The esteemed poet, Jaki Shelton Green, will give a reading. Recently appointed to a two year term as North Carolina Poet Laureate, she is the ninth laureate overall, the first African-American, and only the third woman to receive the honor.
Green has been active in North Carolina’s literary and teaching community for more than 40 years. She has been a great advocate for literature and writing in North Carolina, especially championing under-served communities and youth. She has written eight collections of poetry, co-edited two poetry anthologies and written one play. She is a 2014 North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame inductee and was the recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature in 2003.
Green has performed her poetry and taught workshops extensively throughout the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Central and South America. Her poetry has been choreographed by the Chuck Davis African Dance Ensemble, in conjunction with the Kennedy Center and the Nasher Museum at Duke University; Two Near the Edge Dance Company; ChoreoCollective; Danca Nova Dance Company, in conjunction with the Colorado Naropa Dance Institute; and Miami City Ballet.
She currently teaches Documentary Poetry at Duke University Center for Documentary Studies. She plans to focus her efforts on the creation of documentary poetry, working with North Carolina communities to explore the ways they document their unique regional histories and significant historical events.
This is a free event, a reception and book signing will follow.
