Dr. Aldon Nielsen, George and Barbara Kelly Professor of American Literature at Penn State, will read from his latest book of poetry, Tray (Make New Books, 2018). These poems were inspired by the murder of Trayvon Martin in February 2012 and the activism that responded to ongoing acts of violence against people of color in America. The reading and the Q & A session to follow offer an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and even community members to learn more about the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement, its continuing influence over present-day political movements, and its transformation through creative forums like poetry. Dr. Nielsen will discuss his motivations for writing Tray, the history of racial violence and struggles to establish activist movements that inform the American political climate, and the real social work that art can do.
Open to students, faculty, staff, and the community. Sponsored by the Grant Allocation Committee, the President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, the English Department, and the Dean's Office, School of Arts and Humanities.
