American Writers Festival

 

May 16, 2022

American Writers Festival

American Writers Festival

Sometimes I get to indulge multiple passions in the same trip or time period and such was the case on my first weekend of my trip to Indianapolis as I was able to take in a writers festival the day after attending the Indy Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event which was sponsored by and partially held at the American Writers Museum in Chicago was the day after the race and as soon as the race was over and I dropped my sister Michele off at home, I was back on the road to Chicago.

It was an easy drive and I booked a hotel for two nights downtown near the museum and just across the Chicago River from the House of Blues where I was going to catch a concert while in town. I had become a member of the American Writers Museum on a previous visit to the city and had been kept updated on their programming via e-mail and was thrilled to learn of their first ever Writers Festival.

The first ever festival was held on a single day at two venues, the amazing Chicago Cultural Center, which had four stages and the museum itself which is just a block up the street.  The inaugural American Writers Festival coincided with the American Writers Museum’s fifth anniversary. The free literary festival featured more than 75 beloved contemporary authors, artists and playwrights.

The Festival consisted of discussion panels and author signings with leading contemporary writers across various genres, including children’s and young adult fiction, science fiction, history, biographies, poetry, and satire, who shared insights into their craft. Participating writers addressed their perspectives on many of today’s most timely and controversial topics including immigration, book censorship, racism and equality through themes within their literature.

Before I get to the writers, I have to comment on the incredible building where the majority of the event was held. The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago landmark building operated by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is located in the Loop, across Michigan Avenue from Millenium Park. Originally the central library building, it was converted in 1977 to an arts and culture center at the instigation of Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weinberg.

The architecture is absolutely incredible and while the acoustics were not perfect, it was still a grand setting for this awesome gathering of writers. The keynote was delivered by poet Joy Harjo and writer Marie Arana and was fantastic, then it was off and running with an incredible assemblage of writers including Ashley C. Ford, Dr. Eve Ewing, Jabari Asim, Elizabeth Nunez, Jaqueline Woodson, Imani Perry, Sara Paretsky and many more.

It was a great day that went by way too fast and yet it was just the midway point of my day as after a quick dinner break, I walked across the river from my hotel to the sold-out and packed House of Blues Chicago to go see the young Jamaican musical sensation Koffee perform. A few years ago, our friend and well known Jamaican writer Nicole Dennis-Benn and her wife Emma had suggested that we check out Koffee who at that time was only nineteen.

It has taken three years, but I finally got a chance to see her, now 22. The Reggae singer, songwriter, rapper, deejay and guitarist from Spanish Town, Jamaica. She released her debut single "Burning" in 2017, and in 2019 signed with Columbia Records. Her 2019 EP, “Rapture”won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 62^nd Grammy Awards, making Koffee the youngest person and only woman to be awarded in the Best Reggae Album category.

Watching her performance, you can understand what all the hype is about. I got the feeling that I was witnessing something special and I was glad that I was able to catch her in a relatively small venue as it seems she is on the fast track to greater stardom and much larger venues in the near future. It was also clear that the frenzied crowd was in the know already as they sang along to almost every track and were as about as excited a crowd as I have been a part of in a long time. 

https://americanwritersmuseum.org/

https://www.originalkoffee.com/