slamming at the square!

Our poetry slam this week was amazing. We had a great turn out of both young poets and community members attend. In honor of Black History Month, students were inspired by the poets of the Harlem Renaissance to present either their own original works or to interpret works by Harlem Renaissance poets. The result was a great evening of poetry and fellowship - check out the photos!

Participating Poets:

Linkhorne Middle School, 8^th Grade – Bianca Adams, Shaviya Griffin, Valentina Kastrati, Vanessa Wells

Jefferson Forest High School, 12^th Grade - Michael Chao, Austin DeLaHunt, Tricia Elliot, Zach Foust-Meyer, Garrett Hegner, Stephanie Kountz, Ben Turpin, Logan Wamsley

Miller Park Neighborhood Center, part of the Youth & Neighborhood Services program: Angelica Davies (12^th Grade, E.C. Glass), Shabrina McCloud

Community Participants – Clarise Hicks, Joann Stinnette, Patty Webb, Debra Woodson

poetry slam at the square!

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?...Maybe it just sags like a heavy load? Or does it just explode?

~ A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

That excerpt from one of Langston Hughes' most memorable poems is just a snippet of what you'll hear at our From Harlem to Lynchburg Poetry Slam tonight! The slam starts at 5 pm and goes until 7 pm. Young local poets will share their favorite poems from the Harlem Renaissance as well as their own original work inspired by our own Lynchburg community.

Want to participate? All you have to do is show up! It's an open mic, which means that anyone can participate. Be sure to come down, hear some great poetry, maybe share your own, and enjoy in food and fellowship with your Lynchburg neighbors.

Sidenote: Speaking of a dream deferred, did any one catch A Raisin in the Sun on television Monday night? I thought it was really fantastic and great precursor to our event tonight!

Gwyn Moses

Gifted author and storyteller Gwyn Moses visited the museum last night as part of our Visiting Author Series. Gwyn shared African-American folktales and stories ranging from the Br'er Rabbit tales to stories about African safaris to the modern classic Henry's Freedom Box.

Upcoming African-American Authors Programs:

• Fiddling program with Woody McKenzie, inspired by the book Celie and the Harvest Fiddler
• From Harlem to Lynchburg Poetry Slam - An evening of poetry by local student poets, inspired by their own community!
  

If you're interested in participating in the Poetry Slam, it's not too late! Call the museum at 434-845-1888 for more information!