...Patricia A. Suchy Originally delivered as a response to Rachel N. Hastings's performance of “Black Human” at the Opening Session of the 2017 National Communication Association annual convention, this essay celebrates the reclaiming of the prominence of the practice of performing poetry...

...Ronald L. Jackson, II This brief manuscript offers commentary about the Opening Session of the 2017 National Communication Association annual convention. The NCA Opening Session is ordinarily a time when convention-goers get a glimpse of a range of topics that will be explored during the annual...

...Amber L. Johnson; Javon Johnson This essay introduces the collected performances and responses presented during the Opening Session of the 2017 National Communication Association annual convention held in Dallas, TX. This history illuminates the obvious choice as we started planning. Given our...

...Jeffrey Q. McCune, Jr. This essay represents the Closing Remarks for the Opening Session of the 2017 National Communication Association annual convention. It attempts to make usable the profound thoughts and rhetoric experienced in a session of performative pleasure and protest. © 2018...