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9
WED
-
30
SAT
Sacred Spaces: The Legacy of Black Churches in Cherokee County
April 9 – August 30, 2025
Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
221 East Marietta Street, Canton, GA 30114, USA
Description
Black churches in Cherokee County, born from the resilience of the enslaved and newly freed in the 1800s, became far more than places of worship—they were the beating heart of the Black community. These sacred spaces nurtured minds with education, empowered voices in political and social movements, and provided a sanctuary where culture and faith thrived. From uplifting sermons and joyous fifth Sunday gatherings to shared meals and unwavering support, these churches embodied strength, unity, and the unshakable spirit of a people determined to rise.
The Cherokee County History is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. Please check historycherokee.org for updates on hours.
The Cherokee County History is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. Please check historycherokee.org for updates on hours.
Description
Black churches in Cherokee County, born from the resilience of the enslaved and newly freed in the 1800s, became far more than places of worship—they were the beating heart of the Black community. These sacred spaces nurtured minds with education, empowered voices in political and social movements, and provided a sanctuary where culture and faith thrived. From uplifting sermons and joyous fifth Sunday gatherings to shared meals and unwavering support, these churches embodied strength, unity, and the unshakable spirit of a people determined to rise.
The Cherokee County History is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. Please check historycherokee.org for updates on hours.
The Cherokee County History is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. Please check historycherokee.org for updates on hours.
21
MON
-
30
FRI
NYC By Way of EAV > The Pub @ EAV's Bodega Bar Pop-Up
April 21 – May 30, 2025
every Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
469 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316, USA
Description
The Pub @ EAV, Atlanta's most unapologetically unconventional pub, serves up a taste of the Big Apple every Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Trading pints for pastrami, The Pub hands over its keys to Bodega Bar—an Atlanta-born, NYC-inspired pop-up—for a weekly takeover that brings the flavors and energy of the city's bustling streets to the heart of East Atlanta Village. Known for reimagining some of the city's most iconic eats, Bodega Bar dishes out a rotating menu of everything from deli fare and street food favorites to cocktails that keep up the pace, all served with a side of late-night energy and NYC hip-hop. Each week presents a new menu with the same no-rules, all-flavor attitude—in the city that never sleeps, why should the kitchen? The Pub @ EAV is located at 469 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Stay updated at www.eavpub.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @eavpub.
Description
The Pub @ EAV, Atlanta's most unapologetically unconventional pub, serves up a taste of the Big Apple every Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Trading pints for pastrami, The Pub hands over its keys to Bodega Bar—an Atlanta-born, NYC-inspired pop-up—for a weekly takeover that brings the flavors and energy of the city's bustling streets to the heart of East Atlanta Village. Known for reimagining some of the city's most iconic eats, Bodega Bar dishes out a rotating menu of everything from deli fare and street food favorites to cocktails that keep up the pace, all served with a side of late-night energy and NYC hip-hop. Each week presents a new menu with the same no-rules, all-flavor attitude—in the city that never sleeps, why should the kitchen? The Pub @ EAV is located at 469 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Stay updated at www.eavpub.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @eavpub.
2025 May
22
THU
-
26
SAT
"We Are Music" Photo Exhibit
May 22 – July 26, 2025
05:00 PM - 05:00 PM
399 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30312, USA
Description
"We Are Music" is a special photo exhibition featuring the works of veteran Atlanta photographers Jim Alexander and Sue Ross. The collection features more than five decades of Black musicians and performers at pivotal moments in Atlanta's history.
The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception on May 22 to coincide with Atlanta Jazz Festival this weekend and leading into Black Music Month in June. Guests can see the images until July 26.
The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception on May 22 to coincide with Atlanta Jazz Festival this weekend and leading into Black Music Month in June. Guests can see the images until July 26.
Description
"We Are Music" is a special photo exhibition featuring the works of veteran Atlanta photographers Jim Alexander and Sue Ross. The collection features more than five decades of Black musicians and performers at pivotal moments in Atlanta's history.
The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception on May 22 to coincide with Atlanta Jazz Festival this weekend and leading into Black Music Month in June. Guests can see the images until July 26.
The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception on May 22 to coincide with Atlanta Jazz Festival this weekend and leading into Black Music Month in June. Guests can see the images until July 26.
