The Black Butterfly demonstrates that America cannot reflect that Black Lives Matter until we see how Black neighborhoods matter.” Trust us, you don’t want to miss the last Baltimore Butterfly Session of the season! We’ll be joined by Dr. Lawrence Brown, author of The Black Butterfly: the harmful politics of race and space in America, whose research inspired the name for this series, for a powerful keynote on the inception of the theory behind The Black Butterfly. Featuring music by Baltimore’s own Eze Jackson, poetry by Black Arts District founder and internationally recognized poet Lady Brion, and more, we’ll leave with tangible ideas for how to make Baltimore a more racially equitable city.
This event is free, please reserve your seat by clicking book tickets above.
The event is full at 200 attendees, so please arrive early to guarantee admission. RSVP alone does not guarantee admission to the event, there is a limited capacity – first come, first served.
Dr. Lawrence T Brown, Keynote Speaker
Lawrence T. Brown is the author of the book The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in January 2021. The Black Butterfly was the #1 selling book in 2021 at three independent bookstores in Baltimore City: Urban Reads Bookstore, Greedy Reads, and Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse. The audiobook is also now available on multiple platforms.
Dr. Brown is currently a research scientist in the new Center for Urban Health Equity at Morgan State University where he is leading the Black Butterfly Rising Initiative. The initiative is focused on making Black neighborhoods matter. He is also in the process of outlining his next book, tentatively entitled Building the Abolition Democracy.
Lady Brion, Poet
Lady Brion is an international spoken word artist, curator, activist, organizer, educator and the executive director of the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District. She received her B.A. in Communication and Culture from Howard University and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore. During her slam career she has won the 2016 National Poetry Slam, the 2017/2019 Southern Fried Regional Slam, and the 2019 Rustbelt Regional Slam. Most recently she became the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion and International Poetry Slam Champion (team slam) in April 2021. In 2018, she published a book and accompanying album called With My Head Unbowed. Lady Brion also serves on the board for DewMore Baltimore and as the Cultural Curator for a grassroots political think-tank called Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle in Baltimore.
Eze Jackson, Musician
Eze Jackson is an Emcee, Producer, and community organizer. He recently founded the record label/collective EPIC FAM. As the frontman of the hip-hop/fusion band Soul Cannon as well as a solo artist, he has toured the US and released 6 projects independently, bringing high energy and forward-thinking lyrics to almost any musical challenge. His most recent solo album, “Fool”, has been well received in Baltimore & surrounding areas with critical acclaim from Media and fans.
Under the moniker “Ezewriter”, Eze’s prolific ability to tell stories and paint pictures, has allowed him to stand out as a writer for all genres of local music, stage, tv & film projects. Eze is the Founder, Creator, and Chief Visionary Officer of EPIC FAM. EPIC FAM is a Baltimore-based Entertainment & Media company, unifying a collective of the City’s best multi-genre musical artists and arts & culture creatives. He is the proud and doting father of three beautiful daughters, Selah, Sarai, and Zadie.
The Baltimore Butterfly Sessions: A civic dialogue series at BCS
Inspired by Citizen University’s Civic Saturdays, The Baltimore Butterfly Sessions will bring together music, poetry, literary excerpts and thought-provoking keynote addresses to catalyze conversation and build awareness around today’s most pressing issues. Tapping into some of the brightest voices around the nation and in Baltimore, each Butterfly Session will convene artists, activists, organizers and thinkers to unpack a civically resonant topic. Through the Baltimore Butterfly Sessions, BCS aims to create a space for civic dialogue & fellowship across differences and stay firmly rooted in our local community. Come for the music, come for the poetry, come for the conversation.
Why “The Baltimore Butterfly Sessions”?
A symbol of growth and emergence, transformation and borderless migration, butterflies remind us that tiny shifts in one place can set profound change in motion. Butterflies also have a special resonance in Baltimore. You may or may not know that the city of Baltimore is sometimes referred to as a “Black Butterfly and White L.” According to Dr. Lawrence Brown of Morgan State University, “Baltimore’s hypersegregated neighborhoods experience radically different realities.” Typically, Black neighborhoods fan out to the east and west resembling the shape of a butterfly while white neighborhoods run down the center of the city in the shape of an “L.”
Through the Baltimore Butterfly Sessions, BCS aims to create a space for civic dialogue & fellowship across difference and stay firmly rooted in our local community.
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