Writing Workshop: Noticing the Field of Purple: Examining Beauty Through Black American Writing and Music

In this guided poetry writing session, we will question the power dynamics of beauty while exploring our own personal relationship to it. We will anchor our critical exploration of beauty in Black American literary traditions and music. From this framework, we will generate original poems that intentionally reflect on how we can assert and affirm a radical recovery of beauty that nourishes with its strength, healing properties and reminds us to love ourselves and the overlooked splendors of environments that make up who we are. Attend this workshop to receive, reflect, write and (if you feel so inclined) recite.

Led by Sagirah Shahid, an award-winning African American Muslim poet, arts educator and performance artist. Her debut collection of poetry “Surveillance of Joy” is forthcoming from Half Mystic Press.

REGISTER HERE

In collaboration with the Hennepin County Libraries. Funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.