I Guess It Was My Destiny To Live So Long

BAM Curator at Large and MacArthur “Genius” Hanif Abdurraqib returns for year three of his vital, viral series celebrating poetry as a force for bringing people together. With Brooklyn icon June Jordan continuing to serve as an inspirational lodestar, this year’s program navigates farther outward than ever, spotlighting powerful voices from across the African Diaspora and bringing new perspectives to Brooklyn’s cultural stage.

Also returning is Stones in the Water, Abdurraqib’s beloved annual reading with close friends Sarah Kay, Clint Smith, and Anis Mojgani—a resounding affirmation of community, artistry, and the shared language of poetry. Known for acclaimed works like They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and Go Ahead in the Rain, Abdurraqib continues to shape the cultural conversation with his persuasive advocacy for poetry’s power to unite hearts and minds.