USC Aiken Brings Literature to Life

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AIKEN, SC (03/20/2018) Just days before the SC Humanities Festival kicks off at the University of South Carolina Aiken, the institution's library committee will offer a related prelude to the celebration with several free events, which are open to the public.

On Thursday, March 29, at 4 p.m., in the Gregg-Graniteville Library, Dr. Roy Seeger, USC Aiken English professor, will lead "100 Years of Gwendolyn Brooks." The discussion will focus on the impact of Brooks' political poetry.

A postwar poet, she was the first African-American to earn a Pulitzer Prize.

"Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the most highly regarded, highly influential, and widely read poets of 20th-century American poetry. She was a much-honored poet, even in her lifetime, with the distinction of being the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. She also was poetry consultant to the Library of Congress-the first black woman to hold that position-and poet laureate of the State of Illinois," according to the Poetry Foundation's website.

"Many of Brooks's works display a political consciousness, especially those from the 1960s and later, with several of her poems reflecting the civil rights activism of that period."

On Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m., in the Gregg-Graniteville Library, renown storyteller Shannon Cason will facilitate an open mic event, called "Live Literature." Students, faculty, staff and guests of the university can share their original works. These may include stories, poems, songs, rap, or other genres.

"Live Literature is a celebration of free speech," said Dr. Alexandra Roach, assistant professor of neuroscience and psychology and chair of the library committee hosting these events.

"This event allows for all voices to be heard in this coffee-house style venue."

As time is limited, participants will put their names in a hat to be drawn for the opportunity to contribute.

Live Literature events continue with "Brutally Honest Storytelling," on Friday, April 6, at 4 p.m., in the Etherredge Center when Cason shares his lessons learned and experiences as a storyteller.

Cason, a Detroit-based storyteller hosts his own podcast, "Homemade Stories." He is featured regularly on NPR and has told stories around the globe. For more, go to: www.shannoncason.com.

All Live Literature events are free and open to the public.

Events continue during the SC Humanities Festival, which takes place on the USC Aiken campus the following week, April 12-14. Most Humanities Festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/2018SCHF/