Black freighter Press

BLACK FREIGHTER PRESS @ Beast Crawl

Black Freighter Press publishes revolutionary books. We are committed to the exploration of liberation, using art to transform consciousness. A platform for Black and Brown writers to honor ancestry and propel radical imagination.

Black Freighter Press is excited to be curating a Beast Crawl reading featuring a few of our favorite creative minds. Meilani Clay, Zouhair Mussa, Ladi Rev, and Darius Simpson. Hosted by Alie Jones & Tongo Eisen-Martin

Meilani Clay is a writer, mama, and educator from Oakland, CA. Her debut poetry collection, and the creek don’t rise, was the winner of the 2021 Michael Rubin Book Award from San Francisco State University’s Fourteen Hills Press. A graduate of Howard University, the University of San Francisco’s Urban Education and Social Justice program, and a current MFA Poetry candidate at SFSU, Meilani aspires to be in school forever, to bridge worlds with her words, and to one day build forts out of books written by Black folks.

Zouhair Mussa is a Sudanese/Nubian-American writer, spoken word poet, MC, and organizer raised in West Oakland. His art is based on true events and aims at addressing real problems within his community. He seeks to shed light on injustices that plague the places he calls home. He uses his art to remember the fallen and dreams of healing the hood. He wants to uplift and inspire change in his community with the aid of his artistic expression.

Darius Simpson is a New Afrikan writer, educator, performer, and skilled living room dancer from Akron, Ohio. Much like the means of production, he believes poetry must be used for the positive social, political, and economic development of the masses. He aims to inspire those chills that make you frown and slightly twist up ya face in approval. Darius believes in the dissolution of empire and the total liberation of Africans and all oppressed people by any means available. Free All Political Prisoners. Free The People. Free The Land.

Norman Antonio Zelaya was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. He has published stories in ZYZZYVA, NY Tyrant, 14 Hills, Cipactli, and Apogee Journal, among others. He was a 2015 Zoetrope: All-Story finalist, and 2019 Anginas Scholarship recipient for latinx writers to attend the Community of Writers Workshops in Squaw Valley, CA. In 1997, he co-founded Los Delicados (a poetry theater ensemble), and has performed extensively throughout the US with them. Zelaya has appeared on stage, in film, and in the squared circle as luchador, Super Pulga. He is the author of two collections of fiction, most recently Gente, Folks (Black Freighter Press, 2022) and Orlando & Other Stories (Pochin Press, 2017).

LadiRevolutionary (LadiRev) is an educator/spoken word artist from Bayview Hunters Point. Her poetry is a reflection of personal growth along with values learned from family and community. LadiRev is passionate about community, education, and healing. She is the host of Talkn Owt Da Side of Da Necc Podcast, which focuses on individual healing practices. She is set to release her first book, Heal, in 2023. “It only takes one person to make a stand but it takes a community to make a change” LadiRev

Alie Jones is a self-care advocate, writer, artist, and Creole mermaid. She is Co-founder and Director of Black Freighter Press, a revolutionary press committed to the exploration of liberation, using art to transform consciousness. Alie graduated with her MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Mills College. She is the host of the podcast called Chit Chat with Aliecat , a platform to explore self-care practices and journeys of self-love in community.

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Leg 3: 7-8p Venue: First Edition 1915 (patio)

First Edition
Located in Uptown Oakland, we have over 3000 square feet of available space, including two mezzanines, an outdoor roof deck, and two full bars. All of our art is graphic novel/comic book inspired and created by local artist Michael Brennan. We aim to create a casual, neighborhood environment where exploration of new cocktails and introductions to new friends is the norm. Whether you're enjoying a happy hour cocktail on the patio or dancing the night away with our weekend local DJs events, we’re here to share our passion for making cocktails fun and approachable in a clean, safe, inclusive environment.

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