27
TUE
-
8
SUN
Atlanta Fringe Festival 2025
May 27 – June 8, 2025
All day
Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
Description
The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns May 27 – June 8, 2025, with its biggest lineup yet, featuring 80 performance groups and over 400 live shows across 10 venues in Atlanta. This year’s festival expands to two weeks, offering an eclectic mix of theater, comedy, dance, puppetry, and more, including international acts and street performances. Additional highlights include Kid Fringe (May 31 – June 1 & June 7 – 8), a free, family-friendly series with performances and activities, and Atlanta Street Fringe (May 31 – June 1 & June 7 – 8), an outdoor showcase in Little 5 Points. On June 2, the festival presents Five/5ths of The Fifth Element, a unique multi-genre retelling of the cult classic film.
Description
The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns May 27 – June 8, 2025, with its biggest lineup yet, featuring 80 performance groups and over 400 live shows across 10 venues in Atlanta. This year’s festival expands to two weeks, offering an eclectic mix of theater, comedy, dance, puppetry, and more, including international acts and street performances. Additional highlights include Kid Fringe (May 31 – June 1 & June 7 – 8), a free, family-friendly series with performances and activities, and Atlanta Street Fringe (May 31 – June 1 & June 7 – 8), an outdoor showcase in Little 5 Points. On June 2, the festival presents Five/5ths of The Fifth Element, a unique multi-genre retelling of the cult classic film.
30
FRI
Natural Indigo Dyeing Pop-up Workshop
May 30, 2025
05:00 PM
3115 E. Shadowlawn Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30324, USA
Description
Join us at Heavy Market for a hands-on natural indigo dye workshop in collaboration with All We Remember, a Chicago-based design collective rooted in craft, memory, and responsibility. Together, we'll explore the meditative art of natural dyeing-transforming garments and textiles using deep shades of blue from the historic indigo plant.
Why Indigo?
Used for centuries across continents, indigo was once more valuable than gold. It carries stories of tradition, resistance, and creative expression — from West Africa to Japan to the Americas. Today, the plant-based process still holds power: slow, intentional, and rooted in memory.
Why Indigo?
Used for centuries across continents, indigo was once more valuable than gold. It carries stories of tradition, resistance, and creative expression — from West Africa to Japan to the Americas. Today, the plant-based process still holds power: slow, intentional, and rooted in memory.
Description
Join us at Heavy Market for a hands-on natural indigo dye workshop in collaboration with All We Remember, a Chicago-based design collective rooted in craft, memory, and responsibility. Together, we'll explore the meditative art of natural dyeing-transforming garments and textiles using deep shades of blue from the historic indigo plant.
Why Indigo?
Used for centuries across continents, indigo was once more valuable than gold. It carries stories of tradition, resistance, and creative expression — from West Africa to Japan to the Americas. Today, the plant-based process still holds power: slow, intentional, and rooted in memory.
Why Indigo?
Used for centuries across continents, indigo was once more valuable than gold. It carries stories of tradition, resistance, and creative expression — from West Africa to Japan to the Americas. Today, the plant-based process still holds power: slow, intentional, and rooted in memory.
31
SAT
-
1
SUN
Blavity Fest
May 31 – June 1, 2025
10AM - 3PM Sat, 10AM - Noon Sun
1020 White St. SW, Atlanta, GA. 30310, USA
Description
Two Day Experience
Blavity Fest highlights Black ideas and creativity, amplifies thought-provoking conversations, and celebrates the culture with cross-generational talent, influential voices, music performances, and the signature Blavity vibes.
Blavity Fest highlights Black ideas and creativity, amplifies thought-provoking conversations, and celebrates the culture with cross-generational talent, influential voices, music performances, and the signature Blavity vibes.
Description
Two Day Experience
Blavity Fest highlights Black ideas and creativity, amplifies thought-provoking conversations, and celebrates the culture with cross-generational talent, influential voices, music performances, and the signature Blavity vibes.
Blavity Fest highlights Black ideas and creativity, amplifies thought-provoking conversations, and celebrates the culture with cross-generational talent, influential voices, music performances, and the signature Blavity vibes.
31
SAT
Southern Soul Brunch Ft. Kasper & The 911 Band
May 31, 2025
11:00 AM
650 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
Description
Kasper and the 911 Band was formed in 2000 by Kasper Rouser, lead guitarist, and leader of the band.
