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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)

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Amparo Ortiz Amparo Ortiz (she/her)
Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM YouTube

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.

WATCH HERE!

Kortnea Colbert Kortnea Colbert (she/her)
Ikera Davis Ikera Davis (she/her)
Dr. Crystal Bobb-Semple Dr. Crystal Bobb-Semple (she/her)
Donnalie Jamnah, "DJ" (she/they)
Connie Gibbs Connie Gibbs (she/her)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Discord

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!

Donnalie Jamnah, "DJ" (she/they)
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Ravynn K. Stringfield (she/her)
Bezi Yohannes Bezi Yohannes (she/her)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM YouTube

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.

WATCH HERE!

Jesse Blount Jessie Blount (she/her)
Stephanie Williams (she/her)
Mel Perez Mel Perez (she/her)
Joy Piedmont Joy Piedmont (she/her)
Amanda-Rae Prescott (she/her)
Nicole Hill, "Niq" Nicole Hill, "Niq" (They/She)
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Polly Irungu Polly Irungu (She/Her)
Kishana Taylor, Ph.D. Kishana Taylor, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Candice Johnson Candice Johnson (she/her)
Nicole Hill, "Niq" Nicole Hill, "Niq" (They/She)
Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Shanna Miles (she/her)
Swati Teerdhala (she/her)
Eden Appiah-Kubi Eden Appiah-Kubi (she/her)
Delia Delia Gallegos (she/her)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Discord

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.

Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael (she/her)
Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Odochi Ibe Odochi Ibe (She/Her)
Charnelle Charnelle (she/her)
Mx. Talia Franks Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)
Robyn-Renée Jordan (she/they)
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Tatiana King (she/her)
Joelle Monique Joelle (she/her)
Gretchen Carvajal Gretchen Carvajal (she/her)
Candice Wicks-Davis Candice Wicks-Davis (she/her)
Tai Gooden (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Maryum Styles Maryum Styles (She/Her)
Kaia Alderson Kaia Alderson (she/her)
Stacie C. (she/her)
Mel Perez Mel Perez (she/her)
Amanda-Rae Prescott (she/her)
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM YouTube

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!

WATCH HERE!

Porshèa Patterson-Hurst (she/her)
Bayana Davis Bayana Davis (she/her)
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM YouTube

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.

WATCH HERE!

Jesse Blount Jessie Blount (she/her)
Brittany Shropshire Brittany Shropshire (she/her)
Mx. Talia Franks Mx. Talia Franks (they/them)
Mel Perez Mel Perez (she/her)
Connie Gibbs Connie Gibbs (she/her)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Discord

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.)

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Discord

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

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

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

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

Joy Piedmont (she/her)

High School Teacher

Kishana Taylor, Ph.D. (She/Her)

Postdoctoral Associate/Virologist

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

Tai Gooden (she/her)

Contributing Editor/Writer for Nerdist, Candlemaker

Tatiana King (she/her)

Host/EiC, For All Nerds

Check out panels from Kuumba Kickback 2021!