The Brooklyn Academy of Music presents “I Guess It Was My Destiny to Live So Long,” a poetry series curated by Hanif Abdurraqib celebrating June Jordan’s legacy through readings, film and performance from Nov. 18–21.
Curator-at-Large and MacArthur Fellow Hanif Abdurraqib returns to BAM with I Guess It Was My Destiny to Live So Long, a four-day poetry series celebrating the legacy of poet and activist June Jordan.
The program, between Nov. 18 through Nov. 21, gathers an impressive lineup of artists, writers and performers whose work echoes Jordan’s radical politics, fierce love ethic and a vision for collective liberation. The series examines the power of language to heal, challenge and unite communities in urgent times.
Schedule of Events
Stones in the Water
Tuesday, Nov.18, at 7:30pm, Harvey Theater at BAM Strong (651 Fulton Ave). Tickets start at $28
An evening of spoken word and reflection with acclaimed poets Sarah Kay, Anis Mojgani, Clint Smith and Hanif Abdurraqib. Their long-standing tradition of reading together arrives at BAM, highlighting poetry’s power to foster connection, care and community.
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:00pm, BAM Rose Cinemas, Peter Jay Sharp Building (30 Lafayette Ave). Tickets start at $17
A screening of the award-winning documentary Going to Mars, tracing the life and impact of poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, followed by a live reading of her work by a collective of poets. The evening honors Giovanni’s bold voice and lasting influence on American letters.
Zong!
Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7:30pm, The Adam Space, Peter Jay Sharp Building (30 Lafayette Ave). RSVP required
Poet and scholar m. nourbeSe philip presents Zong!, her acclaimed performance piece that transforms the 1781 massacre of enslaved Africans into a haunting act of remembrance. Blending poetry, sound and silence, philip’s work stands as both a memorial and a radical meditation on history, grief and resistance.
Billy Woods with Love Higher
Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:00pm, The Adam Space, Peter Jay Sharp Building (30 Lafayette Ave). RSVP required
Rapper Billy Woods takes the stage in a rare live performance joined by producer and DJ Love Higher. Merging ambient textures with intricate lyricism, the duo crafts a soundscape that explores memory, identity, plus political consciousness.
For more details and ticket information, click here.