It consists of a 4-piece rhythm section, keys, drums, bass guitar, and lead guitar, as well as 3 dynamic singers, that can bring you all styles of music, from Motown to Pop, to R&B and Rock.
Primarily known as a dance and party band who has the distinction of being the only local none recording act to open many major festivals like the KISS 104.1 flashback festival with eighteen thousand people (twice) to the Atlanta Peach drop on New Years Eve, to The Wolf Creek Amphitheater to Chastain Park, and as the party band for the Capital Jazz Cruise, as well as headlining the Mayor of Atlanta's Seniors Ball.
It consists of a 4-piece rhythm section, keys, drums, bass guitar, and lead guitar, as well as 3 dynamic singers, that can bring you all styles of music, from Motown to Pop, to R&B and Rock.
Primarily known as a dance and party band who has the distinction of being the only local none recording act to open many major festivals like the KISS 104.1 flashback festival with eighteen thousand people (twice) to the Atlanta Peach drop on New Years Eve, to The Wolf Creek Amphitheater to Chastain Park, and as the party band for the Capital Jazz Cruise, as well as headlining the Mayor of Atlanta's Seniors Ball.
Description
Kasper and the 911 Band was formed in 2000 by Kasper Rouser, lead guitarist, and leader of the band.
It consists of a 4-piece rhythm section, keys, drums, bass guitar, and lead guitar, as well as 3 dynamic singers, that can bring you all styles of music, from Motown to Pop, to R&B and Rock.
Primarily known as a dance and party band who has the distinction of being the only local none recording act to open many major festivals like the KISS 104.1 flashback festival with eighteen thousand people (twice) to the Atlanta Peach drop on New Years Eve, to The Wolf Creek Amphitheater to Chastain Park, and as the party band for the Capital Jazz Cruise, as well as headlining the Mayor of Atlanta's Seniors Ball.
It consists of a 4-piece rhythm section, keys, drums, bass guitar, and lead guitar, as well as 3 dynamic singers, that can bring you all styles of music, from Motown to Pop, to R&B and Rock.
Primarily known as a dance and party band who has the distinction of being the only local none recording act to open many major festivals like the KISS 104.1 flashback festival with eighteen thousand people (twice) to the Atlanta Peach drop on New Years Eve, to The Wolf Creek Amphitheater to Chastain Park, and as the party band for the Capital Jazz Cruise, as well as headlining the Mayor of Atlanta's Seniors Ball.
31
SAT
Suwanee Town Center Jazz, Blues & BBQ Summer Concert
May 31, 2025
04:00 PM - 10:00 PM
330 Town Center Avenue Northwest, Suwanee, GA 30024
Description
Welcome to the **Jazz, Blues & BBQ Summer Concert** in Suwanee, GA! Get ready for a fun-filled evening of live music, delicious BBQ, and great company. Join us at Suwanee Town Center on **Sat, May 31, 2025** at **4:00 PM** for a night to remember with The Edwin Williams Experience & Grupo Mazacote. Food Trucks! Vendors!
FREE EVENT!
FREE EVENT!
Description
Welcome to the **Jazz, Blues & BBQ Summer Concert** in Suwanee, GA! Get ready for a fun-filled evening of live music, delicious BBQ, and great company. Join us at Suwanee Town Center on **Sat, May 31, 2025** at **4:00 PM** for a night to remember with The Edwin Williams Experience & Grupo Mazacote. Food Trucks! Vendors!
FREE EVENT!
FREE EVENT!
2025 June
1
SUN
Black Feminist Book Club Reads: Parable of the Sower (with Susana Morris!)
June 1, 2025
03:00 PM
184 S. Candler St. , , Decatur, GA 30030 , USA
Description
The Charis Black Feminist Book Club Returns! Many of you told us you missed participating in the first iteration of this book club, hosted by Dr. Susana Morris. We are excited to bring back The Black Feminist Book Club with former Charis bookseller, Yemisi Combahee at the helm! For all you Susana fans - she'll be joining us for this meeting!
This group will now meet regularly in-person at Charis on the first Sunday of each month at 3pm.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate online at www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.
