MILES OF STYLE | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
Feb 19, 2024 6:00 pm
Location
Hyattsville
5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, Maryland, 20781
Feb 19, 2024 6:00 pm
Hyattsville
Eunice W. Johnson believed in the power of fashion and beauty to inspire people. After she and her husband, John H. Johnson, founded EBONY magazine, it quickly became the premiere lifestyle publication for mid-century Black readers. Among the many hats she wore, Eunice delighted in writing a fashion column describing the latest styles.
In 1958, Eunice launched a project that would change fashion forever--the EBONY Fashion Fair. In towns and cities across the United States, Black models walked the runway in the freshest trends that season and Black attendees got to see people who looked like them in bright colors and haute couture.
To make the Fashion Fair happen every year, Eunice negotiated with snobby fashion houses in Europe and navigated racism back home in the US, to acquire the most show-stopping styles for her show. Decades later, her name remains a watchword for glamour and elegance in the Black community. Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices award, Miles of Style celebrates a visionary who used her influence to showcase the strength and beauty of the Black community.
Lisa D. Brathwaite is joining us on the Busboys stage with Tracy Chiles McGhee to discuss how style and resilience were sewn into the story of Eunice W. Johnson, from Selma, Alabama to the fashion stage, and threaded through the journey of bringing her cultural impact to the picture book page. Come share EBONY Fashion Fair recollections and strike a hearty pose of your own. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Brathwaite will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of MILES OF STYLE will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Lisa D. Brathwaite is a purveyor of creative self-expression. She loves playing dress-up (still!), her family, finding herself in art spaces, and writing whatever suits her in a given moment. This is her debut children's book. She designs her life in metro Atlanta, Georgia. Find out more at lisadbrathwaite.com.
Tracy Giles McGhee is a multi-genre writer and the author of the award-winning novel, Melting the Blues. She is the visionary Founder of My Published Book, dedicated to amplifying women’s voices by leveraging her distinct prowess in indie publishing and marketing. Her mission, beyond her calling as a writer, encompasses bringing compelling women’s narratives to life and giving them a global platform. Tracy extends her expertise, influence, and passion to several organizations and initiatives including the Celebrate! Maya Project, Zora’s Den, and Unerased: Black Women Speak. A graduate of Catholic University Law School and Georgetown University, Tracy enjoys the cultural richness of Washington, DC, where she makes her home. Find out more at tracychilesmcghee.com.
