JMU - Collegiate Summit Information
Collegiate Summit Information
Explore African American Poetry
Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Saturday, March 20, 2010
From 18th Century poetry to the Harlem Renaissance, from the Black Arts movement to the 21st Century, African Americans have used poetry to express their identities and to explore deeply-held convictions.
In many ways, the themes present in African American poetry resound in the lives of a new generation of young adults—a generation that has witnessed the turmoil of the September 11 attacks, questioned the racial implications of the Hurricane Katrina response, and participated in one of the most historic presidential elections in history.
Thus, the themes of identity, love, and learning from a collective past are not unique to African American poets—these themes frame the very same questions that college men and women grapple with each day.
The Furious Flower Collegiate Poetry Summit will relate the traditional themes of the black experience to the creative works of young adults of all backgrounds. The event will be held in conjunction with the nationally acclaimed Virginia Festival of the Book, sponsored by the Virginia Foundation of the Humanities. Although most of the summit’s activities will take place at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, students will be transported to nearby Charlottesville, Virginia for one of the key events of the Festival.
Through workshops, poetry readings, panel discussions, and a poetry contest, summit participants will learn more about African American literature, about the craft of poetry, and about themselves.
Local Attractions and Information
Contact Information
For registration information, call the Furious Flower Poetry Center at (540) 568-8883.
For other information, contact Kalela Williams at (540)568-2694 or willi4ka@jmu.edu