About the book club:
The Black Feminist Book Club reads books written by Black transgender, gender expansive, and/or women writers, which center the liberation, struggle, and lived experiences of oppressed people/marginalized groups through a Black feminist perspective. The group celebrates classic and contemporary Black authors of fiction and nonfiction, all in the comfort of a historic feminist bookstore where many of these authors once read or shared their works! Our goal is for these texts to be welcoming and accessible regardless of your background or familiarity with the books.Yemisi Combahee, a senior organizer with Black Feminist Future is the facilitator of this group. All community members are invited to attend with the acknowledgment that this is a space that centers Black women and gender expansive folks' thoughts, creativity, and lived experiences. We encourage folks to read the months book before our gathering but it is not required - come as you are, regardless of how much you've read!
About our June book pick
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.
Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
About our June special guest
Our meeting will be joined by Susana Morris, author of the forthcoming biography, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (August 2025).
Susana Morris, PhD is a queer daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a scholar of Black feminism and a cultural critic who has dedicated her career to studying the interior lives of Black women. She is an associate professor of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. A former Anschutz Distinguished Fellow at Princeton University and Norman Freeling Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan, she is the author of Close Kin and Distant Relatives: The Paradox of Respectability in Black Women's Literature and co-founder of The Crunk Feminist Collective. Her other works include the co-edited collection The Crunk Feminist Collection and the co-authored young adult handbook Feminist AF: The Guide to Crushing Girlhood. Her writing has appeared in Gawker, Long Reads, Cosmopolitan.com, and Ebony.com, and she has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and in Essence magazine. Her forthcoming book, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler will be published in August. Susana was honored to serve as the board chair of Charis Circle, the non-profit programming arm of Charis Books & More, for eight years.
Upcoming Books:
July: My Country, Africa by Andreé Blouin
August: Zami by Audre Lorde
September: A Fighting Dream: The Political Writings of Claudia Jones
October: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
November: We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
In-person event guidelines:
All attendees must wear a face mask.
We will begin seating people at 2:45 PM ET.
As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304
By attending our event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to info@chariscircle.org immediately.
This group will now meet regularly in-person at Charis on the first Sunday of each month at 3pm.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate online at www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.
About the book club:
The Black Feminist Book Club reads books written by Black transgender, gender expansive, and/or women writers, which center the liberation, struggle, and lived experiences of oppressed people/marginalized groups through a Black feminist perspective. The group celebrates classic and contemporary Black authors of fiction and nonfiction, all in the comfort of a historic feminist bookstore where many of these authors once read or shared their works! Our goal is for these texts to be welcoming and accessible regardless of your background or familiarity with the books.Yemisi Combahee, a senior organizer with Black Feminist Future is the facilitator of this group. All community members are invited to attend with the acknowledgment that this is a space that centers Black women and gender expansive folks' thoughts, creativity, and lived experiences. We encourage folks to read the months book before our gathering but it is not required - come as you are, regardless of how much you've read!
About our June book pick
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.
Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
About our June special guest
Our meeting will be joined by Susana Morris, author of the forthcoming biography, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (August 2025).
Susana Morris, PhD is a queer daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a scholar of Black feminism and a cultural critic who has dedicated her career to studying the interior lives of Black women. She is an associate professor of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. A former Anschutz Distinguished Fellow at Princeton University and Norman Freeling Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan, she is the author of Close Kin and Distant Relatives: The Paradox of Respectability in Black Women's Literature and co-founder of The Crunk Feminist Collective. Her other works include the co-edited collection The Crunk Feminist Collection and the co-authored young adult handbook Feminist AF: The Guide to Crushing Girlhood. Her writing has appeared in Gawker, Long Reads, Cosmopolitan.com, and Ebony.com, and she has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and in Essence magazine. Her forthcoming book, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler will be published in August. Susana was honored to serve as the board chair of Charis Circle, the non-profit programming arm of Charis Books & More, for eight years.
Upcoming Books:
July: My Country, Africa by Andreé Blouin
August: Zami by Audre Lorde
September: A Fighting Dream: The Political Writings of Claudia Jones
October: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
November: We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
In-person event guidelines:
All attendees must wear a face mask.
We will begin seating people at 2:45 PM ET.
As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304
By attending our event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to info@chariscircle.org immediately.
Description
The Charis Black Feminist Book Club Returns! Many of you told us you missed participating in the first iteration of this book club, hosted by Dr. Susana Morris. We are excited to bring back The Black Feminist Book Club with former Charis bookseller, Yemisi Combahee at the helm! For all you Susana fans - she'll be joining us for this meeting!
