Lissette Norman, Cultural Worker, Poet & Author
Saturday, January 24th, 2026 from 2 – 4pm
Lissette Norman is an Afro-Dominican poet and author of the picture books My Feet Are Laughing, Plátanos Go with Everything and Abuela’s Library. She is also co-author of the picture books, On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette, Until Someone Listens, and The Girl Who Sings to Bees. Lissette was the 2025 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Artist-in-Residence (Hill District). And she was born and raised in New York City.
Tahirah J. Walker, Ph.D., Professor, Author & Literary Advocate
In conversation with Courtney Abegunde
Saturday, February 7th, 2026 from 2 – 4pm
Tahirah J. Walker, Ph.D., is chair of the Department of Community Engagement and Leadership at Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business. She holds a doctorate in Communication and Rhetorical Studies.
As a writer and literary advocate, Walker is a two-time recipient of the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh award. Her work has been published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PublicSource, Taint Taint Taint Magazine, and Management Communication Quarterly, reflecting a voice that moves fluidly between creative, public, and academic spheres. She previously served on the board of Write Pittsburgh and is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures board.
At the heart of all her work is a love of books, music, and visual art. Walker hopes her contributions shine a light on the amazing everyday lives of Black women and girls.
Shikeith, Multidisciplinary Artist & Filmmaker
In conversation with London Pierre Williams
Saturday, March 7th, 2026 from 2 – 4pm
Shikeith, a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh, delves into the emotional and psychological landscapes of Black men in his work. Drawing on hauntological aesthetics, African diasporic spiritual traditions, and the lasting impacts of colonialism, his art has been showcased and held in prominent institutions such as the Phillips Collection, the Hammer Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
The Black Archive Speaker Series is made possible through the generous support of:
