Imani Perry is the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and a faculty associate with the Programs in Law and Public Affairs, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Jazz Studies. She is the author of 6 books, including Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry, which received the Pen Bograd-Weld Award for Biography, The Phi Beta Kappa Christian Gauss Award for outstanding work in literary scholarship, the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction and the Shilts-Grahn Award for nonfiction from the Publishing Triangle. Looking for Lorraine was also named a 2018 notable book by the New York Times, and a honor book by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. It was a finalist  for the African American Intellectual History Society Paul Murray Book Prize. Her book May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem, winner of the 2019 American Studies Association John Hope Franklin Book Award for the best book in American Studies, the Hurston Wright Award for Nonfiction, and finalist for an NAACP Image Award in Nonfiction. Her most recent book is: Breathe: A Letter to My Sons (Beacon Press, 2019) which was a finalist for the 2020 Chautauqua Prize and a finalist for the NAACP Image Award for Excellence in Nonfiction.

Perry is a scholar of law, literary and cultural studies, and an author of creative nonfiction. She earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from Harvard University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA from Yale College in Literature and American Studies. Her writing and scholarship primarily focuses on the history of Black thought, art, and imagination crafted in response to, and resistance against, the social, political and legal realities of domination in the West. She seeks to understand the processes of retrenchment after moments of social progress, and how freedom dreams are nevertheless sustained. Her book: Vexy Thing: On Gender and Liberation (Duke University Press 2018) is a work of critical theory that contends with the formation of modern patriarchy at the dawn of capitalism, the transatlantic slave trade, and the age of conquest, and traces it through to the contemporary hypermedia neoliberal age. Her book More Beautiful and More Terrible: The Embrace and Transcendence of Racial Inequality in the United States (NYU Press, 2011) is an examination of contemporary practices of racial inequality that are sustained and extended through a broad matrix of cultural habits despite formal declarations of racial equality. 

Perry’s forthcoming book under contract with ECCO Press is a narrative journey through the South, arguing that it is the nation’s heartland for better and worse. Future planned projects include an examination of African American theories of law and justice, and a meditation on the color blue in Black life. 

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One of the nation's most prominent scholars, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., is a passionate educator, author, political commentator, and public intellectual who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller, Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, takes an exhaustive look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy. Of Baldwin, Glaude writes, "Baldwin's writing does not bear witness to the glory of America. It reveals the country's sins and the illusion of innocence that blinds us to the reality of others. Baldwin's vision requires a confrontation with our history (with slavery, Jim Crow segregation, with whiteness) to overcome its hold on us. Not to posit the greatness of America, but to establish the ground upon which to imagine the country anew."

A highly accomplished and respected scholar of religion, Glaude is a former president of the American Academy of Religion. His books on religion and philosophy include An Uncommon Faith: A Pragmatic Approach to the Study of African American Religion, African American Religion: A Very Short Introduction, and Exodus! Religion, Race and Nation in Early 19th Century Black America, which was awarded the Modern Language Association's William Sanders Scarborough Book Prize.

Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies, a program he first became involved with shaping as a doctoral candidate in Religion at Princeton. He is also on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. He frequently appears in the media, as a columnist for TIME Magazine and as an MSNBC contributor on programs like Morning Joe and Deadline Whitehouse with Nicolle Wallace. He also regularly appears on Meet the Press on Sundays. Combining a scholar's knowledge of history, a political commentator's take on the latest events, and an activist's passion for social justice, Glaude challenges all of us to examine our collective American conscience.

John Collins founded Elevator Repair Service in 1991. Since then, he has directed or co-directed all of the company’s productions while also serving as the company’s artistic director. ERS productions directed by Collins include Cab Legs, Room Tone, Gatz, The Select (The Sun Also Rises), The Sound and the Fury, Arguendo, Measure for Measure and numerous others. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship and a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award.

The Public: Measure for Measure, The Sound and the Fury. NYTW: Bonnie’s Last Flight; Fondly, Collette Richland; The Little Foxes (dir. Ivo van Hove). Vineyard Theater/TMT: Strictly Dishonorable. BAM/Next Wave: The Parable Conference. BAC: Go Forth/Please Bury Me. ERS/REDCAT: Gatz. HERE/TMT: Uncle Vanya. Film: Help Me Mary, The Bad Infinity. Sargeant is an associate artist of Target Margin Theater and company member of ERS. Training: West Virginia University – MFA, William Esper.