This group will now meet regularly in-person at Charis on the first Sunday of each month at 3pm.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate online at www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.
About the book club:
The Black Feminist Book Club reads books written by Black transgender, gender expansive, and/or women writers, which center the liberation, struggle, and lived experiences of oppressed people/marginalized groups through a Black feminist perspective. The group celebrates classic and contemporary Black authors of fiction and nonfiction, all in the comfort of a historic feminist bookstore where many of these authors once read or shared their works! Our goal is for these texts to be welcoming and accessible regardless of your background or familiarity with the books.Yemisi Combahee, a senior organizer with Black Feminist Future is the facilitator of this group. All community members are invited to attend with the acknowledgment that this is a space that centers Black women and gender expansive folks' thoughts, creativity, and lived experiences. We encourage folks to read the months book before our gathering but it is not required - come as you are, regardless of how much you've read!
About our June book pick
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.
Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
About our June special guest
Our meeting will be joined by Susana Morris, author of the forthcoming biography, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (August 2025).
Susana Morris, PhD is a queer daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a scholar of Black feminism and a cultural critic who has dedicated her career to studying the interior lives of Black women. She is an associate professor of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. A former Anschutz Distinguished Fellow at Princeton University and Norman Freeling Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan, she is the author of Close Kin and Distant Relatives: The Paradox of Respectability in Black Women's Literature and co-founder of The Crunk Feminist Collective. Her other works include the co-edited collection The Crunk Feminist Collection and the co-authored young adult handbook Feminist AF: The Guide to Crushing Girlhood. Her writing has appeared in Gawker, Long Reads, Cosmopolitan.com, and Ebony.com, and she has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and in Essence magazine. Her forthcoming book, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler will be published in August. Susana was honored to serve as the board chair of Charis Circle, the non-profit programming arm of Charis Books & More, for eight years.
Upcoming Books:
July: My Country, Africa by Andreé Blouin
August: Zami by Audre Lorde
September: A Fighting Dream: The Political Writings of Claudia Jones
October: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
November: We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
In-person event guidelines:
All attendees must wear a face mask.
We will begin seating people at 2:45 PM ET.
As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304
By attending our event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to info@chariscircle.org immediately.
This group will now meet regularly in-person at Charis on the first Sunday of each month at 3pm.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate online at www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.
About the book club:
The Black Feminist Book Club reads books written by Black transgender, gender expansive, and/or women writers, which center the liberation, struggle, and lived experiences of oppressed people/marginalized groups through a Black feminist perspective. The group celebrates classic and contemporary Black authors of fiction and nonfiction, all in the comfort of a historic feminist bookstore where many of these authors once read or shared their works! Our goal is for these texts to be welcoming and accessible regardless of your background or familiarity with the books.Yemisi Combahee, a senior organizer with Black Feminist Future is the facilitator of this group. All community members are invited to attend with the acknowledgment that this is a space that centers Black women and gender expansive folks' thoughts, creativity, and lived experiences. We encourage folks to read the months book before our gathering but it is not required - come as you are, regardless of how much you've read!
About our June book pick
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.
Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
About our June special guest
Our meeting will be joined by Susana Morris, author of the forthcoming biography, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (August 2025).
Susana Morris, PhD is a queer daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a scholar of Black feminism and a cultural critic who has dedicated her career to studying the interior lives of Black women. She is an associate professor of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. A former Anschutz Distinguished Fellow at Princeton University and Norman Freeling Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan, she is the author of Close Kin and Distant Relatives: The Paradox of Respectability in Black Women's Literature and co-founder of The Crunk Feminist Collective. Her other works include the co-edited collection The Crunk Feminist Collection and the co-authored young adult handbook Feminist AF: The Guide to Crushing Girlhood. Her writing has appeared in Gawker, Long Reads, Cosmopolitan.com, and Ebony.com, and she has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and in Essence magazine. Her forthcoming book, Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler will be published in August. Susana was honored to serve as the board chair of Charis Circle, the non-profit programming arm of Charis Books & More, for eight years.
Upcoming Books:
July: My Country, Africa by Andreé Blouin
August: Zami by Audre Lorde
September: A Fighting Dream: The Political Writings of Claudia Jones
October: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
November: We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
In-person event guidelines:
All attendees must wear a face mask.
We will begin seating people at 2:45 PM ET.
As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304
By attending our event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to info@chariscircle.org immediately.
