Conversation, Book Signing & Reception with sips and bites from Chef Lala

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Join us to celebrate the latest book release from Bryant Terry's 4 Color Books, The Black Yearbook by Adraint Bereal. A gripping exploration of the joys, hardships, and truths of Black college students through intimate, honest dialogues and stunning photography, The Black Yearbook reframes society's stereotypical perception of higher education by representing and celebrating the wide range of Black experiences on campuses. Bereal will be in conversation with George McCalman, author of Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and Unseen. The conversation will be followed by a book signing and reception.

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When photographer Adraint Bereal graduated from the University of Texas, he self-published an impressive volume of portraits, personal statements, and interviews that explored UT's campus culture and offered an intimate look at the lives of Black students matriculating within a majority white space. Bereal's work was inspired by his first photo exhibition at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, entitled 1.7, which unearthed the experiences of the 925 Black men who made up just 1.7% of UT's total 52,000 student body.

Now Bereal expands the scope of his original project and visits colleges nationwide, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to predominantly white institutions to trade schools and more. Rather than dwelling on the monolith of trauma often associated with Black narratives, Bereal is dedicated to using honest dialogue to share stories of true joy and triumph amidst the hardships, prejudices, and internal struggles. Using an exciting and eclectic design approach to accompany the portraits and stories, each individual profile effectively conveys the interviewee's unique voice, tone, and background.

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Adraint Bereal is a graduate of the University of Texas. His work has been displayed in the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, and he has been covered by the New York Times, Vice, The Atlantic, CNN, and the Washington Post. He now shoots campaigns for major clients such as Calvin Klein, Outdoor Voices, and AirBnB.

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George McCalman is an artist and creative director based in San Francisco and Grenada. His design studio McCalman Co collaborates with a wide range of cultural clients. McCalman’s background in the editorial world has been a foundation of his storytelling, and his decision to cultivate his fine art practice alongside brand work reframed his perspective and synthesized the importance of design. His first book ‘Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and Unseen’ was published in Sept 2022 to profound accolades by The New Yorker’s Hilton Als, NPR, The New York Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle. His book won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author in Feb 2023.

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4 Color Books collaborates with the most forward-thinking and groundbreaking BIPOC chefs, writers, artists, activists, and innovators to craft visually stunning nonfiction books that inspire readers and give rise to a more healthy, just, and sustainable world for all.

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