Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Black writing and storytelling transform cities and the people who occupy cities, particularly during times of civil unrest. In partnership with the Festival of Literary Diversity, join writers and storytellers Jael Richardson, Jay Pitter, Drew Brown, and Eternity Martis for a discussion about Black art, Black joy, and Black experiences in the city, centred around the creation and production of art and the role of art in transforming and reshaping shaping cities.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
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Featured Books and Resources
The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lessons, a Father’s Life by Jael Richardson: adifferentbooklist.com/item/NBxRcFBM7GK8hLgSGKf6Jw
They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up by Eternity Martis: adifferentbooklist.com/item/ssARrWrToAYiQtchONXK-Q
Subdivided: City-Building in an Age of Hyper-Diversity by Jay Pitter: adifferentbooklist.com/item/eICIMlJ6k5G3SPMGVtwr2Q
More from Drew Brown: drewbrownmusic.com
More about the Festival of Literary Diversity: thefoldcanada.org
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
4:40 Defining Black Alchemy
5:18 Different Forms of Storytelling, Identity, & the Importance of Boundaries
21:41 Creating Counter-Narratives
45:40 Influence of Cities on Writing and Story Structure
56:22 Influence of the Pandemic on Storytelling
1:03:38 Defining Black Public Joy
1:06:55 Final Thoughts & Thank You
Black writing and storytelling transform cities and the people who occupy cities, particularly during times of civil unrest. In partnership with the Festival of Literary Diversity, join writers and storytellers Jael Richardson, Jay Pitter, Drew Brown, and Eternity Martis for a discussion about Black art, Black joy, and Black experiences in the city, centred around the creation and production of art and the role of art in transforming and reshaping shaping cities.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
—
Featured Books and Resources
The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lessons, a Father’s Life by Jael Richardson: adifferentbooklist.com/item/NBxRcFBM7GK8hLgSGKf6Jw
They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up by Eternity Martis: adifferentbooklist.com/item/ssARrWrToAYiQtchONXK-Q
Subdivided: City-Building in an Age of Hyper-Diversity by Jay Pitter: adifferentbooklist.com/item/eICIMlJ6k5G3SPMGVtwr2Q
More from Drew Brown: drewbrownmusic.com
More about the Festival of Literary Diversity: thefoldcanada.org
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
—
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
4:40 Defining Black Alchemy
5:18 Different Forms of Storytelling, Identity, & the Importance of Boundaries
21:41 Creating Counter-Narratives
45:40 Influence of Cities on Writing and Story Structure
56:22 Influence of the Pandemic on Storytelling
1:03:38 Defining Black Public Joy
1:06:55 Final Thoughts & Thank You
