
Kuumba Kickback
The Kuumba Kickback is a free digital convention hosted by Black Girls Create, to celebrate fandom and creation while centering the experiences and interests of people of color. The event took place from October 15-17, 2021.
Schedule
(Times are in Pacific)
Quick Quills Live!
A #QuickQuills writing sprint with a twist! Bring your writing tools and ideas and join members of the BGC team and special guest Amparo Ortiz as we write, talk about our own personal writing processes, and gas each other up!
Creating with Kids
Creating can be an important tool for understanding yourself and the world around you, which is why we should encourage and cultivate the creative interests of the young among us. What does it look like to support the creative endeavors of the children in your life? How can we be intentional about supporting the next generation of creators? This is a conversation for anyone with children they love in their life.
Kuumba Kids
Join us for a book reading of “What if” by Samantha Berger and some collaborative creative activities for all ages. There will be prompts to create in the preferred medium of each child and older kids will have the option to help use digital tools to design our Kuumba Kids Art Gallery! Registration required!
Dreaming in the Dark Live!
Dreaming in the Dark is a podcast created by Black fantasy scholars Bezi Yohannes and Ravynn K. Stringfield that brings the stories we wished we had as children to the forefront. Named after Toni Morrison’s Playing in the Dark, our podcast celebrates the creations that center those usually written in the margins of the fantastic. Join them for a special episode live from the Kuumba Kickback!
Divesting From White Fandom
Find a fan of color and they'll tell you a story of exclusion or an uncomfortable fan experience. Fandom can often be an unwelcoming space to people of marginalized identities. This panel discusses the caveats of trying to make white spaces accessible and welcoming, and when it may be more or equally beneficial to put that energy into creating new and inclusive spaces for fans to commune and nerd out.
Creating Community
Creating community can be difficult but rewarding work, especially when developing spaces for marginalized people. Founders and managers of different online communities come together in this panel to discuss triumphs, pitfalls, and their love of creating community!
Book Talk: Ships and Sails!
Though not required for a good story, a solid romantic plot can certainly enhance one. The best ships leave us pining along with the main character, suffering through a slow burn, or—in the case of a series—waiting eagerly for the next installment. Get ready to set sail as we explore this panel of authors' favorite romantic tropes and ships, what makes them work, and how they inspire their work. All aboard!
Untitled Eliyannah Yisrael Film Q&A
When her brother, Mikkey, leaves his restaurant in her charge to take advantage of an opportunity out of town, Kimmy learns the hard way what leadership and life are all about. Come get an early preview of the unfinished film and join the Q&A with the director of the film Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael.
Neurodiversity in Fandoms
We all know what it’s like to find a character we can identify with, especially when we’ve historically been kept out of the narrative. This panel is taking a nosedive into the neurodivergent world in our fandoms. We’ll be discussing neurodiverse characters, the feeling of finding representation, and which fandoms are openly celebrating neurodivergency in their work. The way we think may be different, but the pride we get from being represented is the same!
The Business of Creation
The creative journey can be fulfilling and exciting. But what happens when you bring money into it? This panel will discuss the business side of creating, diving into monetization, managing finances, handling taxes, pitching your brand, and more!
Redefining Historical Fiction & Romance Representation Ourselves
Despite the popularity of Bridgerton and other historical and romance fiction on the page and on the screen, there is still a considerable gap of representation of Black fans and creatives in the conversation to move the genre forward. Even though many Black creatives have paved the way to represent themselves in these genres, there are still people who question the "historical accuracy" or "realisticness" of Black historical fiction and romance. Join BGC community members and historical fiction author Kaia Alderson for a discussion on finding community with fellow Black fans and sharing their favorite historical and romantic fiction as well as their own creative endeavors!
Things We Imagine Live!
Things We Imagine is a YouTube series powered by Black Girls Create and For All Nerds and hosted by Porshèa Patterson-Hurst and Bayana Davis exploring BIPOC fantasy in books, movie/TV, fashion, comics, music, and more! Join us live at the Kuumba Kickback to add to your BIPOC fantasy index!
So You Want to Start a Podcast
Starting a podcast can seem overwhelming, but it is actually quite manageable! Come to this panel to get tips and tricks on how to start and sustain your podcast.
Game Night
Come kick back and play Mario Kart with other attendees! Join us in the Discord game room for guaranteed laughs and friendly competition. (Kids are welcome to play along with adult supervision.)
Creators Circle
Creator Circles are time blocks set aside to create in community! We use a work sprint structure that allows for focused work time and sharing and interaction. During this special Creator Circle event, we will design vision boards to capture our creative goals and aspirations. Connect with others in a small group setting and manifest your creative dreams! The Creator Circle is capped at 25 people.
Speakers
Amanda-Rae Prescott (she/her)
Freelance Journalist
Amparo Ortiz (she/her)
Author
Bayana Davis (she/her)
CEO & Co-Founder, Black Girls Create
Candice Johnson (she/her)
CFO/COO, QuirkChat
Candice Wicks-Davis (she/her)
Founding Partner, Edutainment for Equity
Charnelle (she/her)
Software Engineer
Connie Gibbs (she/her)
Director of Content Strategy, Black Girls Create
Delia Gallegos (she/her)
CFO & Creative Director, Black Girls Create
Donnalie Jamnah, “DJ” (she/they)
Community Programs Manager, Black Girls Create
Dr. Crystal Bobb-Semple (she/her)
CEO/Founder, Plato Learning
Eden Appiah-Kubi (she/her)
Author, Librarian
Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael (she/her)
Director
Gretchen Carvajal (she/her)
Creator of BRWNGRLZ.COM
Ikera Davis (she/her)
Director, Young Gifted & Black
Jessie Blount (she/her)
Podcast host at Hashtag Ruthless Productions
Joelle (she/her)
Writer/Producer
Joy Piedmont (she/her)
High School Teacher
Kaia Alderson (she/her)
Author
Kishana Taylor, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Postdoctoral Associate/Virologist
Mel Perez (she/her)
Librarian
Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)
Writer, Editor, and Podcast Host
Nicole Hill, “Niq” (They/She)
Community Moderator, Black Girls Create
Odochi Ibe (She/Her)
Deputy Editorial Director - Journalist
Polly Irungu (She/Her)
Founder, Black Women Photographers
Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)
Director of Strategic Partnership, Black Girls Create
Ravynn K. Stringfield (she/her)
Scholar (Ph.D. candidate in American Studies) & Writer
Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)
Chief Community Officer, Black Girls Create
Shanna Miles (she/her)
Author/Librarian
Stephanie Williams (she/her)
Writer
Swati Teerdhala (she/her)
Author
Tai Gooden (she/her)
Contributing Editor/Writer for Nerdist, Candlemaker
Tatiana King (she/her)
Host/EiC, For All Nerds