An Ode to the Eye of the Poet
The Black & Brown Poetry Festival: Voices in Motion was a groundbreaking 3-day event and the only poetry festival of its kind in the Chicagoland area—centered exclusively on the voices, artistry, and power of Black and Brown femme poets.
The festival opened with an electrifying multimedia presentation by Catalina Maria Johnson, Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry, hosted at Pilsen Arts & Community House. From there, the celebration continued with a packed open mic night at Last Sip Cafe, where femme poets shared raw truth, healing, and joy with a community ready to listen. It all culminated at the iconic Music Box Theatre with a dynamic Poetry Film Festival—screening films inspired by poetry, sisterhood, and revolutionary storytelling.
Voices in Motion wasn’t just an event—it was a declaration. A celebration. A moment in history.
From spoken word to film, from rhythm to resistance, BBFF created a space where femmes of color were not only seen and heard—they were center stage.
Thank you to all who showed up, spoke out, shared space, and made it unforgettable. We move in our own beautiful, unstoppable way—and the work continues.
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