J Dilla: The Beatmaker Who Changed The Way Musicians Play
Discover a hidden genius—a man whom the greatest figures of contemporary pop call a “demigod” of music. J Dilla, who died in 2006 at the age of 32, never had a mainstream pop hit, but he created a new “time-feel” that forever changed…
Science Fiction: In Search of Hope
As Stephen Hawking once remarked, “to confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.” There’s no limit to the spirit or imagination of the three brilliant science fiction writers gathered on our stage…
Shine Bright: Black Women in Pop Music
From formerly enslaved poet Phyllis Wheatley to Mahalia Jackson to Tina Turner, brilliant Black women have been instrumental—indeed, foundational—in creating one of America’s most significant cultural contributions: its pop music. One…
Crime: True and Imagined
Why are we so fascinated by crimes, real or fictional? Maybe it’s what they reveal about human nature, fairness, society–and, not least of all, ourselves. Legendary cold-case investigator Paul Holes (Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s…
Show the World
What inspires you? Is it exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of your neighborhood? Fighting to protect that neighborhood? Or maybe hearing a great story? In this inspiring picture book, Oakland-based author Angela Dalton introduces readers…
Middle Grade: Solving Big Problems
Small, but mighty! This session will feature young protagonists tackling big problems with the spirit and determination of a butterfly flying against the wind. In Cathy Camper’s Lowriders to the Rescue, Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio must join…
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle
The little girl at the center of Nina LaCour’s picture book debut loves nothing more than to have her Mama on one side and her Mommy on the other. When Mommy goes away on a work trip, everything feels off-kilter, until she finds a creative…
Alphabet Rockers: You Are Not Alone
Oakland's Alphabet Rockers, two-time Grammy nominees for Best Children's album, will bring the community together in true Rockers fashion at the Festival’s official kick-off event on Saturday. Centered on togetherness, the group will present…
I Am the Dream: Voices of a New Generation
Now in its second year, Write Your Story is an exciting year-long program that brought creative writing masterclasses and artistic mentorship to young women of color, ages 12 to 18, a fantastic collaboration of the festival with Cinnamongirl,…
Natasha Miller: Relentless
From a homeless shelter for youth to the Inc. 5,000 list of fastest growing companies in America, Natasha Miller’s Relentless is a raw and powerful memoir about one woman’s tenacity in breaking free from an abusive childhood, the irreversible…