Author Kiese Laymon Will Be CNP@10 Keynote Speaker
September 20, 2024 - Atlanta, GA – The Counter Narrative Project (CNP) is excited to announce that acclaimed author Kiese Laymon will be the keynote speaker at its tenth-anniversary celebration, CNP@10. This special event is scheduled for October 5, 2024, at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta, GA.
CNP@10 will honor leaders such as Charaun Cash from VOX ATL, singer/songwriter Kipper Jones, researcher Justin Smith, faith leader Jason Hudgins, and psychologist Dr. Ed Garnes. The event will also delve into the crucial connection between narrative change and democracy.
Keynote speaker, Kiese Laymon, a distinguished Black Southern writer hailing from Jackson, Mississippi, is known for his insightful and often humorous exploration of personal and political themes, including race, family, body image, and poverty. His sharp wit and keen perception have drawn comparisons to literary greats like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alice Walker, and Mark Twain. Laymon is the author of the award-winning memoir Heavy, the groundbreaking essay collection How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, and the genre-defying novel Long Division. His memoir Heavy has received numerous accolades, including the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the 2018 Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. It has also been recognized as one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years and was named one of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century by The New York Times in 2024.
Additional Program Highlights:
- Charles Stephens will share CNP’s vision for 2025
- Violinist Christopher Mosley will perform a musical selection
Honorees and presenters include:
Louis Graham Research Award: Justin C. Smith (Presented by Dr. David Malebranche)
Guardian of the Narrative Award: Charaun Cash (Presented by Kimberlin Bolton)
Ally Award: Dr. Ed Garnes (Presented by Mashaun D. Simon)
CNP Service Award: Jason Hudgins (Presented by Royce Collins)
Narrative Icon Award: Kipper Jones (Presented by a Special Surprise Presenter)
To learn more about CNP and to RSVP for the CNP@10 event, please visit thecounternarrative.org.
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Winnie Thompson, Publicist contact@bookedenterprise.com | 678-938-7001
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Founded in 2014 by Atlanta native Charles Stephens, CNP has made remarkable progress over the past decade in elevating storytelling, training journalists, and collaborating with artists and arts organizations to amplify the voices of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. CNP firmly believes that narrative change is vital to achieving social change and has been a staunch advocate for racial and LGBTQIA+ justice.
