The Black Heritage Trail of NH is pleased to welcome visual artist, poet, innovator, and public historian as the final guest poet of this year’s Black Matter is Life poetry series on Thursday, January 19, at 7pm.
The Black Matter is Life: Poetry for Engagement and Overcoming examines the work of both well-known and little-known Black poets to explore and discuss the rich tradition and innovation found in African American poetry. This program is designed to build bridges across the racial divide by introducing the audience to works that shine a light on a rich cultural heritage that has often gone unexplored. We ask the audience to consider how African American poetry provides tools for healing our nation’s deep racial wounds.
L’Merchie Frazier joins co-hosts Dennis Britton and Courtney Marshall in discussing the theme “Connections.” Participants are encouraged to read four poems the co-hosts have selected on this themes. These poems are “dogs!” By Danez Smith, “Ma Rainey” by Sterling Brown, and “Poetry Should Ride the Bus” by Ruth Foreman. Links to these poems can be found here.
Frazier is Director of Education and Interpretation for the Museum of African American History, Boston/Nantucket creating programs, lectures and workshops with her mission to expand the American historical narrative. Her artistic residencies and awards include residencies in Brazil, Africa, Taiwan, Costa Rico, the Boston Foundation’s Brother Thomas Artistic Fellowship and most recently she is a Massachusetts Historical Society Fellow. Her work appears in several publications and in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution, the White House, Museum of Art and Design and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
The Black Matter is Life Poetry Series is a virtual event.
