slavery

Poet, playwright, and novelist Owen Dodson reads a range of poems from his distinguished career. As he introduces his poems, Dodson reflects on his consciousness as a writer, from his undergraduate days at Bates College to his engagement with spirituality, Civil Rights, and social justice.

Lucille Clifton reads poems spanning two decades of work.

Al Young reads from Drowning in the Sea of Love: Musical Memoirs (1995), Heaven: Collected Poems 1956-1990 (1992), and The Sound of Dreams Remembered: Poems 1990-2000 (2001).

Margarita Engle delivers a lecture on poetry as a vehicle for historical exploration; she also reads poems from The Lightning Dreamer (2013) and Silver People (2014).

Camille T. Dungy reads primarily from What to Eat, What to Drink, What to Leave for Poison (2006). This reading was originally given with Richard Siken and Heriberto Yépez as part of the Next Word Series.

James Hannaham reads the prologue and opening chapter of his novel Delicious Foods (2015).

Kiki Petrosino reads poems from Hymn for the Black Terrific (2013), Witch Wife (2017), and Black Genealogy (2017).

Tiana Clark reads from her poetry collection I Can't Talk About the Trees Without the Blood (2018) as well as two uncollected poems. This reading was originally given alongside Monica Sok.