Art and Activism: An Evening with Author Jack Marchbanks

Experience the Intersection of Jazz, Literature, and Civil Rights at the Historic Lincoln Theatre

Join us for a captivating exploration of the cultural “command center” of the Civil Rights Movement. Renowned historian and Jazz Sunday host Jack Marchbanks presents his latest work, Art and Activism: Jazz Artists and Writers in the Civil Rights Vanguard.

Between 1955 and 1965, the fight for equality wasn’t just happening on the front lines of the Jim Crow South—it was being fueled by the creative genius of New York’s intellectual and musical elite. Discover how icons like Nina Simone, James Baldwin, Miles Davis, and Lorraine Hansberry used their craft to transform American culture and support leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026

• Time: 6:00 PM, doors open at 5:30 PM

• Location: The Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St, Columbus, OH 43203 in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood

• Admission: Free – Includes author presentation and book signing with the purchase of the book.

• Registration: Please register for the event here

Why Attend?

• Local Connection: Learn why Columbus’s own Jack Marchbanks identifies the strategic links between jazz legends and civil rights milestones.

• Historic Venue: Immerse yourself in history at the Lincoln Theatre, the heart of the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood.

• Deep Dive: Perfect for students of history, jazz aficionados, and anyone passionate about the role of art in social change.

Books will be available for purchase through Ohio University Press; signings will be available after the presentation.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE