blackgirl on mars: notes on a life in copenhagen (or how my alienation brings me closer to people).

Prof. Dr. Gloria Wekker & I at BE.BOP 2018: Coalitions Facing White Innocence photo credit:  This post was originally published on Facebook on Monday September 17th, 2018:  In my book, I write about the Combahee River Collective but I neglected to write that it was a Black Lesbian collective. I ommitted the word "lesbian" not on purpose, but because of my own ignorance embedded in my extremely heteronormative socialization and lapse in self-interrogation on how this has influenced my gaze. I now understand the violence of that omission and I apologize for this. It was something I spoke to Prof. Dr. Gloria Wekker about when I had the privilege of  meeting her this past summer at BE.BOP 2018 and I had asked her how I could remedy it. This is part of this remedy - and of course it will be rectified in future printings. I'm writing about this now, because when I read the manifesto of the Combahee River Collective - the words resonated with me. There can be no liber...

Join us on March 10 at 5pm at Copenhagen's Main Library for  talk between four women of African descent living in Denmark. A   discussion bringing forward crucial issues on today’s globalized world. Anna Neye is a Danish actress and scriptwriter. Neye graduated from The Arts Educational School in London (1995) and The National Film School of Denmark (2005). Among other things, Neye was part of the satirical television series Normalerweize as a writer and an actress. Lesley-Ann Brown is a Trinidadian-American writer and educator who currently lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Brown was born in Brooklyn to Trinidadian immigrants. She is currently working on her travel memoirs about living in Copenhagen. Jeannette Ehlers is a Danish visual artist living and working in Copenh agen. Ehlers graduated from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (2006). In the spring, 2014, Jeannette Ehlers had her major solo presentation, SAY IT LOUD! at Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary...

when  bandit queen press  was initially announced, I was hyped. the presence and a determination that vibrate through the press’ mission are what movements are made of. history-making begins with ideas like these, as grassroots that become the foundations beneath our feet.

 lesley-ann brown commands attention from the beginning lines, revealing the connection between a daughter and iconic father. he who seemed to exude strength was now forced to be vulnerable, and she once forced to skip vulnerability when too tender to be strong was now faced with the need for honest assessment, and reasoned forgiveness at an impossible time. 


 the organist’s daughter  is the honest and lush journal of an island girl who cuts away delusion with a sharp reasoned knife, bearing no malice toward the human experience’s ache, or the delayed journey answers make to the heart long after the questions have been asked. 
it is the memoir of a conscious heart, kindly extending its embra...

Jeannette Ehlers from her "Whip It" performance This Blackgirl is in heaven right now. I am so looking forward to this event: Not only because of the subject & content, but due to the fact that I will also be participating. Big up the organisers for making this happen here in DK.  SPIRITUAL REVOLUTIONS & “THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA” BE.BOP 2014. BLACK EUROPE BODY POLITICS MAY 02-31 BERLIN Ballhaus Naunynstraße. With the friendly support of Heinrich Böll Stiftung MAY 15-18 COPENHAGEN SPIRITUAL REVOLUTIONS & “THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA” BE.BOP 2014. BLACK EUROPE BODY POLITICS Thursday May 15 Keynote by Walter Mignolo: Say it Loud!: Re-Existences, Re-Surgences and  Re-Emergences  University of Copenhagen,  Amager Auditorium 22.0.1  16:00-18:00 Say it Loud! Nikolaj Kunsthal Reception at Jeannette Ehlers’ exhibition  19:00-21:00 Performance by Charo Oquet Engungu in White - A Celebra...

It's officially over a year now since I have been home. Here are some of my favourite pics that either my girl Karen Good took on our memorable stroll through my old Brooklyn stomping grounds, or some I took myself...the lovely young lady is my grandmother!

Darn, can't get my poster to print properly! Well, it's for my reading next Friday, May 15th at Det Poetiske Bureau, Griffenfeldsgade 52--just in cause you're in the hood. Starts at 5pm and there will be a viewing of Charlotte Troldahl's documentary on The Calabash Literary Festival, a reading from Lennox Raphael and then I'll perform some stuff with, fingers crossed, the accompaniment of Deadato Sequir. It will be a Caribbean-themed event, with rum, reggae and rawkus. The day after I'll be performing with Shine at Christiania's Børneteatret, where we'll have Bingo night and just plain old fun and creativity. This past Saturday was a blast. Blågårdsgade had a street party and it was amazing. There were bands (Shine played there); djs; food; drink and general good vibes. Folks were out enjoying the Sun and each other. V and I got there around 5 and met up with some others and well, yeah, it was dope. What made it even cooler was that Blågårdsgade generall...

Bandit Queen Press is Proud to Present: Blackgirl on Mars On Sunday November 2nd, 2pm Lesley-Ann Brown reads Selected Poems from The Organist's Daughter and her upcoming collection of poetry Blackgirl on Mars Det Poetiske Bureau Griffenfeldsgade 52

I can’t remember the first time I met my sister. All I know was she was older than me & I thought that she was cute. She wore black-rimmed glasses that pinched the end of her nose. She had two ponytails that constantly came undone (I can not remember my mother ever doing her hair). My sister and I spent a lot of time together in a stale, dark bedroom we shared with our brother. We weren’t really encouraged to have friends or to go out. Our dark, airless, messy chaotic room full of hand-me -downs and broken toys became an island, sitting in the wake of a possible tsunami. My mother was a defective shelter that always faltered when you needed it most. She buckled whenever the wave crashed in on our backs, thick leather with metal that left marks on the skin but worst of all, confusion in our souls. Copenhagen, 2006

Bandit Queen Press was founded in 2007 by Brooklyn-born writer Lesley-Ann Brown. Bandit Queen Press is born out of the need for writers to exercise a symbolic and practical ownership over their work. Bandit Queen Press is born to wipe out feelings of alienation between the creator and the creation. Bandit Queen Press is born in protest to the publishing establishment. Bandit Queen Press is proud to announce its first title The Organist’s Daughter by Lesley-Ann Brown. Created on a Copenhagen Kitchen table, The Organist’s Daughter is a tribute to the unglamorous grittiness of life. Bandit Queen Press is a movement that you can be part of. All you need is access to paper. Please submit all new title ideas to banditqueenpress@yahoo.com for a copy of our manifesto which must be adhered to before use of the Bandit Queen Press seal of approval. Blackgirl on Mars can be heard at Homegrown's Myspace Merry Christmas!