Ben Jalosa Williams is an actor and sound designer. He produces and curates category : other, an award winning platform for experimental audio. Collaborators include minor theater, Christina Masciotti, Suzanne Bocanegra and many others. Awards for sound design: Obie, Lortel, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and Third Coast International Audio Festival’s inaugural Audio Unbound Award (for Songs of Speculation, co-produced with Jillian Walker). Benwilliamsdotcom.com

Garlia is a writer, producer, photographer and mother from Detroit, MI.  In 2008, Garlia founded Blackboard Plays, a monthly series devoted to Black Playwrights.  She is one of the founding producers of Harlem9, OBIE Award winners for, “48Hours in…™Harlem”.  Her Essays and articles have appeared in "The New York Times", "The Washington Post”, "Salon.com" and “American Theatre”.  Her work as a playwright has been supported by the cell, The Fire This Time Festival and #24viralmonologues.   She was a guest artist at Wayne State University 2020-2021, where she also taught a Playwrighting Workshop for MFA Actors.   She worked on an MA in African American and African Diaspora studies at Indiana University before coming to New York for her MFA in Playwrighting which she earned at The New School for Drama. Garlia is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.  She is the Producing Director of PAAL, where she also received one of their first childcare grants in 2019. Finally, Garlia was a Line Producer at The Public Theater, working on: “Socrates”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, (filmed for Great Performances on PBS), “Mojada”,  “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enough, “Coal Country”, “The Visitor”.  She was also the Line Producer for Mobile Unit’s Summer of Joy, Shakespeare: Call and Response - August 2021.  Garlia was the Co-Creative Producer of #ToBeBlack, released on Juneteenth 2020 and Co-Producer of “Forward Together” a Virtual event, in support of The Public.  During the Fall of 2020, Garlia was the co-developer and Curator of the #Saytheirnames projection installation.  In April 2022, Garlia was promoted to the first ever Director of Innovation and New Media at The Public.  Outside of New York, Garlia is the Senior Creative Producer for the Obsidian Theatre Festival in Detroit, MI. Finally, she is the Executive Producer of the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (#BMPFest), a festival focused on the stories of Black families from Black artists with families.  #BMPFest just completed its 2nd year!

is a Detroit based arts professional and community organizer.  Sloan is the lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Detroit, and Director of Operations, The Detroit Safety Team. BFA, Musical Theatre Performance, The University of Michigan. Sloan spent over fourteen years working in New York, LA, several regional theatres, and on the national tour of Disney’s The Lion King.  He is the Founding CEO/Artistic Director of GhostLight Creative Productions, and Producing Artistic Director of The Obsidian Theatre Festival, a Detroit based festival focusing on Black stories, now in its 3rd year. He serves as the Film Producer for the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival.  Recent Composer and Lyricist credits include Hastings Street and #24viralmonologues. Recent Director Credits: Gem of the Ocean, Detroit Repertory Theatre., Passing Strange, Detroit Public Theatre and Flint Rep, New Works Festival 2023.

don't forget the K.) is a Brooklyn based Post Audio Mixer & Sound Designer with over a decade of experience in multiple formats.  Originally from Metro Detroit & with a background in music recording, video editing, and producing, he understands the full post-production process and works to create high quality mixes that enhance and guide the visual content.  Some recent work includes, The Obsidian Theatre Festival (2022), Turning Tables w/ Robin Roberts (S2, Disney+), Firebrand ('23 Short Film), PublicSquare2.0 Podcast ('23 The Public Theater NYC) www.JustinKSloan.com

is currently the Editorial Manager at New York City Center. New work dramaturgy: Coal Country (The Public Theater); Little Black Book; White Rose: the Musical; Poupelle of Chimney Town the Musical; Van Gogh; etc. Production dramaturgy: Pippin (Reagle Music Theatre), HAIR (New Rep); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lyric Stage); In the Heights (Wheelock Family Theater); Cabaret, Barnum, The Wild Party (Moonbox Productions); The Roaring Girl (Theater Row); NOMI (Theater on Fire). Her writing is published on HowlRound Theatre Commons. Member, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Awards: LMDA/KCACTF Dramaturgy Regional and Program Note Awards. BA, Emerson College.

Garlia is a writer, producer, photographer and mother from Detroit, MI.  In 2008, Garlia founded Blackboard Plays, a monthly series devoted to Black Playwrights.  She is one of the founding producers of Harlem9, OBIE Award winners for, “48Hours in…™Harlem”.  Her Essays and articles have appeared in "The New York Times", "The Washington Post”, "Salon.com" and “American Theatre”.  Her work as a playwright has been supported by the cell, The Fire This Time Festival and #24viralmonologues.   She was a guest artist at Wayne State University 2020-2021, where she also taught a Playwrighting Workshop for MFA Actors.   She worked on an MA in African American and African Diaspora studies at Indiana University before coming to New York for her MFA in Playwrighting which she earned at The New School for Drama. Garlia is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.  She is the Producing Director of PAAL, where she also received one of their first childcare grants in 2019. Finally, Garlia was a Line Producer at The Public Theater, working on: “Socrates”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, (filmed for Great Performances on PBS), “Mojada”,  “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enough, “Coal Country”, “The Visitor”.  She was also the Line Producer for Mobile Unit’s Summer of Joy, Shakespeare: Call and Response - August 2021.  Garlia was the Co-Creative Producer of #ToBeBlack, released on Juneteenth 2020 and Co-Producer of “Forward Together” a Virtual event, in support of The Public.  During the Fall of 2020, Garlia was the co-developer and Curator of the #Saytheirnames projection installation.  In April 2022, Garlia was promoted to the first ever Director of Innovation and New Media at The Public.  Outside of New York, Garlia is the Senior Creative Producer for the Obsidian Theatre Festival in Detroit, MI. Finally, she is the Executive Producer of the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (#BMPFest), a festival focused on the stories of Black families from Black artists with families.  #BMPFest just completed its 2nd year!

is a Detroit based arts professional and community organizer.  Sloan is the lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Detroit, and Director of Operations, The Detroit Safety Team. BFA, Musical Theatre Performance, The University of Michigan. Sloan spent over fourteen years working in New York, LA, several regional theatres, and on the national tour of Disney’s The Lion King.  He is the Founding CEO/Artistic Director of GhostLight Creative Productions, and Producing Artistic Director of The Obsidian Theatre Festival, a Detroit based festival focusing on Black stories, now in its 3rd year. He serves as the Film Producer for the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival.  Recent Composer and Lyricist credits include Hastings Street and #24viralmonologues. Recent Director Credits: Gem of the Ocean, Detroit Repertory Theatre., Passing Strange, Detroit Public Theatre and Flint Rep, New Works Festival 2023.

don't forget the K.) is a Brooklyn based Post Audio Mixer & Sound Designer with over a decade of experience in multiple formats.  Originally from Metro Detroit & with a background in music recording, video editing, and producing, he understands the full post-production process and works to create high quality mixes that enhance and guide the visual content.  Some recent work includes, The Obsidian Theatre Festival (2022), Turning Tables w/ Robin Roberts (S2, Disney+), Firebrand ('23 Short Film), PublicSquare2.0 Podcast ('23 The Public Theater NYC) www.JustinKSloan.com

is currently the Editorial Manager at New York City Center. New work dramaturgy: Coal Country (The Public Theater); Little Black Book; White Rose: the Musical; Poupelle of Chimney Town the Musical; Van Gogh; etc. Production dramaturgy: Pippin (Reagle Music Theatre), HAIR (New Rep); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lyric Stage); In the Heights (Wheelock Family Theater); Cabaret, Barnum, The Wild Party (Moonbox Productions); The Roaring Girl (Theater Row); NOMI (Theater on Fire). Her writing is published on HowlRound Theatre Commons. Member, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Awards: LMDA/KCACTF Dramaturgy Regional and Program Note Awards. BA, Emerson College.