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PALM SPRINGS, CA—The Palm Springs Public Library and Mizell Center invite you to “Our Voices Our Stories: Celebrating Black Authors,” a free community event to kick off Black History Month on Saturday, February 1st, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. 

The celebration features actress and author Jenifer Lewis as the keynote speaker. Known for her remarkable contributions to film and television, Jenifer starred in the Emmy-nominated series “Black-ish,” earning accolades for her role as Ruby Johnson. Her memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, was a literary success, winning the National Book Club Conference ‘Book of the Year’ Award. She will also share insights from her upcoming book, Walking in My Joy: In These Streets, which reflects her extraordinary life experiences. 

In addition to Jenifer, the event will showcase authors Christian Cooper, Rasheed Newson, and Trisha R. Thomas. Community members Sheree Devereaux, Lorenzo Taylor, and Darlyne Johnson will be interviewed. 

Starting at 10 AM at the Mizell Center, attendees can enjoy Q's Creole and Soul Food's hosted lunch (for the first 100 registrants). The event then moves to the Palm Springs Public Library, concluding at 4:30 PM. While the event is free, registration is required due to limited seating. To register, visit http://bit.ly/4ae27ZE. 

The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs will have a selection of titles from featured authors and a table for local Black writers to showcase their works for purchase. 

This event is made possible by the generous support of local sponsors:  

- Keynote Sponsor: Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library 

- Program Sponsors: Brothers of the Desert, Coachella Valley Sisters Network, Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival 

- Endorsed by the Palm Springs Black History Committee. 

Location details: The Palm Springs Public Library is at 300 S. Sunrise Way, and the Mizell Center is at 480 S. Sunrise Way. For more information, call 760-322-READ (7323) or visit www.pslibrary.org. For updates, follow the Library on social media and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter.

Below is the list of participating authors and moderators in alphabetical order by last name:

Christian Cooper

Christian Cooper is a novelist and comics writer, as well as the host of Extraordinary Birder on National Geographic. As one of Marvel’s first openly gay writers, he introduced the first gay male character in Star Trek’s Starfleet Academy series, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. He also created Marvel’s first openly lesbian character and authored Queer Nation: The Online Gay Comic. Based in New York City, he serves on NYC Audubon’s board and gained notoriety as the Central Park birdwatcher who inspired his book, Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World.

Will Dean is a writer, editor, and communications executive residing in Palm Springs. He boasts 26 years of experience in journalism. A highlight of his career was the creation and launch of Desert Outlook, a monthly LGBTQ+ news and feature magazine, with The Desert Sun in 2012 for the USA TODAY Network. Dean also co-founded the Desert Outbook Book Club, which continues to meet monthly, and he writes for various publications while supporting Brothers of the Desert and other nonprofit initiatives. He will be in conversation with Jenifer Lewis. 

Sheree Devereaux is a co-author, filmmaker, and event coordinator. Her credits include Casting Associate for Season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette, Sustainability Coordinator for Season 11 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Covid Compliance Supervisor on the Broadway Tour of A Christmas Carol. She was a Talent Booker and Personal Manager for Deafinit Models & Talent for 15 years. Through her company, Amen Entertainment, she won a NAACP Theatre Award in 2002. With a Journalism degree, she reported for KCBS News and Fox Sports West and hosted Hollywood Entertainment shows. She is Vice President of the Palm Springs Writers Guild and will speak with Christian Cooper. 

Darlyne Johnson (née Baugh), originally from Boston, spent 30 years in television and film production across Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Atlanta. Her first novel, Black Girl @ The Gay Channel, drew from her experience at Logo by MTV Networks. In 2015, she became the first franchisee of Kale Me Crazy, a quick-service restaurant in Atlanta, ultimately owning two locations, both sold during the pandemic. Darlyne is currently writing her second novel and is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and the Write Club. She has lived in Palm Springs, CA, since 2022. Darlyne will converse with Trisha R. Thomas.

Jennifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis, a National Treasure, is an award-winning actress, activist, and author known for her role in the hit TV show Black-ish. She has appeared in over 400 TV shows, 68 films, and 30 animated features. Recently, she starred as 'Patricia' in Showtime's “I Love That For You.” Jenifer has performed in over 200 concerts worldwide, stunning audiences and receiving a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall. Her contributions as an entertainer and activist earned her an honorary doctorate from Webster University and the Career Achievement Award from The American Black Film Festival. In November 2022, she released her acclaimed book “Walking in My Joy: In These Streets,” receiving recognition from the Congressional Black Caucus. On July 15, 2022, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She hails from Kinloch, Missouri. 

Rasheed Newson

Rasheed Newson is an author, television drama writer, executive producer, and showrunner. His debut novel, My Government Means to Kill Me, was a Lambda Literary finalist for Gay Fiction and was named one of the 100 Notable Books of 2022 by The New York Times. His forthcoming novel, There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood, is set for publication by Flatiron in 2026. As a television producer, Rasheed also co-developed Bel-Air and worked on The Chi, Animal Kingdom, and Narcos, among other drama series. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Rasheed graduated from Georgetown University. He currently lives in Pasadena with his husband and their two children. 

Lorenzo Taylor, born in Birmingham, Alabama, attended Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. After 30 years in public diplomacy and health policy, he retired to Palm Springs in 2018, teaching courses on the Civil Rights Movement and Black Poetry through OLLI. In 2020, he pursued a late-life career as a playwright, novelist, and journalist, resulting in four plays, two romance/adventure novels, numerous articles, and a poetry and short story collection. He enjoys cribbage and volunteering with community groups like Brothers of the Desert. He will converse with Rasheed Newson. 

Trisha R. Thomas

Trisha R. Thomas is a renowned author celebrated for her engaging debut novel, Nappily Ever After, which has established her as a key voice in contemporary fiction. Her literature is characterized by compelling, character-driven narratives that showcase her eloquent storytelling style. In 2018, Nappily Ever After was adapted into a feature film on Netflix, featuring Sanaa Lathan and other prominent actors, and it made history under the direction of Haifaa al-Mansour, the first female Saudi director. Both the book and the film received nominations for NAACP Image Awards. Additionally, Nappily Ever After was selected by Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine as a Book That Made A Difference and has earned her the Literary Lion Award from the King County Library Foundation. Thomas is the author of 14 novels and has contributed to the Los Angeles Review of Books and Writer’s Digest, while also sharing her insights as a Cultural Analyst on CNN.