In recognition of Pride Month, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ LGBTQ+ Institute is partnering with Doug Jones, author of the novel “The Fantasies of Future Things,” for an engaging conversation on the intersections of race, sexuality, and housing inequality. Reminiscent of Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight, Jones’ book is set in 1996 and follows two men in Atlanta who must reconcile their human dignity against the price of their professional ambitions. This Cup of Truth will feature an interview with the author, a discussion on gentrification and housing discrimination, and a Q&A session open to the audience. Coffee and other beverages will be provided on site by BE Cafe. This program, made possible by the LGBTQ+ Institute’s Bayard Rustin Society, is free and open to the public.
44th and 3rd Bookseller: https://44thand3rdbookseller.com/
About ArtsXchange
ArtsXchange creates, produces, presents, and provides arts and/or cultural services for the public, and represents art and artists from traditional to experimental. Their mission is to nourish the creativity and careers of black artists; expose the community to multiple cultural traditions; and provide resources to inspire new generations of patrons, artists, and other creatives. ArtsXchange is a place where individuals and artists gather to find a creative community and share their work with the community at large. Their goal is to empower and support artists, community residents, and the public to actively engage in life-changing creative experiences. They promote and expand accessibility to the arts for those who have not traditionally had access to the arts and partner with arts organizations, organizers, and collectives of artists to respond to the needs of our community.
About 44th & 3rd Booksellers
44th & 3rd Bookseller is a family-owned, multi-cultural book and culture brand headquartered in the heart of Atlanta, GA. Its founders, Warren, Cheryl, and Allyce Lee, established the brand in 2017. This concept for bookselling was born out of a Masters thesis by Cheryl Lee on the plight of independent bookstores and a strategy for success. The mission is to continue a source of unbiased literature that is true to the rich culture of excellence experienced and expressed in the Black community world-wide.
The store first opened in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta and learned many lessons to grow our business and better serve. The current location was designed and built using our blueprint to create a sanctuary of great Black literature, history and culture. The short history of working in their store has inspired us to continue to bring well curated books, conversation with writers via book signing and community engagement with poetry nights, book club events and lectures on important subjects to the community.
Doug Jones bio
Doug Jones (he/him) was born in Brooklyn, NY. An alumnus of Morehouse College, he received his MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. His work has been included in the anthologies Black Love Letters (Zando Projects / Get Lifted Books), Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature & Art (Third World Press) and Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS (Other Countries Press). He has also written for Black Issues Book Review and Venus Magazine. An inaugural fellow of the Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, the Hurston/Wright Foundation recognized Doug’s early work. An avid art collector who enjoys swimming and traveling, Doug is a proud pet Dad to a lovable mixed bred German Shepherd, Baldwin. Doug lives in Atlanta, GA. The Fantasies of Future Things is his debut novel.
Jordan Freeman bio
Jordan Freeman (he/him) is an aspiring early childhood educator who utilizes the art of storytelling, knowledge of child development, explorations of children’s literature and media, and professional experience in elementary schools and other educational facilities to guide his passion for working with children. Jordan is openly queer; as such, he bridges his queer identity and his love for education and literature to analyze queer children’s literature, the lives of queer children, queer families, and queer educators in hopes of creating an inclusive and dynamic pedagogy that centers his identity as a queer educator. Jordan has participated in several fellowships related to education, organizing, and the connection between advocacy and the lives of children. Jordan Freeman is a rising senior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studies Early Childhood Education. Once completing his bachelor’s at Morehouse, he intends to begin his teaching and children’s book author journey. He aspires to attain a PhD or EdD in education, child development, or cultural studies.
Program: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
6:30 – 6:50 – Arrival, Register, Meet and Greet, Pick up Book
6:50- 6:55 – Welcome and Shean Atkins introduction by Kama Pierce
6:55 – 7:05 – Shean Atkins speaks
7:05 – National Youth Advocacy Fellow, Jordan Freeman, is introduced
7:05 – 7:15 – Doug Jones reads 10-minute excerpt(s) from book
7:15 – 7:45 – Jordan Freeman interviews Doug Jones about “The Fantasies of Future Things”
7:45 – 8:00 – Audience Q&A
8:00 – 8:30 – Departure and Book Signing
