SAY IT LOUD: ASCENDING
The Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative and 91.3 WUKY present the third installment of the second Kentucky Black Writers Series, SAY IT LOUD: ASCENDING. This recurring live event and discussion is designed to showcase both prominent and emerging Black writers of the Commonwealth. Audio recordings are gathered and published here at the conclusion of each event.
These young Black voices are rising up, growing stronger and demanding equity and equality. Enjoy readings by Kiitan Adedeji, Beaux Hardin, Zoya Abbas, and Cierra Moore that express a call to action, a celebration of culture, and a declaration of the right to be heard. Live music by singer/songwriter Anonimuss Rose. The event is free and open to the public.
SAY IT LOUD: ASCENDING is sponsored by the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative, WUKY, Kentucky Arts Council, LexArts, Chethik Family Fund to Advance Black Writers, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), the University of Kentucky, Southland Printing, Foundation 47, Project Ricochet, and UK Economic Inclusion.
MEET THE READERS
Kiitan Adedeji
Kiitan Adedeji is Lexington's 2023 youth poet laureate. She is currently a sophomore at Lafayette Highschool where she is a part of the SCAPA and Pre-Engineering programs at her school. Kiitan enjoys reading, learning French, and staring at the fish in her aquarium and when she's not practicing her many hobbies, you can find her raving about matcha tea and thinking about something new to start writing.
Beaux Hardin
Beaux Hardin is a poet and an undergrad research scholar studying English and French at University of Kentucky—they are devoted to making education more accessible for everyone.
Zoya Abbas
Zoya Abbas is the 2024 Lexington Youth Poet Laureate. She is a recent graduate of Lafayette High School and will be attending American University this fall. Abbas says, “From the day I was born, I have been given two names. One is the name I received from my parents. The second I gave myself when I began my journey as a writer. Being a poet is a title I have given myself. It is the title that guides my principles, my faith and my understanding of the world around me.
Cierra Moore
Cierra Moore is a native and resident of Louisville, KY. Moore's work is raw in its audacity and authenticity, being both radical and transformative, while having the potential to be groundbreaking within itself. Taking a multifaceted approach, Moore's writing explores the intersections of storytelling, literature, anthropology, poetry, folklore, history, spirituality, and metaphysics. Moore graduated from UK with a dual degree in English and Africana/Black studies and is a current student at UNO MFA creative writing program.
