“Poetry and Race in America: How the Humanities Engage with Social Problems,” sponsored by University of Pittsburgh Press (UPP) and the new Center for African American Poetry and Poetics (CAAPP), featured poetry readings by Toi Derricotte, Ross Gay, Rickey Laurentiis, Nate Marshall, Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon, and Afaa Michael Weaver, and a moderated discussion with the panelists by Terrance Hayes. The event took place on March 21, 2016 at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland, on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Photos by Aimee Colabine Beattie.

For those of you who weren’t able to join us and those of you who want to relive this special evening, here is the full video of the landmark event, Poetry and Race in America. Please wait a few seconds for the video to load.   You can also watch the video full screen here.  

“I found myself enraptured at every moment, and it was incredible to see such a packed house for poetry. Thank you all for gathering these authors all together in one place for such an important conversation.” –Rachel Mennies Goodmanson, attendee “We reached a huge number of people with a really meaningful discussion, with our authors representing the very best of what their work, and the efforts of this Press, can do on a matter of the greatest public significance.  It is our natural role as publishers to bring the ideas of our authors to the widest possible audience; and as…

CONGRATULATIONS Ross Gay, author of Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, has won the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry. The NBCC awards were presented Thursday evening in New York City. Gay is one of six acclaimed African American poets who will participate in a landmark event on Monday on the Pitt campus—“Poetry and Race in America: How the Humanities Engage with Social Issues.” The NBCC award is the latest in a whirlwind of honors for Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. Gay recently won the $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Prize, was a 2015 National Book Award finalist, and a 2015 finalist…

Poetry and Race in America How the Humanities Engage with Social Problems   Two Special Events in Pittsburgh Free and Open to the Public   Readings and Moderated Discussions Monday, March 21, 7-9 p.m. Frick Fine Arts Auditorium University of Pittsburgh, Oakland Campus Moderated by Terrance Hayes, Co-Director Center for African American Poetry and Poetics   Interactive Workshop Sunday, March 20, 5-6:30 p.m. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater Alloy Studios 5530 Penn Avenue Hosted by Janera Solomon, Executive Director Kelly-Strayhorn Theater     About the Events Two departments at the University of Pittsburgh will combine artistic forces for a landmark event, giving the…