The National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) is a four-day gathering first presented by the Humanities Division at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York in 1986. John Oliver Killens convened the Conference to provide emerging and established writers, literary scholars, critics, agents, publishers and booksellers, as well as educators, students, and the general public, with a forum for sharing the works published by Black writers, discussing the trends and themes in Black literature and identifying the major issues and challenges faced by Black writers and those in the business of reading, publishing, and selling Black literature. The conversations and presentations of these writers, scholars, and industry professionals are held through panel discussions, roundtable conversations, writing workshops, and literary readings.
Killens was a writer-in-residence at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn from 1981-1987. He was the founding Conference Director and Dr. Elizabeth Nunez was the Conference Coordinator and emcee. The first NBWC, held on March 21–23, 1986, featured poet, author, and activist Maya Angelou as the Keynote Speaker. Many renowned authors, actors, journalists, and poets participated in this historic inaugural event including Margaret Walker Alexander, Toni Cade Bambara, Amiri Baraka, Claude Brown, John Henrik Clarke, Pearl Cleage, Jayne Cortez, Ossie Davis, Lonne Elder III, Mari Evans, Keith Gilyard, Paule Marshall, Gil Noble, Les Payne, Ishmael Reed, Sonia Sanchez, Quincy Troupe, Richard Wesley, and John A. Williams.
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After Killens’s untimely passing in 1987, Dr. Elizabeth Nunez became the Director for the conferences held in 1988, 1991, 1996, and 2000.
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In 2003, the Center for Black Literature (CBL), under the leadership of Dr. Brenda Greene, convened the 6th National Black Writers Conference and took on the responsibility of organizing subsequent conferences. The 6th NBWC, “Literature as Access: Connecting to Our Selves, Our Communities, Our Histories,” included such distinguished writers and artists as Amiri Baraka, Playthell Benjamin, Toni Blackman, Herb Boyd, Colin Channer, Stanley Crouch, Eisa Davis, Thulani Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, Marita Golden, Obery Hendricks, Woodie King Jr, Tony Medina, Walter Mosley, Elizabeth Nunez, Sam Pollard, Louis Reyes Rivera, Nelly Rosario, Tracy K. Smith, and John Edgar Wideman.
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The Center for Black Literature’s initial goal was to host a major conference annually; however, as the Center began to expand its literary programming, it was determined that hosting a four-day Conference every two years, and a shorter Symposium in alternate years, would be ideal. The National Black Writers Biennial Symposium would highlight a current Black literary trend or a writer who had a significant impact on the Black literary canon.
The first National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium was convened in 2007. “Redemption Song: A Tribute to Bob Marley: Lyrical Poet” featured Kwame Dawes as the Keynote Speaker. Colin Channer served as the moderator with panelists Christopher John Farley, Vivien Goldman, and Dera Tompkins.
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There have been seventeen dynamic conferences since the National Black Writers Conference was instituted in 1986. Following the decision to establish the Biennial Symposium in 2007, nine engaging symposia have been held. A small sampling of these events follows:
Gil Noble was the Keynote Speaker for the 7th National Black Writers Conference (2004), “A Tribute to and Symposium on John Oliver Killens.” Some of the esteemed participants included Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Staceyann Chin, Sarah E. Wright, Elombe Brath, Samuel Yette, and Louis Reyes Rivera.
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“And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way,” the 10th National Black Writers Conference (2010), hosted a lively Awards and VIP reception with Susan L. Taylor acting as emcee and Toni Morrison as the Honorary Chair. Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite, Edison O. Jackson, and Toni Morrison were presented with their special awards by Cornel West, Sonia Sanchez, Dr. Brenda Greene, and then-City Councilmember Letitia James.
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The National Black Writers Conference 2015 Biennial Symposium, “Voices of Liberation and Resistance” was a special tribute to actor and activist Danny Glover. Some of the participants included Rashidah Ismaili AbuBakr, Greg Carr, David Henderson, Jamal Joseph, Kierna Mayo, Sam Pollard, Sapphire, and Jacqueline Woodson.
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“Writing Race, Embracing Difference” was the theme of the 13th National Black Writers Conference in 2016. Former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove served as Honorary Chair. Honorees were Edwidge Danticat, Michael Eric Dyson, Charles Johnson, and Woodie King Jr.
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The 14th National Black Writers Conference, “Gathering at the Waters: Healing, Legacy, and Activism in Black Literature” (2018), was thrilled to welcome Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams as its Honorary Chair. Steven Barnes, Kwame Dawes, Tananarive Due, David Levering Lewis, Eugene B. Redmond, Susan L. Taylor, and Colson Whitehead were the honored guests at this conference.
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The Center for Black Literature’s Conferences and Symposia have attracted many writers, publishers, poets, and activists who have become faithful participants and return year after year to offer their wisdom, scholarship, and literary works at the latest conference. Some of these dedicated folks include Amiri Baraka, Staceyann Chin, Edwidge Danticat, Keith Gilyard, Marita Golden, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Obery Hendricks, Haki Madhubuti, Tony Medina, Walter Mosley, Eugene Redmond, Louis Reyes Rivera, Sonia Sanchez, and Quincy Troupe, among others.
