Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sekou Sundiata - Making Common Meaning
The title of the panel discussion last night was, Writers in a Time of Empire: What is to be Done? And I was honored to be wrestling with that question in the company of the greats, Sekou Sundiata and E. Ethelbert Miller.
Among the many wise responses to that question from those two, was Sekou's call to artists to explore ways to make common meaning. He spoke of the renewed call to conscience and citizenship for artists after the terrible events of September 11, asking what it means to be an American. I loved a term he used: first person plural, that we are all deeply implicated personally in these questions, but they are also public questions. This for me is a new working definition of what I try to do in my own poetry, explore the first person plural. That history and the world press on us personally, but also publicly. Or maybe AND also publicly.
Ethelbert asked about our country's founding documents, which set off a discussion of the Declaration of Independence and how other groups have adopted and adapted it. Sekou recommends the book, We The Other People, a collection of these adaptations.
The discussion was in conjunction with Sekou's show, the 51st (dream) state, playing at the University of Maryland this weekend. Go to: www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu for more info and to buy tickets.
Here's the promo on the show: "Sekou Sundiata’s poetic and personal alternative to the State of the Union address explores America’s character in the current era of unprecedented global influence and power. Co-commissioned by the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, “the 51st (dream) state” brings an extraordinary, multi-cultural ensemble of vocalists, musicians and production artists who convey a provocative program of spoken word, jazz, world music and projected imagery. Music and text credits include Sundiata, Cornel West, Abbey Lincoln, Ani DiFranco, Jacob Needleman and other prolific voices."
If it's anywhere near as thoughtful and gorgeous as the man in person, it will be a knock-out.
Comments:
<< Home
Sekou's work was ( and is) an umbrella in a time of rain. Or rain in a time of (spiritual/moral) drought... Not that these things are haunting the US of A-but I am just saying...
Bad, arrogant hearts keep ticking (like bombs, alas)-while good, questioning, lyrical, pretension-free spirits like Sekou's leave th party earlier than we'd like.
Thanks, Sekou. And damn,DAMN- DAMN!
Bad, arrogant hearts keep ticking (like bombs, alas)-while good, questioning, lyrical, pretension-free spirits like Sekou's leave th party earlier than we'd like.
Thanks, Sekou. And damn,DAMN- DAMN!
# posted by 
: 12:03 PM
: 12:03 PM 
It is the holic gold which makes me very happy these days, my brother says holic money is his favorite games gold he likes, he usually holic online gold to start his game and most of the time he will win the cheap holic gold back and give me some holic online money to play the game.
I am so happy to get some kal geons and the kal gold is given by my close friend who tells me that the kal online geons is the basis to enter into the game. Therefore, I should kal online gold with the spare money and I gain some kalonline Geons from other players.
Post a Comment
I am so happy to get some kal geons and the kal gold is given by my close friend who tells me that the kal online geons is the basis to enter into the game. Therefore, I should kal online gold with the spare money and I gain some kalonline Geons from other players.
# posted by : 9:07 PM
: 9:07 PM << Home
