Marlon Peterson: Groping for the light: My father died on my only child's 2nd birthday (ASL)
Room: Art & Music, 3rd Floor
An exploration of finding the light in people and communities during our darkest moments. My father was my support in one of my darkest moments, and when it was hard to find any light, he was there every step of the way. For my daughter's birthday, in that ironic juxtaposition with his passing, she's been a light for me. But I have to grope for it.
When you walk into a room at night, you know there's a light switch, but you have to feel around for it. And when you turn it on, you see everything you needed was there. Out of the darkness, whether personal crises or societal struggles, we must look for the light because it's right there waiting for us.
Marlon Peterson is an author, lecturer, and doer. He is Executive Director of College and Community Fellowship, as well as author of the memoir Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist’s Freedom Song, and host of the DEcarcerated Podcast. His TED talk, “Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform”, has amassed over 1.2 million views. Ebony Magazine recognizes him as one of 100 most inspiring people in the Black community. Marlon’s byline has appeared in USA Today, The Nation, Ebony, Essence, and many others. His essays have also been published in the books: How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others by Kiese Laymon, How We Fight White Supremacy by Kenrya Rankin & Akiba Solomon, and Colin Kaepernick's Abolition for the People: The Movement for a Future without Policing & Prisons. He is featured on Apple TV’s series, Dear, and he is working on his first screenplay, an adaptation of his memoir.
Room: Art & Music, 3rd Floor
An exploration of finding the light in people and communities during our darkest moments. My father was my support in one of my darkest moments, and when it was hard to find any light, he was there every step of the way. For my daughter's birthday, in that ironic juxtaposition with his passing, she's been a light for me. But I have to grope for it.
When you walk into a room at night, you know there's a light switch, but you have to feel around for it. And when you turn it on, you see everything you needed was there. Out of the darkness, whether personal crises or societal struggles, we must look for the light because it's right there waiting for us.
Marlon Peterson is an author, lecturer, and doer. He is Executive Director of College and Community Fellowship, as well as author of the memoir Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist’s Freedom Song, and host of the DEcarcerated Podcast. His TED talk, “Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform”, has amassed over 1.2 million views. Ebony Magazine recognizes him as one of 100 most inspiring people in the Black community. Marlon’s byline has appeared in USA Today, The Nation, Ebony, Essence, and many others. His essays have also been published in the books: How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others by Kiese Laymon, How We Fight White Supremacy by Kenrya Rankin & Akiba Solomon, and Colin Kaepernick's Abolition for the People: The Movement for a Future without Policing & Prisons. He is featured on Apple TV’s series, Dear, and he is working on his first screenplay, an adaptation of his memoir.
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library MM/DD/YYYY 60