first up you will hear desire cooper, margo jefferson and andrea ritchie and moderator joseph surette, talking about challenging cultural or political times. >> the theme of this year's conference is gathering up the waters, to present a panel eager to discuss ways literature and poetry face challenges as we open our hearts and minds to healing. at this point i would like to welcome mr. joseph surette, desiree cooper, margo jefferson, abca 12, abca tylan. thai -- tai allen. >> good afternoon. my name is joseph surette from african-american studies. it is my privilege to moderate this panel. just to give you a quick sense of what to expect our call to this roundtable gathering of waters to call for healing and introduce panelists in the order in which they open the conversation, they offer brief remarks, brief opening remarks and follow-up you and a among the panel and open up looking to engage all of you who are here in conversation. a call for healing, the mandate from the national black writers conference literature and poetry often served as a bomb where we are faced with personal