On behalf of the Office of Intercultural Relations we deem it an honor to recognize the College of Arts and Letters as a cosponsor for the ODU Annual Black History Month Celebration Citizen: An Evening of Poetry/Spoken Word & Jazz.
Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric is selected as the National Endowment for the Arts Great Big Read. On February 25, 6:00 p.m. in the Big Blue Room, Ted Constant Convocation Center, a riveting compilation of racial criticism cloaked in poetry, drawings, and sculptures depicted within the Citizen is the backdrop for spoken word and poetry presented by ODU students representing the MFA Creative Writing Program, Floetic Movement, and Black Student Alliance, and our renowned faculty poets Remica Bingham-Risher, Tim Seibles, Luisa Igloria, Renee Olander, La Wanza Lett-Brewington, Sheri Reynolds and Kelly Morse. The nationally acclaimed Fuzz Band will render instrumental jazz pieces that artistically captures musical imaginations that depicts the scope of racism and microagressions reflected in Rankine’s work. As our poets and musical artists creatively embrace, reflect, and critique Citizen, Professor Delores Phillips will share historical and contemporary insights. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. The event is free and I encourage you to invite friends, colleagues, and your students. Please let me know if your class will be attending so that I can accommodate them.
For additional ODU 2019 Black History Month events refer to http://www.odu.edu/oir