Charis welcomes the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia in conversation with Southern Fried Queer Pride's, TAYLOR ALXNDR, for the paperback release of Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva! This event is co-sponsored by Southern Fried Queer Pride (SFQP), a queer + trans, arts + advocacy organization centering Southern queer communities. This event is co-sponsored by the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History.

As the "undisputed ambassador" of the energetic, New Orleans-based Bounce movement, Big Freedia isn't afraid to twerk, wiggle, and shake her way to self-confidence, and is encouraging her fans to do the same. In her engrossing memoir, Big Freedia tells the inside story of her path to fame, the peaks and valleys of her personal life, and the liberation that Bounce music brings to herself and every one of her fans who is searching for freedom.

Big Freedia immediately pulls us into the relationship between her personal life and her career as an artist; being a "twerking sissy" is not just a job, she says, but a salvation. A place to find solace and escape from the battles she faced growing up in the worst neighborhood in New Orleans. To deal with losing loved ones to the violence on the streets, drug overdoses, and jail. To survive hurricane Katrina by living on her roof for two days with three adults and a child. To grapple with the difficulties and celebrate the joys of living.

In this eye-opening memoir that bursts with energy, you'll learn the history of the Bounce movement and meet all the colorful characters that pepper its music scene. "Whether detailing the highs or the lows, Freedia's tales pop as much as the booty that made her famous" (Out Magazine).

We will be archiving this event and adding closed captioning as soon as possible after airing so that it will be accessible to deaf and HOH people. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible please don't hesitate to reach out to info@chariscircle.org. We are actively learning the best practices for this technology and we welcome your feedback as we begin this new way of connecting across distances.

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Big Freedia, born Freddie Ross, is a New Orleans hip-hop musician known for bringing "bounce" from the underground music scene to the forefront of the industry. Known for her supreme star power and charismatic charm, Big Freedia has performed alongside such artists as pop duo Matt and Kim, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg. Big Freedia's music success is complemented by her television stardom in the reality show Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, airing on the Fuse network. Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva! is her first book.

TAYLOR ALXNDR (they/she) is an Atlanta-based musician, drag performer, multi-media artist, and community organizer. As a musician, ALXNDR released their debut album Hologram in November of 2018. It was listed as one of the top 10 albums from Atlanta artists. ALXNDR is the co-founder and current executive director of Southern Fried Queer Pride (SFQP), a queer + trans, arts + advocacy organization centering Southern queer communities. They are also the mother of the House of ALXNDR, an Atlanta-based drag family and events hub, creating drag-centered, inclusive events.

God Save the Queen Diva! Big Freedia in conversation with TAYLOR ALXNDR