The REACH Opening Festival at the Kennedy Center

Poet, playwright, author, Hip Hop artist, and actor Austin Dean Ashford presents “Black Book,” his solo spoken word show that has garnered awards and praise – including a Kennedy Center Citizen's Award. “Black Book” focuses on gun violence and other obstacles ever-present in underrepresented education systems, and how taking part in activities like speech and debate can aid young people in navigating their community with resilience. Ashford's goal for this timely, powerful play is to “create a work that lessens the distance between human beings on the stage, page, and screen.”