The final installment of a summer event series celebrating the intersection of Black and Latino culture saw dozens of residents and a handful of writers gather to share their work on Saturday afternoon.
Hosted by the Evanston Public Library and held at the Robert Crown Community Center, the Celebrating Our Roots program’s final session focused on literary arts, which invited the public to share and listen to a variety of work, both in English and Spanish.
“Me, being of Nigerian and Ecuadorian descent, living those two cultures, there was just so much that crossed paths, like the beats of the music, the food that we ate,” said Tracy Christine, host of the series.
The first session of the series was held in June and centered around the two culture’s similar music stylings, followed by another session in July highlighting shared food, Christine said.
L’Oreal Thompson-Payton was the first writer to speak. She read an excerpt from her recent book Stop Waiting for Perfect: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Your Power.
Thompson-Payton is also the owner of the first Black-owned bookstore in Evanston, Zora’s Place, which will open next month at The Aux.
“When Tracy asked me about speaking here, I was like, ‘I’m not a poet,’ and the imposter syndrome was very strong,” Thompson-Payton said. “But actually, as I thought about it, when I was much younger it was probably the first sort of art form that I did.”
Other writers who spoke at the event included Marvin Tate, José Bono, Miguel Rino, Mama Eddie, Gregorio Gomez and Sylvia Goldman. An open mic portion also invited community members to sign up and read their poetry.
Themes of the work read on Saturday ranged from self-confidence to immigration rights, love and family history.
Along with the performances, local vendors sold empanadas, books, art and other goods.
