The August Wilson Center – African American Cultural Center presents the second installment in its TRUTHSayers series—four thought-provoking lectures and discussions with celebrated  Black female activists at the forefront of their fields—with a talk by the influential activist and media critic April Reign on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as part of the Black Bottom Film Festival. A writer, editor, and former attorney, April Reign is the creator of #OscarsSoWhite and will discuss her activism in working to build on this movement toward greater diversity and equality in the entertainment industry.

“April Reign is one of the most prominent contemporary voices in media and we are so honored to have her at the Center,” says AACC president and CEO Janis Burley Wilson. “It’s particularly fitting to have her presence as part of our Black Bottom Film Festival, as she has pioneered space for discussions of race and anti-Blackness in the Hollywood and film industries.” In addition to April Reign’s talk, there will be a joint Q&A Wynn Thomas on production design and Black impact on cinema following the Black Bottom Film Festival Awards Ceremony that begins at 3:30 p.m.

April Reign will continue to inspire others to use their voice to create social change, challenge the status quo, and increase inclusion of underrepresented communities in the media and the world. Named one of the Top 15 accounts on #BlackTwitter by National Journal, Reign is one of social media’s most influential voices on race, politics, and pop-culture, with more than 125,000 Twitter followers and counting. As the creator of the rallying cry and viral hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, she challenged the lack of representation of marginalized communities in Hollywood, resulting in the most sweeping changes in the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Additionally, she works as a managing editor of Broadway Black, an organization and publication devoted to highlighting the successes of Black theatre artists.

In addition to April Reign, featured speakers of the TRUTHSayers series include activist scholar Angela Davis, Macarthur “Genius” Grant winning playwright and actress Anna Deveare Smith, and political activist and former national press secretary Symone Sanders. This showcase gives a platform for activists to voice their knowledge and concern for the future of community, equality, and freedom.

About August Wilson Center – African American Cultural Center

The August Wilson Center – African American Cultural Center is a venue dedicated to the presentation of art and culture reflective of African-Americans and the African Diaspora. It is located in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District at 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. The “Center” offers multiple exhibition galleries, a 472-seat theater for performances, and spaces for classes, lectures and community events. It was designed by African-American architect, Allison Williams.