Mixed Media Poetry Project @ William Woods University

Students viewing the exhibit.

On February 9th and 10th, I shared our black poetry mixed media project with students at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. The mixed media project comprises a traveling exhibit that showcases a selection of about 100 images from Eugene B. Redmond's massive collection of photographs featuring black poets such as Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, and Margaret Walker.

Visitors to the exhibit can view selections of poems, and they can use our audio devices to hear poets reading their works.

 Students viewing the exhibit.

The two-day event at William Woods was coordinated by the university's marvelous and inspiring Tamara Carter, who directs the school's Office of Multicultural Affairs. When I was exchanging emails with sister Carter in the lead up to the event, I mistakenly assumed she was a mere mortal like the rest of us. Please.

Some of us regular folks are on facebook and twitter; that is, we contribute to social networks. Well, Tamara Carter on the other hand is a social network.  Moving around campus with her made it possible for me to friend all kinds of people and follow the many exciting threads taking place at the university. In short, the good sister Carter is a wonderful host.

[By the way, Carter and her students generously endured way too many questions from me about their renowned equestrian program.]
 

 

Students viewing the exhibit.  

Showcasing the Mixed Media Poetry Project in association with the Office of Multicultural Affairs at William Woods University allowed me to contribute to a long-running series of events highlighting cultural diversity and broader understanding of different groups of people. The notion that the presentation was about raising cultural awareness and expanding knowledge about race through the use of African American literary art was an important learning experience for me, and, I hope, for the students as well.

Related content: Eugene B. Redmond and the EBR Collection