A reading and discussion on Candice Iloh's latest novel about a teenager reckoning with her family’s–and her home town’s–secrets.
From Printz honoree and National Book Award Finalist Candice Iloh, a prose novel about a teenager reckoning with her family’s–and her home town’s–secrets.
Yaminah Okar left Obsidian and the wreckage of her family years ago. She and her father have made lives for themselves in Brooklyn. She thinks she’s moved on to bigger and better things. She thinks she’s finally left behind that city she would rather forget. But when a Facebook message about her estranged mother pierces Yaminah’s new bubble, memories of everything that happened before her parents’ divorce come roaring back. Now, Yaminah must finally reckon with the truth about her mother and the growing collapse of a place she once called home.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND PANELISTS
Host and Moderator: Denice Frohman
Candice Iloh (they/she) is a first-generation Nigerian American writer from the Midwest by way of Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn, New York whose books center home, self-awareness, reconciliation, and black sustainability. They are a proud alumna of the Rhode Island Writers Colony and their work has earned fellowships from Lambda Literary, VONA, Kimbilio Fiction and a residency with Hi-ARTS, where they debuted their first one-person show in 2018. Candice became a 2020 National Book Award Finalist and in 2021, a Printz Award Honoree for their debut novel, Every Body Looking. Break This House is their second novel. You can keep up with their work on IG at @thisiscandiceiloh.
Christopher R. Rogers (he/him) is an educator and cultural worker from Chester, PA. He serves as Public Programs Director for the Paul Robeson House & Museum, where he has volunteered since 2015. Additionally, he is currently a doctoral student within the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education where he studies neighborhood storytelling practices in West Philadelphia. He serves on the National Steering Committee for Black Lives Matter at School, supporting movements for racial justice in K-16 education. Find out more about his work on IG at @justmaybechris and @robesonhousephl.
jean-jacques gabriel (he/him) is a Haitian born father, artist, yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer, and bodyworker. He’s been teaching yoga since 2006, practicing Thai Massage since 2007, and teaching AcroYoga since 2008. He has taught in prisons, public schools, nonprofits, businesses, yoga studios, and large festivals. jean-jacques draws and paints portraits and line art, and co-designed a clothing line called “The Embodied Collection” with Philadelphia Printworks. He currently leads the 200hr yoga teacher training at Studio 34 Yoga in West Philly. Find out more about his offerings on IG at @heyjeanjacques.
Sarah Craig (they/them) is a Black nonbinary queer femme based in Philadelphia PA. They are a warm, powerful force in their accessible vinyasa flows. Craig aspires to bring yoga to marginalized communities to cultivate space for rest, strength for resistance, and knowledge of accessibility tools and methods for a suitable practice for any body. Craig prides themselves on fostering restorative and resilient yoga sequences, encouraging collective healing and holding space for community. Craig is a multifaceted healer; teaching yoga virtually and across Philadelphia, and working toward their masters/licensure in Acupuncture. Craig hopes to incorporate their movement practice with knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and continue to hold space in their future acupuncture clinic. Find out more about their offerings on IG at @yogawithsarahcraig.
Shane Hunter (They/He) is a lifelong West Philadelphia Resident. They've been an organizer and affiliated with the organizing community within Philly for some time. They believe that all causes that can direct people to abolition are good causes. Through their studies and lived experience, they've dedicated their life to bettering themself and to fighting collective liberation that centers the healing of Bl/Queer/Trans people. They currently organize with Housing Reparations Philly, a collective that secures housing for Black Queer and Trans folks in Philly through wealth redisribution.
Denice Frohman is a poet, performer, and educator from New York City. She’s received fellowships and support from CantoMundo, the National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures, Leeway Foundation, Blue Mountain Center, and Millay Colony. A former Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, she’s featured on national and international stages from The Apollo to The White House, and at over 400 colleges and universities. She co-organized #PoetsforPuertoRico and lives in Philadelphia.
Music by DJ Desire.