Help Najee Omar Bring Black Queer Stories to Life
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My Personal Journey Behind the Play
Hi, I'm Najee Omar! And I used to think love wasn’t for me.
If I'm being honest, I spent most of my life suppressing my desires—until it was a poison I could no longer stomach. Coming out in my late 20s changed this. It was the first time I truly witnessed myself. My journey to self-acceptance showed me how extraordinary and beautiful it is to be a Black man who loves other Black men. And I believe we all deserve to experience this kind of freedom in our lifetime.
This inspired me to write Little Black Book—a stage play that follows a Black queer man as he navigates the highs and lows of love with a series of lovers, ultimately learning to love himself. It is a deeply personal work, reflecting the tender and intimate moments that define our experiences and ultimately shape who we become.
Why I Need Your Help
In the worlds of theater, tv, and film, authentic Black and queer stories are still drastically underrepresented. Many powerful narratives remain unheard, and even more dynamic people remain unseen. Not because they lack merit, but because they lack funding and institutional support.
On May 2, 2024, we produced the first staged reading of Little Black Book, featuring an incredibly talented cast and crew of Black and queer artists. Despite its tremendous success, the continuation of this project is at risk due to lack of funding.
Instead of waiting for the next grant cycle or an institution to recognize and fund this vital work, I am launching the Little Black Book Fellowship. This fellowship is a grassroots initiative to ensure that Little Black Book can continue production and reach its full potential. By turning to my community we can collectively bring this important story to more audiences, more stages, and more cities.
Goals of the Little Black Book Fellowship
My goal is to raise 10K by August 31, 2024! Your contributions will help us achieve the following:
Month 1
- Script Development: Your support will enable ongoing refinement and expansion of the Little Black Book script, ensuring that the stories we are telling are honest and rooted in craft.
- Writing Workshop Series: I will launch a free workshop series open to Black and queer folx of all backgrounds. This 8-week workshop will focus on healing through the exploration of our individual love journeys. It will include a culminating celebration, fostering a supportive community and inspiring new voices.
Month 2
- Coaching Sessions: Funds will provide access to invaluable coaching sessions from theater and literary professionals, offering guidance and expertise to elevate the theatrical production.
- Pitching to Theaters: With your help, I will travel to Los Angeles to pitch Little Black Book to theaters and producers, seeking opportunities for broader exposure and collaboration in 2025.
Month 3
- Workshop Reading: Your contributions will support the production of another reading of the play, allowing us to gather essential feedback and refine the script further.
On Going
- Interview Series: I will continue interviewing other Black queer and gay men about their love journeys to inform and enrich the script development.
- Archival Process: Your support will contribute to documenting and archiving the creation process, ensuring we have a lasting record of Black and queer stories for generations to come.
- Universe Building: Our longterm goal is to expand the Little Black Book universe, envisioning a multi-city tour, podcasts, audiobooks, merchandise, and more healing spaces for Black and queer folx to celebrate their love stories.
Costs
The Little Black Book Fellowship needs to cover costs for:
Artist and Crew Stipends: $4,000
Materials and Fees for Writing Workshop Series: $2,500
Photography and Video for Archival Process: $2,000
Travel to Los Angeles for Pitch Meetings: $1,500
How You're Making a Difference
By supporting the Little Black Book Fellowship, you are not just funding a stage production; you are championing a movement for greater representation and authenticity on stages across the world.
Your contribution will bring a unique Black and queer story to more audiences, enriching the cultural landscape with diverse perspectives. You will enable workshops that provide a safe space for Black and queer folks to explore and heal through their own love stories, and your support will help document and preserve the creation and evolution of this significant work for future generations.
As a Thank You
All donors will have priority registration for the Writing Workshop Series and an exclusive invite to the Workshop Reading of the play.
Together, we can ensure that Little Black Book not only survives but thrives, becoming a beacon of love, identity, and healing for Black and queer communities everywhere. Your support is more than a donation; it's a declaration that these stories matter and deserve to be told.
Thank you for your generosity and belief in the transformative power of theater!
About the Writer & Creator
Najee Omar (he/him) is an award-winning writer, performance artist, and organizer. Named a New York Times Visionary, he has been commissioned to perform at and create original programming for Brooklyn Academy of Music (2019), The Public Theater (2019), Lincoln Center (2022), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2023), and more. He is a 2024 SKY LAB Artist-in-Residence at Hi-ARTS where he is developing his very first stage play: Little Black Book. His poems can be found in the anthology That's a Pretty Thing to Call It: Prose and Poetry by artists working in carceral institutions (2023) and Poet Lore Magazine (2024). Najee lives and loves in Brooklyn.
Organizer
Najee Omar
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY