, starting with his great-grandfather’s freedom from slavery and threading his way to his own narrative and reaching today’s Black Lives Matter movement, asking whether this time will be different.

For the 2023-24 academic year, the COMloquium series was replaced by the Enoch Pratt Writers LIVE! Series where we invited Karson supporters to join Dr. Whitehead at the Pratt where she was in conversation with authors, politicians, actors, and musicians including Misty Copeland, Aaron Neville, Joy Reid, Questlove, Eve, Tamron Hall, Ali Velshi, Billy Dee Williams, and Nancy Pelosi.

Strength and fitness coach Chrissy King was joined by our Director in a conversation hosted by Enoch Pract Free Library. There, they talked about Chrissy King's new book The Body Liberation Project: How Understanding Racism and Diet Culture Helps Cultivate Joy and Build Collective Freedom. In this video, Chrissy king, the author, challenges the diet and fitness industries that she argues uphold Eurocentric beauty standards.  The author reflects on her own relationship with her body and how others can learn to not just embrace body positivity but moreover body liberation. 

Chrissy King is a writer, educator and strength and fitness coach.   

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Comedian, author, director, and Emmy-award winning television host W. Kamau Bell will offer his thoughts on the current state of race and politics in America.   The host and executive producer of CNN’s The United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell explores social and political topics by initiating conversations with people throughout the country.  W. Kamau Bell will be joined in conversation by our director, Karsonya "Kaye" Whise Whitehead.

W. Kamau Bell is a stand-up comedian and the director and executive producer of the documentary We Need to Talk About Cosby.  He is also the host and executive producer of CNN’s The United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell.   Mr. Bell is the author of The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell and the recently published Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity Book co-authored with Kate Schatz. 

From Emmy Award winner Tamron Hall comes an edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring journalist Jordan Manning as she delves into the case of a mother in danger and uncovers a dangerous web of secrets that could lead right to the missing woman—or put Jordan in the crosshairs of her abductors.

Our director joins her in conversation to talk about her book, Watch Where They Hide, along other topics in this Enoch Pratt Library Hosted event.

Misty Copeland, the first African American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theater,  reflects on the impact that her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, had on her life and career. Ms. Wilkinson was the first African American woman to dance with a major ballet company, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Our director joins her in conversation during this Enoch Pratt Library Hosted event.




Atlantic staff writer Clint Smith looks at the legacy of slavery in America though his visits to historical monuments and landmarks. Throughout the author’s travels, from Monticello to New Orleans and Manhattan, he reflects on the ways that we talk and also avoid talking about slavery.

Our director joins him in conversation during this Enoch Pratt Library Hosted event.



 

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