2
MON
The Catch: Yrsa Daley-Ward in conversation with Tina Leung
June 2, 2025
07:30 PM
Atlanta, GA
Description
This event takes place on Crowdcast, Charis' virtual event platform. This event is free, but registration is required for virtual attendance. Register here.
Charis welcomes Yrsa Daley-Ward in conversation with Tina Leung for a discussion of The Catch, a darkly whimsical tale of women daring to live and create with impunity. Yrsa will be introduced by Glory Edim, who acquired The Catch for the Well-Read Black Girl series in partnership with Liveright Publishing.
Twin sisters Clara and Dempsey have always struggled to relate, their familial bond severed after their mother vanished into the Thames. As infants they were adopted into different families, Clara sent to live with a successful, upper-class couple, and Dempsey with a sullen, unaffectionate city councilor. In adulthood, they are content to be all but estranged, until Clara sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother on the streets of London. The catch: this version of Serene, aged not a day, has enjoyed a childless life—the very life, it seems, she might have had if the girls had never been born.
As with most things, Clara and Dempsey cannot see eye to eye on the confounding appearance of this woman. Clara, a celebrity author with a penchant for excessive drinking and one-night stands, is all too willing to welcome the confident and temperamental Serene into her home. But cloistered Dempsey, who makes a modest living doing menial data entry work from the confines of her apartment, is dubious of the whole situation, believing this all to be the insidious ruse of a con woman. Clashing over this stranger who burrows deeper and deeper into their lives, the sisters hurtle toward an altercation that threatens their very existence, forcing them to finally confront their pasts—together.
In her riveting first foray into fiction, Yrsa Daley-Ward conjures a kaleidoscopic multiverse of daughterhood and mother-want, exploring the sacrifices that women must make for self-actualization. The result is a marvel of a debut novel that boldly asks, “How can it ever, ever be a crime to choose yourself?”
About the Author
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a poet, writer, and actress. She is the author of The How, bone, and The Terrible, for which she won the PEN Ackerley Prize. She lives in Los Angeles. The Catch is her debut novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Tina Leung is a multihyphenate known for her vibrant aesthetic and keen eye. With a background in styling, she has worked with numerous high-profile brands and magazines. Tina is also recognized for her engaging social media presence, where she shares her unique style and travel adventures. She has built a loyal following by promoting inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. Tina and her friends Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Phillip Lim, and Ezra William created House of Slay during the lockdown—an advocacy group for the AANHPI community with a mission to amplify the voices, visibility, and representation of the diaspora and beyond. In addition to her work in fashion, Tina is an advocate for mental health awareness and women’s rights. She curated and edited Bulgari’s tome Magnifica: The Power Women Hold in 2021, balancing glamour with stories steeped in women’s empowerment. She starred in the reality series Bling Empire New York and was a fan favorite for her vulnerability. Her dynamic approach to fashion and life continues to inspire many around the world.
About the Introducer
Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a podcast and digital literacy platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. She edited the Well-Read Black Girl anthology, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and named a best book of the year by Library Journal. Her book On Girlhood is a collection of groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. The winner of the Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Edim worked as a cultural practitioner for over ten years and serves on the board of Baldwin for the Arts. Her memoir, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, was released in 2024. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on Crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate.
Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. If you would like to watch the event with live AI captions, you may do so by watching it in Google Chrome and enabling captions: Instructions here. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org.
By attending our event, whether in person or virtually, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.
Charis welcomes Yrsa Daley-Ward in conversation with Tina Leung for a discussion of The Catch, a darkly whimsical tale of women daring to live and create with impunity. Yrsa will be introduced by Glory Edim, who acquired The Catch for the Well-Read Black Girl series in partnership with Liveright Publishing.
Twin sisters Clara and Dempsey have always struggled to relate, their familial bond severed after their mother vanished into the Thames. As infants they were adopted into different families, Clara sent to live with a successful, upper-class couple, and Dempsey with a sullen, unaffectionate city councilor. In adulthood, they are content to be all but estranged, until Clara sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother on the streets of London. The catch: this version of Serene, aged not a day, has enjoyed a childless life—the very life, it seems, she might have had if the girls had never been born.
