The Unwritten Word: Voices, Verses, and the Living Archive of Oral History
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Join the New York Public Library for the World Literature and Arts Festival at Countee Cullen Library for a discussion on oral history and how the act of listening allows us to recover stories that might otherwise be lost to time.
History is often found between the lines of textbooks—breathed, sung, and passed down through the generations. While traditional archives rely on the permanence of ink and paper, our most vital cultural truths often exist in the spaces where memory meets oral traditions. The Unwritten Word invites you to explore the idea of oral history as a form of literature, a realm where the folklore, poetry, and cultural lineage converge to keep our communities' stories alive.
This program brings together a group of experts and artists to discuss the art and importance of the spoken record. Historian Mark D. Naison, poet and sound artist LaTasha Diggs, writer and curator J. Faye Yuan, come together in a conversation moderated by oral historian Bridget Bartolini, to celebrate the power of the spoken word to reshape our understanding of the past and safeguard the legacies of our shared future. From the stoops of Harlem to the steps of the library, we examine how the act of listening allows us to recover stories that might otherwise be lost to time.
This event will take place in person and online.
To join the event in person | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission.
To join the event online | Please register for an Online Ticket. A livestream of this event will be available on the NYPL event page. To receive an email reminder shortly in advance of the event, please be sure to register! If you encounter any issues, please join us on NYPL's YouTube channel.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs was born and raised in New York. She is an interdisciplinary poet, sound artist, and author of In Search of Sugarcane, TwERK and Village, among other titles, as well as an independent curator, artistic director, and producer. Diggs’s work is truly hybrid: Languages and modes are grafted together and furl out insistently from each bound splice. Diggs has received a United States Artists Fellowship (2026), a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (2015), a Whiting Award (2016), and a C.D. Wright Award for Poetry from the Foundation of Contemporary Art (2020), in addition to grants and fellowships from Cave Canem, Creative Capital, Howard Foundation, and the Japan–United States Friendship Commission. Diggs lives in Harlem.
Mark Naison is Professor of History and African American Studies at Fordham University. He is the author of eight books and over 300 articles on African American politics, labor history, popular culture and education policy. Dr. Naison is the founder of the Bronx African American History Project, one of the largest community based oral history projects in the nation and has brought his research into more than 30 Bronx schools as well as many Bronx based non profits and cultural centers. In addition to his teaching, Dr Naison leads tours of the Bronx for students and faculty at Fordham, as well as for groups of scholars and activists from around the nation and around the world.
J. Faye Yuan is a curator and interdisciplinary storyteller whose practice moves between documentary, podcasting, and community archiving. At the Queens Memory Project, she collaborates with civic groups and artist-led organizations to bring lived experience into libraries and other public spaces. Through sound, story, and gathering, she explores how oral traditions continue to shape our shared cultural memory and collective imagination.
Bridget Bartolini is an oral historian, socially engaged artist and educator with a specialization in New York City history, place-based storytelling, and public humanities. Inspired by her love for New York City and belief in the power of storytelling, Bridget created the Five Boro Story Project in 2013 to produce community programs that bring New Yorkers together through sharing personal stories and art inspired by our neighborhoods.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The New York Public Library’s World Literature & Arts Festival (April 15–30, 2026) brings together trailblazers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds to celebrate storytelling and spotlight NYC’s vibrant communities. Join us for free events, programs, book recommendations, and resources for all ages.
BOOKS & MORE
Discover more books and ideas tied to this program in The New York Public Library's collections.
If you have a NYPL library card, you can borrow books related this event and even more NYPL e-books—on your favorite device. Learn more: nypl.org/ebookhelp
Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!
ACCESSIBILITY NOTES
In-Person
- Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.
- You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org.
- This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.
Livestream
- Live captioning will be provided.
- You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org.
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New York, NY 10030