Chattanooga State Community College’s Writers@Work welcomes Ishmael Reed to campus as an artist-in-residence, April 8 -12. Mr. Reed has two poetry readings scheduled that are free and open to the public. The first is at the Chattanooga Hamilton County Bicentennial Library in the auditorium on April 8, at 6:30 p.m. The following evening at the Bessie Smith Hall, Mr. Reed will again read from his works of poetry at 7 p.m. The Bessie Smith Hall is at 200 East M. L. King Boulevard. Both events will include a question and answer session and book signing.
While on campus, Mr. Reed will interact with students as well as faculty in the classroom, over meals, and at a dance exhibition called Intersection of Poetry and Jazz: Interpretive and Hip Hop dance exhibition, April 11, at 7 p.m. in the Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre, which will be followed by a Behind the Writer interview and book signing. The public is also welcome to attend this event.
Born in Chattanooga in 1938, Mr. Reed’s family moved to Buffalo, N.Y., where he grew up and went on to attend the University of Buffalo. He has published 28 books that include novels, plays, poetry, and essays. His thought-provoking, challenging satire focuses primarily on the hypocrisies of American society and the African American experience. Critics have praised his experimental style in both language and theme. His work has been honored with nominations for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
In addition to his writing career, Mr. Reed is a teacher and a commentator. Over the years, he has taught at numerous institutions of higher learning including Harvard, Yale and the University of California at Berkeley.
To learn more about Ishmael Reed go to www.ishmaelreed.org. For more details about his visit to Chattanooga State visit “Writers at Work” on Facebook.