Course Details
9605: African American Poetry: Selected Topics
February 3-4 and 6-7
9:45 AM -
11:15 AM
Online
We will discuss African American poets writing on the experience of Black Americans. Four themes will be discussed: oppression, from enslavement to micro-aggression; incarceration, both literal and metaphorical; discrimination (of all kinds); and Black Ekphrasis (poems about art and art about poems). About four poems will be discussed at each meeting, featuring poems by Robert Hayden, Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, Natasha Trethewey, and others. Instruction will be by discussion, with some lecture on background. One or more working Black poets will visit the group to read from their work and answer questions. Group members will be invited to share short, related poems by themselves or others (including prose poems, and short-form poems).
Class Type: Reading and Discussion
Class Format: Online
Hours of Reading: 1-2 hours/session
Study Group Leader(s):
Gerry HendershotGerry Hendershot is retired from careers as college professor and government health statistician. Since retirement he has read, studied, written, and taught poetry OLLI at American, OLLI at George Mason, and other venues. He has published books of poetry on Metro riders, poems and prayers for Lent, favorite cemeteries, and other topics.