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And the Category Is...

Registration now closed

And the Category Is.... An afternoon with Ricky Tucker

2023-05-27 13:00:00 2023-05-27 15:00:00 America/New_York And the Category Is.... An afternoon with Ricky Tucker Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library - Auditorium, East Storefront A & B

Saturday, May 27
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2023-05-27 13:00:00 2023-05-27 15:00:00 America/New_York And the Category Is.... An afternoon with Ricky Tucker A conversation with Ricky Tucker Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library - Auditorium, East Storefront A & B

A conversation with Ricky Tucker

To kick off Pride season, join the Library and Loyalty Bookstores for an afternoon of rich conversation with Ricky Tucker, author of And the Category Is...: Inside New York's Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community. Joined by Michael Roberson and Reginald Douglass of Mosaic Theater, Ricky will discuss his love letter to New York's ballroom community and its abundant legacy and influence in popular culture. 

Books will be available for purchase, and a limited number will be given away courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation.

Following the event at 3:30, head up to Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library for And the Category Is... Community Vogue Showcase & Competition at the Mt. Pleasant Library feat. Ricky Tucker. Dance for the Gods! Hit the runway, vogue, and win prizes alongside your fabulous neighbors! 

This event is for ages 13+ and supported by the Mt. Pleasant Library Friends.

About the Book

What is Ballroom? Not a song, a documentary, a catchphrase, a TV show, or an individual pop star. It is an underground subculture founded over a century ago by LGBTQ African American and Latino men and women of Harlem. Arts-based and intersectional, it transcends identity, acting as a fearless response to the systemic marginalization of minority populations.

Ricky Tucker pulls from his years as a close friend of the community to reveal the complex cultural makeup and ongoing relevance of house and Ballroom, a space where trans lives are respected and applauded, and queer youth are able to find family and acceptance. With each chapter framed as a "category" (Vogue, Realness, Body, et al.), And the Category Is . . . offers an impressionistic point of entry into this subculture, its deeply integrated history, and how it's been appropriated for mainstream audiences. Each category features an exclusive interview with fierce LGBTQ/POC Ballroom members--Lee Soulja, Benjamin Ninja, Twiggy Pucci Garçon, and more--whose lives, work, and activism drive home that very category.

At the height of public intrigue and awareness about Ballroom, thanks to TV shows like FX's Pose, Tucker's compelling narratives help us understand its relevance in pop culture, dance, public policy with regard to queer communities, and so much more. Welcome to the norm-defying realness of Ballroom.

About the Author

Ricky Tucker is a writer, educator, and culture critic based in NYC. His work explores the imprints of art and memory on narrative, and the absurdity of most fleeting moments. He has written for the Paris Review, the Tenth Magazine, LitHub, and Public Seminar, among others, and performed for reading series including the Moth Grand SLAM, Sister Spit, and Born: Free. His L.A. Times best-selling debut, And the Category Is…Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community (Beacon Press) was chosen by Pitchfork as one of its 15 Best Music Books of 2022, and is now a finalist for for the 2023 LAMBDA Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Nonfiction. It is available online and in stores. 

About the co-panelist and moderator

Michael Roberson is a public health practitioner, advocate, activist, artist, curator, and leader within the LGBTQ community. He is the co-creator of the nation’s only Black Gay Research group and National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition, as well as an Adjunct Professor at The New School University/Lang College NYC, and Union Theological Seminary NYC. He is an international art and politics consultant and a member of the international sound art collective entitled “Ultra-red.” Michael scholar in residence for the Center for Race, Religion, and Economic Democracy, as well as recent TED Media Resident, where he performed a global TED talk about the underground Black/Latinx House/ball ballroom community, entitled “The enduring legacy of ballroom." For Black History Month 2021, Michael co-authored an article in Time Magazine titled "Why Voguing and the Ballroom Scene Matter Now More than Ever."  Michael also co-created a “Respect in The Workplace” curriculum and training for Vice Media, and trained all of Vice’s staff in their Brooklyn offices and Los Angeles offices.  Michael also served as a cultural consultant for the Pose FX television show. 

Reginald L. Douglas is a director, producer, and advocate dedicated to creating new work and supporting new voices. He was recently named the Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater in Washington DC, following two years of service as the Associate Artistic Director of Studio Theatre.

AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | LGBTQ Pride | Author Talk |

TAGS: | |

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

Phone: (202) 727-0321

Hours
We're closed Monday May 29 due to Memorial Day
Mon, May 29 Closed
(Memorial Day)
Tue, May 30 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Wed, May 31 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jun 01 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jun 02 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Jun 03 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sun, Jun 04 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the library

Upcoming events

Fri, Jun 02, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Fri, Jun 02, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Great Hall

Fri, Jun 02, 10:30am - 12:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 02, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 02, 11:00am - 12:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Fri, Jun 02, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 02, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
203-A

Fri, Jun 02, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Sat, Jun 03, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Jun 03, 11:00am - 2:00pm
5th and I (Eye) Streets NW

Sat, Jun 03, 12:15pm - 2:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Sat, Jun 03, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Sat, Jun 03, 2:00pm - 2:30pm

Sat, Jun 03, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Rooms A, E, and D

Sat, Jun 03, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Sat, Jun 03, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Sun, Jun 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
East Storefront A & B

Sun, Jun 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sun, Jun 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sun, Jun 04, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
East Storefront A & B

Mon, Jun 05, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Mon, Jun 05, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 05, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 05, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Mon, Jun 05, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Mon, Jun 05, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 05, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Tue, Jun 06, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Tue, Jun 06, 10:00am - 10:30am

