A.C.T.O.R (A Continuing Talk on Race) 6.2.19- Pride Edition Moderated by Rayceen Pendarvis
Date and Time
Jun 2, 2019 5:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Jun 2, 2019 5:00 pm
14th & V
The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) open discussion series is hosted by Busboys and Poets as a community service. It provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. The intent is that each person walks away from the discussion feeling something: challenged, educated, uncomfortable, enlightened, refreshed, reassured and hopefully inspired and moved to action! Each month there is a new topic for discussion.
This Month's Topic:Â Pride Edition!
Oppression, hatred and systematic discrimination are shared plights among people of color and the LGBTQ communities. There have been people of color in the LGBTQ movements and queer folks have been a part of every movement for civil rights this country has ever had. Why is it still so important for groups to fight for one another to make change? This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. What part did people of color play in that movement? These are some of the things we will address.
Moderated by:
The Empress of Pride, Rayceen Pendarvis,  is known as the High Priestess of Love, the Queen of the Shameless Plug, and the Goddess of DC, is an emcee, community advocate, and lifelong Washingtonian.
In addition to being a columnist for SWERV magazine, Rayceen regularly contributes to several print and online publications. Rayceen is the host of The Ask Rayceen Show, a free monthly live event on first Wednesdays, March through November, at HRC Equality Center in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit AskRayceen.com
Panelists Include:Â
Ben de Guzman is the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA). He has been a leading voice at the local and national level on issues of racial equity, immigrants' rights, veterans affairs, and LGBT justice for twenty years. He comes to MOAPIA from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, where he served as the Community Outreach Specialist. During his tenure there, he helped execute two major first-time events for the Office- the “District of Pride†LGBTQ cultural performance event and the 32nd Annual 17th Street High Heel Race, presented by the Mayor’s Office as lead organizer. He also served as both the Public Information Officer and the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Officer for the agency.
Charity Blackwell is a spoken word artist, host, emcee, and poetry specialist who has spent several years contributing to the arts scene at DC SCORES. She is a Trinity University graduate, where she received her B.A and M.A, for Communications, and played soccer for four years. Since her early college days, Charity’s natural stage presence and charm have led her to many hosting opportunities, including events such as the Poetry SLAMS for DC SCORES (2013-2016), the America SCORES New York National Poetry SLAM! (2015 -2016), Busboys and Poets Open Mic (2016-Current), and the Our Words Our City Poetry Show Case (2017), Women’s March Open Mic (2017) and many more. She has performed her original work on international networks such as BBC News, DC United Audi Field for the game opener, the Woman’s Sports Foundation, The Lincoln Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Hirshhorn Museum, Dock 5, and numerous stages across Washington D.C. and the east coast.
Dana White has a background in youth leadership development, HIV/AIDS peer navigation and advocacy. Before moving to D.C. in 2016, they lived and worked in both Charlotte and Boston.
Dana writes and speaks on topics of health equity and gender identity, contributing mainly to TheBody.com and HIV Equal. They’ve presented at the Carolina Conference on Queer Youth, United States Conference on AIDS, OutWrite, Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and delivered a keynote at the 4th annual Northeast Queer and Trans People of Color Conference.
Rashid Darden is a novelist, educator, and 20-year veteran of the fraternal experience.
An accomplished teacher of the humanities with a focus on blended and personalized learning, Mr. Darden has achieved success with high school and adult students striving for GED, CASAS, TABE, Accuplacer, and other standardized examinations.
Mr. Darden has designed interdisciplinary courses and seminars in the humanities, including Passport to Black History and Brotherhood and Sisterhood Through Black Excellence. He is noted for curating the David Bowie Syllabus, Nat Turner Syllabus, and Moonlight Syllabus.
Free and open to all.Â
A.C.T.O.R. is held on the first Sunday of every month at Busboys and Poets 14th & V from 5:00 PM-7:00 pm.
