Whitaker Jazz Speaks – Ebony Gilbert: Billie Holiday – The Graphic Novel

Dive into the celebrated life of “Lady Day” for this very special Whitaker Jazz Speaks event! This fully-illustrated graphic novel that tells the story of Billie Holiday’s rapid—and, at times, grueling—rise to become one of the best musicians who ever lived.

Strongly impacted by the poverty, violence, and drug use she witnessed as a child living in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, author Ebony Gilbert has devoted her life to using the written word to highlight marginalized communities, give a voice to the voiceless, and capture the experiences of the disenfranchised. In addition to co-writing and directing Complex[ion] Woman, an award-winning play that explores the intricacies of Black womanhood, Ebony was named a 2018 Writer to Watch by WeForShe. She also works as a story editor on The CW’s Batwoman.