Tue, Jun 06, 11:00am - 11:30am

Tue, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Tue, Jun 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Wed, Jun 07, 10:00am - 10:30am
204-F Youth Program Room

Wed, Jun 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 07, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 11:00am - 12:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 07, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 07, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 07, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
West Storefront

Wed, Jun 07, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 07, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
West Storefront

Wed, Jun 07, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Wed, Jun 07, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
East Storefront A & B

Wed, Jun 07, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 08, 11:45am - 1:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 08, 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Thu, Jun 08, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Thu, Jun 08, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 08, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 08, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 08, 2:15pm - 3:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 08, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Thu, Jun 08, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 08, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Canceled
Thu, Jun 08, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Thu, Jun 08, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Event Space

Fri, Jun 09, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Fri, Jun 09, 10:30am - 12:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 09, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 09, 11:00am - 12:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Fri, Jun 09, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Sat, Jun 10, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Sat, Jun 10, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Sat, Jun 10, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Jun 10, 12:15pm - 2:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Sat, Jun 10, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Event Space

Rescheduled
Sat, Jun 10, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
New date Saturday, July 08, 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Sat, Jun 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Sat, Jun 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sat, Jun 10, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Sun, Jun 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Mon, Jun 12, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Mon, Jun 12, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 12, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Mon, Jun 12, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Tue, Jun 13, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Tue, Jun 13, 10:00am - 10:30am

Tue, Jun 13, 11:00am - 2:00pm
202-K Consultation Room

Tue, Jun 13, 11:00am - 11:30am

Tue, Jun 13, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
401-F Conference Room (20-46 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 13, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Tue, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 13, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Tue, Jun 13, 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jun 14, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 14, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Wed, Jun 14, 10:00am - 10:30am
204-F Youth Program Room

Wed, Jun 14, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 14, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 14, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Wed, Jun 14, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 15, 11:45am - 1:00pm
205-H Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 15, 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Thu, Jun 15, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
205-H Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 15, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 15, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 15, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 15, 2:15pm - 3:15pm
205-H Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 15, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Thu, Jun 15, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Thu, Jun 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Thu, Jun 15, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 15, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 16, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Fri, Jun 16, 10:00am - 11:30am
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 16, 10:30am - 12:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 16, 11:00am - 12:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Fri, Jun 16, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Sat, Jun 17, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Sat, Jun 17, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Jun 17, 11:30am - 12:30pm
East Storefront B (inside corner)

Sat, Jun 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
West Storefront

Sat, Jun 17, 12:15pm - 2:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Sat, Jun 17, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
West Storefront

Sun, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sun, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Tue, Jun 20, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Tue, Jun 20, 10:00am - 10:30am

Tue, Jun 20, 11:00am - 11:30am

Tue, Jun 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 20, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Tue, Jun 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Tue, Jun 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Tue, Jun 20, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
401-E Conference Room (20-46 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 21, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 21, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Wed, Jun 21, 10:00am - 10:30am
204-F Youth Program Room

Wed, Jun 21, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 21, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 21, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 21, 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Wed, Jun 21, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Canceled
Wed, Jun 21, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Wed, Jun 21, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
East Storefront A & B

Wed, Jun 21, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 22, 11:45am - 1:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 22, 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Thu, Jun 22, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Thu, Jun 22, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 22, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 22, 2:15pm - 3:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 22, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Thu, Jun 22, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Fri, Jun 23, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Fri, Jun 23, 10:30am - 12:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 23, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 23, 11:00am - 12:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Fri, Jun 23, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Sat, Jun 24, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Sat, Jun 24, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Jun 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Sat, Jun 24, 12:15pm - 2:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Sat, Jun 24, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
401-A Conference Room (20-50 Person Capacity)

Sat, Jun 24, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Sat, Jun 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sat, Jun 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sat, Jun 24, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Sun, Jun 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Mon, Jun 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Mon, Jun 26, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Mon, Jun 26, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Mon, Jun 26, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Mon, Jun 26, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Tue, Jun 27, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Tue, Jun 27, 10:00am - 10:30am

Tue, Jun 27, 11:00am - 11:30am

Tue, Jun 27, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Tue, Jun 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Tue, Jun 27, 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jun 28, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Wed, Jun 28, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Wed, Jun 28, 10:00am - 10:30am
204-F Youth Program Room

Wed, Jun 28, 11:00am - 12:00pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 28, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 28, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
205-J Computer Lab (21 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 28, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Wed, Jun 28, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Wed, Jun 28, 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Wed, Jun 28, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 29, 10:00am - 11:00am
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 29, 11:45am - 1:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 29, 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Thu, Jun 29, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Thu, Jun 29, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
204-F Youth Program Room

Thu, Jun 29, 2:15pm - 3:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Thu, Jun 29, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Thu, Jun 29, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Thu, Jun 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
East Storefront A & B

Fri, Jun 30, 10:00am - 4:00pm
202-H Consultation Room,202-I Consultation Room

Fri, Jun 30, 10:30am - 12:00pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Fri, Jun 30, 10:30am - 12:30pm
202-O Computer Lab (17 Person Capacity)

Fri, Jun 30, 11:00am - 12:00pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Fri, Jun 30, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Sat, Jul 01, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Jul 01, 12:15pm - 2:15pm
205-B Accessibility Program Room

Sat, Jul 01, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
401-G Conference Room (6-46 Person Capacity_

Canceled
Sat, Jul 01, 2:00pm - 2:30pm