BLACK FUTURISM                    -    Kinfolx

Jelal Huyler  is an Oakland, CA born mixedededbruh poet + emcee who does not condone linear time. A 4-time competitor in the National Poetry Slam, 2-time “Grand Slam Champion” (team Berkeley, CA. as well as team Stockton, CA) his voice and work are in the documentary Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequality.  his debut book of poetry A Man Was Lynched Today will release in July of 2024 with GAME OVER BOOKS (available for pre-order at gameoverbooks.com) .

D'mani Thomas (he \ they) is a writer, and creative from Oakland, California (Ohlone territory). He’s interested in the tiny moments that capture attention spans. They have received fellowships from UC Berkeley’s Art & Research Center, The Watering Hole, Foglifter and others. In 2023, they became a finalist for the Penrose Poetry Prize and were awarded a California Arts Council grant through Youth Speaks. D’mani’s debut chapbook, “Grown-up Elementary”, is now available through Black Lawrence Press. 

M’Kala Payton is a poet, and educator from East Oakland CA. Her fervent and vulnerable poetry speaks to and uplifts the generational stories of Black American women, with a focus on Black Mothers and removing the veil of societal tropes and stereotypes while showcasing the beauty and humanity in Black women’s stories.
Joshua Merchant is Black Queer (they / them) native of East Oakland exploring the realm of love. They've had the honor to be awarded the 2023 San Francisco Foundation / Nomadic Press Literary Award for poetry. 

4pm Leg 1 - Kinfolx

Beginning at 3:30pm on Saturday, July 27th, we invite you to swing by our INFO TABLE at the nightclub COMMUNE, located at 1716 Broadway, in the old Best Music Co. building. Commune is a great new addition to the Downtown nightlife and we’re delighted to be partnering with them. ALSO meet here for the beginning of our afterparty. Then we move to Binny’s.