Author Talk & Reading

What happens when Juneteenth and Pride share the same space? Something powerful.

Join us for a special celebration that honors both legacies through the art of storytelling. Local Black queer author Kareem Simpson will read from his debut collection, Chronicles of a Boy Misunderstood — a series of deeply human novellas following quiet, complex Black protagonists as they navigate identity, struggle, and resilience.

The opening story, set in pre-Civil War Covington, draws a haunting connection to the real-life story of Margaret Garner — one of the most profound acts of resistance in American history. Simpson will reflect on that history and share his experience as a Black queer writer finding his voice on the page.

This is more than a reading. It’s a gathering — for history, reflection, and the voices that refuse to be forgotten.

✨ Come for the stories. Stay for the community.