There’s an African proverb that says, “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
For the authors Patrice Wade-Johnson and Maisha Howze, that idea is the driving force behind their new initiative and inaugural event, Black Voices Bright Futures.
Held on August 31st at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center in the Hill District, the sold-out literary expo featured eight up-and-coming Pittsburgh authors and six community resources, including the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Scholar House, Community College of Allegheny County’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and others. With interactive activities, book giveaways, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for attendees, it was a joyful day centered around celebrating Black perspectives and promoting literacy within the Black community.
“This initiative was birthed to address a void that exists in Pittsburgh. We recognized the need to have a platform of Black voices, a collective where we can come together and let people know about all of the great works from Pittsburgh-based Black authors.”
Highlights of the event included a children’s author reading and the facilitated panel discussions for women and men where attendees could open up about important issues. Over 120 people attended and Mayor Ed Gainey issued a proclamation recognizing the initiative.
Catapult was a proud sponsor of Black Voices Bright Futures, with the event directly tying into our mission of uplifting Pittsburgh’s underserved communities and giving a platform to the perspectives that often go unnoticed.
Ensuring Black Perspectives are Heard in Education and Business
For Howze and Wade-Johnson, the goal is for Black Voices Bright Futures to not only create pathways to literacy within Black communities but to also address the disparities in access to educational and literary resources authored by Black writers.
“When you look at our educational system, we don’t have a lot of books written by Black authors as part of the curriculum,” said Howze.
Looking ahead, the duo is developing a plan to reach educational and business leaders. They are also curating a reading list for schools and business leaders to ensure that Pittsburgh-based Black authors are included as resources in academic curriculum and professional development trainings. For next year’s event, they want to expand to a larger space with break-out rooms and plan to add a teen author’s panel.
But those hungry for more don’t have to wait until next year, Black Voices Bright Futures will also host quarterly networking meetings for the community to stay connected year-round.
