Speakeasy Sessions: Crashout Poems

A Night of Poetry, Music, and Community.

By Brianna Clara

Date and time

Location

Bessie's Place

458 West 145th Street New York, NY 10031

About this event

  • Event lasts 3 hours 30 minutes

Honeyyy, we're back! Your favorite creatives night returns.

Step into the third iteration of The Speakeasy Sessions: Crashout Poems, brought to you by BIPOC Poetry Night.

This month, we honor the legendary Sonia Sanchez—poet, playwright, professor, and one of the most powerful voices of the Black Arts Movement. Known for her raw, unflinching honesty, Sanchez’s work speaks to Black liberation, love, rage, and resistance. In her spirit, this night is for the deep feelers, the truth-tellers, the ones who need to get it all off their chest.

Crashout Poems is a space for those who have been keeping it cute for too long—a poetry-infused evening of radical expression, release, and collective care. Set in a cozy Harlem speakeasy, we invite you to pour it out, a lyrical rage room if you will.

Here is what to expect:

Social Writing – Join us in a creative writing exercise led by our featured poet, inspired by Sonia Sanchez’s legacy and the urgent need to crash the fuck out.

🎤 Open Mic Poetry Performances – Share the piece you wrote, something you've been holding, or just witness the catharsis as others lay it bare.

🎶 Live Vocals & Poems– Experience a soulful live performance blending jazz, R&B, and experimental sounds, brought to you by our vocal feature. And before they bless you with a prompt, you'll get to enjoy a set from our poet feature

Whether you’re mourning something, celebrating survival, or screaming into the void, Crashout Poems is your soft landing. A night of expression, music, community, and the art of letting go.

And yes—the drinks will be flowing. Come sip, write, and cry on the dance floor if you need to. We got you.

About Us:

As always, BIPOC Poetry Night is meant to uplift Black and Brown voices, curating community in Harlem. All are welcome to our events but we ask that you do not touch the mic if you don't identify as BIPOC. There are few spaces completely dedicated to hearing only BIPOC voices, we are one of them. If you can't respect that, attendance is a choice.

Organized by

Brianna Clara is a young writer and storyteller from Harlem, NY. She collaborates with local businesses to bring her event 'BIPOC Poetry Night' to communities as a way for local artists to be heard and connect. Being a published author, she understands the importance of networking and having a space to share your work with others. She values the tradition of sharing, listening, and learning from one another. These events are created for and by the community and would not run without the artistry, support and love that exists in it.

You can find her on Instagram @thebriannaclara

FreeJul 18 · 7:00 PM EDT