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Black Universe I: Featured Poets Reading at the 2024 Furious Flower Conference. This reading featured the following prominent Black poets from across the world: Rita Dove, Jericho Brown, Camille T. Dungy, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Malika Booker, Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Tyehimba Jess, Remica Bingham-Risher, Matthew Shenoda, Lillian-Yvonne Bertram, Cornelius Eady, Frank X. Walker, and Nikky Finney. The Black Universe I: Featured Poets Reading was held in the Festival Ballroom at James Madison University on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Black Universe II: Featured Poets Reading at the 2024 Furious Flower Conference. This reading featured the following prominent Black poets from across the world: Ross Gay, Erica Hunt, francine j. harris, Roger Reeves, DaMaris Hill, Efe Paul Azino, Merle Collins, Danez Smith, Tara Betts, A. B. Spellman, Lorna Goodison, E. Ethelbert Miller, and Harryette Mullen. The Black Universe II: Featured Poets Reading was held in the Festival Ballroom at James Madison University on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Black Universe III: Featured Poets Reading at the 2024 Furious Flower Conference. This reading featured the following prominent Black poets from across the world: Kei Miller, Shara McCallum, Tim Seibles, Anastacia Renée, Gregory Pardlo. Joanne Gabbin introduced each poet with a personally written haiku. The Black Universe III: Featured Poets Reading was held in the Festival Ballroom at James Madison University on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 9:45 a.m.

Black Universe IV: Featured Poets Reading at the 2024 Furious Flower Conference. This reading featured the following prominent Black poets from across the world: Terrance Hayes, Evie Shockley, Niyi Osundare, Canisia Lubrin, Patricia Smith, and Kwame Dawes. Lauren Alleyne closed the session by reading a new poem. The Black Universe IV: Featured Poets Reading was held in the Festival Ballroom at James Madison University on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.

In this interview, Emma Blackwood discusses her upbringing in Richmond, VA and her experiences through private school preparing her for college. She describes how quarantine impacted her family, as well as her transition to William and Mary. Soon to be graduating, Emma Blackwood outlines her post-college plans for law school, especially in environmental justice advocacy. The interview was conducted by undergraduate student Anika Ahammad on January 29, 2024 using the Zoom video conferencing platform. The interview was completed for an assignment in AMST 410: Williamsburg Documentary Project, taught by Professor Michelle Lelièvre.

Antonio T. Bly is Peter H. Shattuck Endowed Chair in Colonial American History at California State University, Sacramento. He has written many books and articles on black literacy in the eighteenth century. Antonio describes his research on black literacy and education in the eighteenth century, and his thoughts on current debates around the issue of writing taught at the Bray Schools, and the broader implications for the legacy of the Bray Schools. Antonio shares his thoughts on the importance of learning fact-based history, the challenges for enslaved and free children in the eighteenth century and the legacy of the Williamsburg Bray School.