The Black Zine Fair presents...

Writing Our Rage: An Exploration of Audre Lorde and the Uses of Anger

This workshop draws on the essay “USES OF ANGER” by Black, lesbian, feminist, mother, poet warrior, Audre Lorde. Participants will recall their personal histories of rage, and respond to Lorde’s call to build intimacy with anger “to stand still, to listen to its rhythms, to learn within it, to move beyond the manner of presentation to the substance, to tap that anger as an important source of empowerment.” Workshop participants will be invited to share and reflect on a moment of rage and resistance from their personal narratives. Drawing on memory and lineage (blood and otherwise), participants will use prompts and prose to explore anger, connecting the thread of this strong emotion to bring forward new perspectives toward our liberation. Together, we’ll write our rage, drawing inspiration and strength from those who have resisted before us, claiming our political inheritance of anger as a source of power. The workshop will include 30 minutes of guided exploration of text, 30 minutes of creative writing and will end with a 30-minute story circle of works written during the workshop.

Meet the workshop facilitator

Jessica Angima is a first-generation Kenyan-American organizer and social practice artist. In a constant state of process, she facilitates intimate community through the exploration of art, justice, and contemplative practice.

Her identities as the daughter of Kenyan immigrants and a Black American woman deeply inform her community-based practice. Her work focuses on deep vulnerability; using meditation and creative practices as methods of awakening consciousness. Jessica blends dharma, ancestral wisdom and poetics to decenter European thought frames and lead herself and others toward liberation.

With over 400-hours of facilitation training, she has taught for BRIC, Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, Dia Arts Foundation, Google, SELF Magazine, SHAPE Magazine, theSkimm and more. Jessica holds an MA in Arts Politics from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She is a a member of North Star Fund’s Community Funding Committees, Inner Fields Collective and serves as Deputy Training Director at Arena.

Jessica lives in Brooklyn, NY on unceded Lenape territory with her cat and her books.

Make a donation

The Black Zine Fair is free and open to the public, although donations are appreciated. We suggest a donation between $5-20 depending on your financial ability. We encourage established professionals and people with intergenerational wealth/savings to consider donating more or becoming sustaining members.

The fair is organized by Sojourners for Justice Press co-directors Neta Bomani and Mariame Kaba. We’re committed to creating a free platform for Black zine makers who otherwise wouldn’t have access to zine/art/book fairs and festivals. We rely primarily on individual donors to fund and sustain our work. Thank you for your support!

Safety precautions for airborne viruses

The Black Zine Fair is a masked fair. All event attendees, exhibitors, workshop facilitators, and staff are expected to wear a high quality KN95 or N95 mask at all times inside the venue to protect each other from airborne viruses. Masks will be provided. We expect you to test regularly/serially leading up until the event. If you test positive or have any symptoms, we ask that you refrain from attending the fair.

Accessibility information

Powerhouse Arts, the venue where the Black Zine Fair takes place, is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Restrooms are gender neutral and ADA compliant. A sound-proof quiet room is available.

Community agreement

All event attendees, exhibitors, workshop facilitators, and staff agree to follow the community agreement.

Learn more

The Black Zine Fair is a celebration of all things Black and independent publishing in New York City! We invite Black exhibitors and educators to gather, trade or sell zines, and exchange knowledge surrounding zine-making, publishing, and do-it-yourself culture. The fair takes place virtually and in-person from April 13 to May 11. Visit our website and instagram to learn more.