June 4
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (DC Public Library)
901 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001

Brought to you by Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (DC Public Library)

More than a dance, more than a scene—Ballroom is a defiant celebration of life, identity, and fierce creativity that refuses to be silenced.

Author Michael Roberson will be in conversation with journalist/author jarrett hill on his latest work.

With roots reaching back to the 1880s, the subculture of Ballroom emerged in Harlem in the ‘60s out of a need for safe and inclusive spaces for Black and Brown queer people, in which family-like “Houses” competed at performative balls, allowing members of this marginalized groups to shine. Recently, thanks to shows like Pose and Legendary, it has grown into a global phenomenon, with Ballroom Houses flourishing from Paris to Tokyo as a new generation discovers the thrill of the walk, the pose, and the performance that defines Ballroom excellence.

BALLROOM: A History, A Movement, A Celebration (June 3, 2025; Running Press) by activist and cultural leader Michael Roberson with contributions by Mikelle Street, is an exhaustively researched tome honoring the history of Ballroom and exploring how the art form has served the Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ community, offering refuge from the threats and violence against the community while also serving as a testament to the radical nature of queer joy with its pageantry and commitment to chosen family.

Bringing both an authoritative and entertaining sweep to this hugely important and influential cultural sensation, BALLROOM is filled with photos, interviews, and stories, presenting a captivating, well-documented narrative about not only how to survive but how to do so fashionably, glamorously, and in the company of one another.

About the Author:

Michael Roberson is a multifaceted figure in the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a theologian, public health practitioner, activist, artist, and cultural leader. He holds academic positions at C-RRED, The New School University, and Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Roberson is deeply involved in the House Ball Community, having founded four major houses and co-founded The Ballroom Freedom School. He co-conceptualized the House Lives Matters National Leadership Initiative and edits the “Arts Everywhere/Ballroom Freedom School” publication. His influence extends to mainstream media, having worked as a cultural consultant for the FX series Pose. Roberson’s work focuses on uplifting Black/Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals through various platforms and initiatives.

About the Moderator:

An award-winning journalist and artist, jarrett hill has contributed to The New York Times, Variety, NBC News, CNN International, and Channel Q, among other publications.

As founder of trblmkng., hill produces work as a creative artist, standup comic, speaker, host, media trainer and consultant. Previously, jarrett served two terms as president of the National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles (NABJLA) and is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. jarrett co-hosted FANTI, with Tre’vell Anderson, one of Apple Podcasts’ “Best of 2020.” The pair co-authored the NAACP Image Award-winning book Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends to Who All Gon’ Be There? for Ten Speed Press at Penguin Random House.

Currently, jarrett is a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, getting a Master of Religion & Public Life, focused on serving the Black queer & trans community that has grown out of the Black church tradition.

Sponsored by the DC Public Library Foundation and the Capital Pride Alliance