Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the centenary of James Baldwin’s birth, his powerful legacy as a writer, intellectual, civil rights activist, fashion and queer icon at Conversations with Baldwin, a one-day festival Southbank Centre on Sunday 21st July 2024, from 12 pm-9 pm.

Curated by Words of Colour, and presented in collaboration with the Southbank Centre, you have three great panels and topics to be inspired by:

Another Country - 12 pm

Join acclaimed writers Emma Dabiri, Nikita Gill and Mendez to explore Baldwin's beautiful and multi-layered novel about love and finding oneself. 

In Notes of a Native Son - 3 pm

Dive into a reading and discussion examining artistry, activism and the role of the artist through the lens of celebrated US writer James Baldwin with actor and director Burt Caesar, joined by writer, broadcaster and social advocate Yassmin Abdel-Magied; founding editor of James Baldwin Review Professor Douglas Field; and Words of Colour's Creative Producer Heather Marks.

Baldwin and Fashion - 7.30 pm

A panel discussion with performer and theatre maker Travis Alabanza, theatre, film and TV actress Sarah Niles, and fashion designer Nicholas Daley joined by Words of Colour's executive director Joy Francis, to speak about James Baldwin’s iconic image, the connection between fashion and literature, and the stories behind how and why we fashion identities.