As with most things, Clara and Dempsey cannot see eye to eye on the confounding appearance of this woman. Clara, a celebrity author with a penchant for excessive drinking and one-night stands, is all too willing to welcome the confident and temperamental Serene into her home. But cloistered Dempsey, who makes a modest living doing menial data entry work from the confines of her apartment, is dubious of the whole situation, believing this all to be the insidious ruse of a con woman. Clashing over this stranger who burrows deeper and deeper into their lives, the sisters hurtle toward an altercation that threatens their very existence, forcing them to finally confront their pasts—together.
In her riveting first foray into fiction, Yrsa Daley-Ward conjures a kaleidoscopic multiverse of daughterhood and mother-want, exploring the sacrifices that women must make for self-actualization. The result is a marvel of a debut novel that boldly asks, “How can it ever, ever be a crime to choose yourself?”
About the Author
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a poet, writer, and actress. She is the author of The How, bone, and The Terrible, for which she won the PEN Ackerley Prize. She lives in Los Angeles. The Catch is her debut novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Tina Leung is a multihyphenate known for her vibrant aesthetic and keen eye. With a background in styling, she has worked with numerous high-profile brands and magazines. Tina is also recognized for her engaging social media presence, where she shares her unique style and travel adventures. She has built a loyal following by promoting inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. Tina and her friends Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Phillip Lim, and Ezra William created House of Slay during the lockdown—an advocacy group for the AANHPI community with a mission to amplify the voices, visibility, and representation of the diaspora and beyond. In addition to her work in fashion, Tina is an advocate for mental health awareness and women’s rights. She curated and edited Bulgari’s tome Magnifica: The Power Women Hold in 2021, balancing glamour with stories steeped in women’s empowerment. She starred in the reality series Bling Empire New York and was a fan favorite for her vulnerability. Her dynamic approach to fashion and life continues to inspire many around the world.
About the Introducer
Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a podcast and digital literacy platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. She edited the Well-Read Black Girl anthology, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and named a best book of the year by Library Journal. Her book On Girlhood is a collection of groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. The winner of the Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Edim worked as a cultural practitioner for over ten years and serves on the board of Baldwin for the Arts. Her memoir, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, was released in 2024. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on Crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate.
Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. If you would like to watch the event with live AI captions, you may do so by watching it in Google Chrome and enabling captions: Instructions here. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org.
By attending our event, whether in person or virtually, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.
Description
This event takes place on Crowdcast, Charis' virtual event platform. This event is free, but registration is required for virtual attendance. Register here.
Charis welcomes Yrsa Daley-Ward in conversation with Tina Leung for a discussion of The Catch, a darkly whimsical tale of women daring to live and create with impunity. Yrsa will be introduced by Glory Edim, who acquired The Catch for the Well-Read Black Girl series in partnership with Liveright Publishing.
Twin sisters Clara and Dempsey have always struggled to relate, their familial bond severed after their mother vanished into the Thames. As infants they were adopted into different families, Clara sent to live with a successful, upper-class couple, and Dempsey with a sullen, unaffectionate city councilor. In adulthood, they are content to be all but estranged, until Clara sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother on the streets of London. The catch: this version of Serene, aged not a day, has enjoyed a childless life—the very life, it seems, she might have had if the girls had never been born.
As with most things, Clara and Dempsey cannot see eye to eye on the confounding appearance of this woman. Clara, a celebrity author with a penchant for excessive drinking and one-night stands, is all too willing to welcome the confident and temperamental Serene into her home. But cloistered Dempsey, who makes a modest living doing menial data entry work from the confines of her apartment, is dubious of the whole situation, believing this all to be the insidious ruse of a con woman. Clashing over this stranger who burrows deeper and deeper into their lives, the sisters hurtle toward an altercation that threatens their very existence, forcing them to finally confront their pasts—together.
In her riveting first foray into fiction, Yrsa Daley-Ward conjures a kaleidoscopic multiverse of daughterhood and mother-want, exploring the sacrifices that women must make for self-actualization. The result is a marvel of a debut novel that boldly asks, “How can it ever, ever be a crime to choose yourself?”
