National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry at Just Buffalo Literary Center's BABEL

Acclaimed author of ‘Black in Blues’ closes out Just Buffalo Literary Center’s BABEL season

Press release

Be part of an unforgettable evening of insight, culture and conversation with Just Buffalo Literary Center’s BABEL author series. As part of its landmark 50th anniversary celebration, Just Buffalo Literary Center closes its 2025-26 season with an appearance by National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry, one of the most vital voices in contemporary literature and cultural criticism.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, audiences will gather at Kleinhans Music Hall for an intimate onstage conversation between Perry and Just Buffalo’s Executive and Artistic Director Barbara Cole. The evening will feature a talk by the author; a dynamic discussion of her work and intellectual contributions; an exploration of themes including identity, creativity, history and cultural memory; as well as an audience Q&A and book-signing opportunity – inviting readers to engage directly with this groundbreaking thinker.

This event offers a powerful opportunity for readers and community members to come together in celebration of literature, music and history, while engaging with one of today’s most celebrated scholars and storytellers. Perry’s work bridges genres and disciplines, creating space for reflection, dialogue and deeper understanding.

Perry is the author of several award-winning books, including “South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation,” which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and “Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People,” a lyrical meditation on the color blue and its profound connection to Black life, art and history. Her writing blends memoir, history and cultural analysis, offering readers a transformative lens through which to understand America.

A professor at Princeton University, Perry is also a 2023 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to scholarship and public thought. Her work has been widely praised for its intellectual depth, poetic voice and urgent relevance, solidifying her place as one of the leading literary figures of her generation.

Kleinhans Music Hall is located at 3 Symphony Circle. Tickets are available at justbuffalo.org.