Acclaimed poets to honor Gwendolyn Brooks

Northwestern Now: Summaries

The five poets who will take part in a roundtable discussion at "Black Women as Giants: A Celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks."Gwendolyn Brooks, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, will be recognized by contemporary poets with a day of literary events May 4 at Northwestern University. The events are free and open to the public.“Black Women as Giants: A Celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks,” hosted by Northwestern University Press/TriQuarterly Books, will include a morning roundtable with five accomplished poets: Toi Derricotte, Nikky Finney, Vievee Francis, Angela Jackson and Patricia Smith.At the roundtable, the poets will discuss the effects Brooks has had on their work as well as on contemporary poetry more broadly. And an evening of poetry reading will highlight original work by the poets.The roundtable will take place at 10 a.m. at Northwestern’s Lutkin Memorial Hall, 700 University Place. The five guest poets will discuss the far-reaching effects of the career of Gwendolyn Brooks, the beloved poet whose book “Annie Allen” won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and who served as Illinois’ poet laureate from 1968 to her death in 2000. The roundtable will be moderated by Parneshia Jones of Northwestern University Press, an award-winning poet and short story writer. The poetry reading will be at 6 p.m., also in Lutkin Hall. Poets will read from their deep and diverse bodies of work, followed by a book signing.“We are honored to host these notable poets,” said Jane Bunker, director of Northwestern University Press. “Brooks’ work and legacy deserve continued attention, never more so than now. We are proud to serve as one channel keeping poetry vibrant.”The five renowned poets gathering for “Black Women as Giants” represent an unprecedented collective. About the poetsToi DerricotteDerricotte, winner of the 2012 PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry, is the author of “The Undertaker’s Daughter” and “Tender,” winner of ...

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