Jan 20 WATCH: Amanda Gorman reads inauguration poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’ By Joshua Barajas After Biden was sworn in as the nation’s 46th president, Gorman read “The Hill We Climb,” building on a tradition of poets -- including Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Alexander and Richard Blanco -- who have read for incoming Democratic… Continue reading
Nov 30 In writing her first novel, this poet turned to her high school journal By Courtney Vinopal A poem taken from Elizabeth Acevedo's high school journal served as the “North Star” for her debut novel's voice. Continue reading
Nov 29 Poet uses runaway slave ads to tell a story of resistance By Connie Kargbo, Lisa Overton St. Mary's College of Maryland unveiled a new memorial this month honoring the lives of enslaved people of southern Maryland, including some who lived on the very land their campus is on. Seattle-based poet and educator Quenton Baker contributed poetry… Continue reading
Nov 27 A poem that extends a hand in our lonely times By Joshua Barajas Throughout the year’s pain and distress caused by the pandemic, people have connected with the core theme of loneliness in Elizabeth Acevedo’s poem. Yet the final, gentle moment, set inside a nail salon, is one of reaching out, and having… Continue reading
Nov 25 New anthology shares Black poetry’s history of ‘struggle and song’ By Joshua Barajas In 250 years of Black poetry, the act of writing is itself a form of protest. Continue reading
Nov 22 Watch 6:10 A Maryland college honors the lives of enslaved people By Ivette Feliciano, Connie Kargbo St. Mary's College of Maryland unveiled a new memorial yesterday honoring the lives of enslaved people of southern Maryland. It tells the story of "resilience, persistence, and creative problem-solving that defined the lives” of the enslaved people that lived there… Continue watching
Nov 17 Beloved arts facility Poets House suspends operations By Associated Press One of the country's leading literary community and educational centers, Poets House, is suspending operations because of “challenges presented” by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Nov 10 How poetry helped Elizabeth Acevedo know when to stop writing By Courtney Vinopal Our November 2020 pick for Now Read This, the PBS NewsHour’s book club with The New York Times, is Elizabeth Acevedo’s “The Poet X."… Continue reading
Nov 03 Discussion questions for ‘The Poet X’ By Courtney Vinopal Our November 2020 pick for Now Read This, the PBS NewsHour's book club with The New York Times, is Elizabeth Acevedo’s "The Poet X."… Continue reading
Oct 09 Joy Harjo on how a new Native poetry anthology fills a gap in American literature By Joshua Barajas For centuries, Native poetry has been preserved by the spoken word. So when a team of editors were putting together a new anthology of Native poetry, with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo among them, they read the entire work out… Continue reading