The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) will host a poetry series titled I Guess It Was My Destiny To Live So Long from October 23 to October 30, 2026. Curated by poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, the event celebrates the legacy of Brooklyn poet June Jordan through a range of readings, live music, and multidisciplinary performances, aimed at connecting voices and histories across the African Diaspora.
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The series kicks off on October 23 at the Howard Gilman Opera House, featuring composer and instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello alongside Samora Pinderhughes in an evening that merges words and music. On October 25, BAM will hold its inaugural Poetry Overnight at The Adam Space, a free all-night event filled with readings and collaborative performances that will last until sunrise.
On October 28, Southern Oracles, a performance conceived by Scott Woods, will showcase the Black Air Poets at The Adam Space. This free event combines jazz, hip-hop, poetry, and dance to explore the mythology and cultural legacy of the American South.
On October 29, the performance Be Holding, based on Ross Gay’s poem, will take place at BAM Fisher’s Fishman Space. This piece connects a famous basketball move by NBA legend Dr. J with themes of Black joy and flight, complemented by music from Tyshawn Sorey and video elements.
The series will conclude on October 30 with Stones in the Water, an annual reading featuring Abdurraqib alongside poets Sarah Kay, Clint Smith, and Anis Mojgani. This marks their tenth collaborative engagement and celebrates the friendships forged through artistic expression.
Throughout the week, Abdurraqib will pay tribute to Jordan's legacy, emphasizing poetry as a space for music, movement, memory, and community.