Archives 2005-2012 

        


        2011

            ‡ March 2, 2011
            Poetry Reading by David Mills

    ‡ July 7, 2010
    NPR's Tribute to the 50th Anniversary of To Kill A Mockingbird

    Lynn Neary recently produced a piece, 50 Years On, 'Mockingbird' Still Sings America's Song, exploring the impact that the novel To Kill A Mockingbird continues to have on its readers. Dr. Joanne Gabbin, Executive Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center, was asked to participate in the program.

    Gabbin read To Kill a Mockingbird when she was 17, and says that for her, it was a pivotal book. In Tom Robinson, the African-American man unjustly accused of rape, she saw not a victim, but a hero. He reminded her of her father and grandfather — African-American men who put up with untold humiliation in order to take care of their families. Atticus Finch gave her hope that there really were white people who would do the right thing — and she believes the book may have helped to make that a reality.

    To listen to the program in its entirety, click on the link below.

    http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=128340180&m=128352450

            ‡ September 21, 2010
            "73 Poems for 73 Years:  Celebrating the Life of Lucille Clifton"

            Joanne Gabbin and Nikki Giovanni hosted a memorial celebration for
            Lucille Clifton at James Madison University. The program brought together
            poets from all around the country who read her poems and reflected on her
            life.  Click here to learn more about the tribute program. 

            ‡ November 1, 2010
            Poetry Reading by Marilyn Nelson

        2009

    ‡ January, 2009
    New Book Release: Mourning Katrina: A Poetic Response to Tragedy, Joanne Gabbin, editor

    ‡ February 2, 2009
    Poetry Reading by Patricia Smith, Taylor 405

    ‡ March 23, 2009
    Poetry Reading by Natasha Trethewey, Grafton Stovall Theater

    ‡ April 16, 2009
    Poetry Reading by Ewuare Osayande, Taylor Down Under

    ‡ June 14-21, 2009
    Tell Me Your Names: A Seminar on the Poetry of Lucille Clifton

    ‡ June 19, 2009
    Poetry Reading by Lucille Clifton, Festival Ballroom C

    2008


    ‡ April 3, 2008
    "In the Words of Langston Hughes" presented by David Mills, The Forum at Memorial Hall

    ‡ September 15, 2008
    Showing and Panel Discussion of Spike Lee's film, "4 Little Girls", Memorial Hall Auditorium

    ‡ September 17, 2008
    A Season of Hope: A Concert by Freedom Singer Rutha Harris, Memorial Hall Auditorium

    ‡ October 20, 2008
    Poetry Reading by Cornelius Eady, Memorial Hall

    ‡ December 13, 2008
    Moonlight Holiday Festival, presenting original poems, Edith Johnson Carrier Arboretum

    ‡ 2008 General
    Pomegranate Communications published a calendar and boxed set of notecards based on the quilt created by artist Malaika Favorite, which was presented at the 2004 Furious Flower Conference.

    2007


    ‡ February 9, 2007
    Poetry Reading and Reception featuring poet Tim Seibles, Highlands Room

    ‡ February 20, 2007
    Visiting Scholar Dr. Bernard Bell, "The Globalization of African American Studies and Culture in China: From the Spirituals to Hip Hop". Taylor 405

    ‡ April 3, 2007
    Poetry Reading by Terence Hayes, Loft, Warren Hall

    ‡ April 11, 2007
    National Poetry Month Event, featuring Poetry and Music performed by JMU Faculty at the home of Dr. Louise Temple, 530 South Mason Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia

    ‡ August 10, 2007
    Poetry Smorgasbord, Children's Poetry Camp, Memorial Hall Auditorium

    ‡ September 14, 2007
    Furious Flower Calendar Release, Transitions Room, Warren Hall

    ‡ November 8, 2007
    The Ringing Ear Tour: Black Poets Lean South, presented by Cave Canem and the Univerity of Georgia Press, hosted by Furious Flower. Memorial Hall

    2006


    ‡ February 27, 2006
    Truth Is On Its Way: 35th Anniversary Celebration Concert featuring Nikki Giovanni. Wilson Hall Auditorium

    ‡ November 10, 2006
    Jayne Cortez and the Firespitters, Wilson Hall Auditorium

    ‡ December 29th, 2006
    Presentation and Sneak Preview of "Furious Flower II: The Black Poetic Tradition", hosted by Dr. Joanne Gabbin and special guest poet, Tony Medina. McKinley Room, Marriot Mezzanine

    2005


    ‡ August 6, 13 and 20, 2005
    Poetry Camp 2005

    ‡ September 29-30, 2005
    "Notes to Make the Sound Come Right: A Seminar and Poetry Reading by T. J. Anderson, III"