The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation presents a night of words and conversation with Kevin Powell
With this, his 17th book and his 4th poetry collection, Kevin Powell further cements his legacy as one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America. A Poem for Evangeline, And Other Songs, is a series of tender and skillfully constructed love letters to his wife, yes. But it is also a sensitive and sacred poetic manifesto for humanity, for America. Be it hate or violence in all forms, mental health, family, history, childhood traumas, the meaning of manhood, or his profound longing for peace, Powell channels forebears like Lucille Clifton, like Federico García Lorca, like the purple cadences and skylight hues of our kinfolk. The result is a poetry book for our times, yes, but also for the times not yet imagined.
Kevin Powell is one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America. He is a GRAMMY-nominated poet, a human and civil rights activist, a journalist, a filmmaker, a former two-time candidate for the United States Congress in New York City, and a public speaker who has been to all 50 American states and 5 of the world’s 7 continents. Kevin is also the author of 17 books, including A Poem for Evangeline, And Other Songs, his newest collection of poetry; and The Kevin Powell Reader, which represents 30plus years of his life work as a writer, public speaker, and social justice advocate. Kevin’s upcoming book will be a biography of Tupac Shakur, who he interviewed several times while a senior writer for Quincy Jones’ Vibe magazine. Kevin is currently a WEBBY Award-winning opinion columnist for Newsweek magazine and regular Sirius XM radio guest host. Kevin’s writings have also appeared in a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Ebony, Essence, NPR, The Guardian, Complex, and HuffPost. Kevin’s new documentary film, When We Free The World, is a deep dive about healthy manhood versus toxic manhood, through the lens and lives of five generations of Black males. A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Kevin is a proud and long-time resident of Brooklyn, New York. You can reach him via email: kevin@kevinpowell.net, or follow him on all social media platforms by typing poet kevin powel
Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night!
All tickets are non-refundable.
The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees.