About the Author
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a poet, writer, and actress. She is the author of The How, bone, and The Terrible, for which she won the PEN Ackerley Prize. She lives in Los Angeles. The Catch is her debut novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Tina Leung is a multihyphenate known for her vibrant aesthetic and keen eye. With a background in styling, she has worked with numerous high-profile brands and magazines. Tina is also recognized for her engaging social media presence, where she shares her unique style and travel adventures. She has built a loyal following by promoting inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. Tina and her friends Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Phillip Lim, and Ezra William created House of Slay during the lockdown—an advocacy group for the AANHPI community with a mission to amplify the voices, visibility, and representation of the diaspora and beyond. In addition to her work in fashion, Tina is an advocate for mental health awareness and women’s rights. She curated and edited Bulgari’s tome Magnifica: The Power Women Hold in 2021, balancing glamour with stories steeped in women’s empowerment. She starred in the reality series Bling Empire New York and was a fan favorite for her vulnerability. Her dynamic approach to fashion and life continues to inspire many around the world.
About the Introducer
Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a podcast and digital literacy platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. She edited the Well-Read Black Girl anthology, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and named a best book of the year by Library Journal. Her book On Girlhood is a collection of groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. The winner of the Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Edim worked as a cultural practitioner for over ten years and serves on the board of Baldwin for the Arts. Her memoir, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, was released in 2024. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on Crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate.
Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. If you would like to watch the event with live AI captions, you may do so by watching it in Google Chrome and enabling captions: Instructions here. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org.
By attending our event, whether in person or virtually, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.
Charis welcomes Yrsa Daley-Ward in conversation with Tina Leung for a discussion of The Catch, a darkly whimsical tale of women daring to live and create with impunity. Yrsa will be introduced by Glory Edim, who acquired The Catch for the Well-Read Black Girl series in partnership with Liveright Publishing.
Twin sisters Clara and Dempsey have always struggled to relate, their familial bond severed after their mother vanished into the Thames. As infants they were adopted into different families, Clara sent to live with a successful, upper-class couple, and Dempsey with a sullen, unaffectionate city councilor. In adulthood, they are content to be all but estranged, until Clara sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother on the streets of London. The catch: this version of Serene, aged not a day, has enjoyed a childless life—the very life, it seems, she might have had if the girls had never been born.
As with most things, Clara and Dempsey cannot see eye to eye on the confounding appearance of this woman. Clara, a celebrity author with a penchant for excessive drinking and one-night stands, is all too willing to welcome the confident and temperamental Serene into her home. But cloistered Dempsey, who makes a modest living doing menial data entry work from the confines of her apartment, is dubious of the whole situation, believing this all to be the insidious ruse of a con woman. Clashing over this stranger who burrows deeper and deeper into their lives, the sisters hurtle toward an altercation that threatens their very existence, forcing them to finally confront their pasts—together.
In her riveting first foray into fiction, Yrsa Daley-Ward conjures a kaleidoscopic multiverse of daughterhood and mother-want, exploring the sacrifices that women must make for self-actualization. The result is a marvel of a debut novel that boldly asks, “How can it ever, ever be a crime to choose yourself?”
About the Author
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a poet, writer, and actress. She is the author of The How, bone, and The Terrible, for which she won the PEN Ackerley Prize. She lives in Los Angeles. The Catch is her debut novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Tina Leung is a multihyphenate known for her vibrant aesthetic and keen eye. With a background in styling, she has worked with numerous high-profile brands and magazines. Tina is also recognized for her engaging social media presence, where she shares her unique style and travel adventures. She has built a loyal following by promoting inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. Tina and her friends Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Phillip Lim, and Ezra William created House of Slay during the lockdown—an advocacy group for the AANHPI community with a mission to amplify the voices, visibility, and representation of the diaspora and beyond. In addition to her work in fashion, Tina is an advocate for mental health awareness and women’s rights. She curated and edited Bulgari’s tome Magnifica: The Power Women Hold in 2021, balancing glamour with stories steeped in women’s empowerment. She starred in the reality series Bling Empire New York and was a fan favorite for her vulnerability. Her dynamic approach to fashion and life continues to inspire many around the world.
About the Introducer
Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a podcast and digital literacy platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. She edited the Well-Read Black Girl anthology, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and named a best book of the year by Library Journal. Her book On Girlhood is a collection of groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. The winner of the Innovator's Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, Edim worked as a cultural practitioner for over ten years and serves on the board of Baldwin for the Arts. Her memoir, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, was released in 2024. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on Crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate.
Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. If you would like to watch the event with live AI captions, you may do so by watching it in Google Chrome and enabling captions: Instructions here. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org.
By attending our event, whether in person or virtually, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.
