Literary virtuoso: Pulitzer nominated Ishmael Reed visits Chattanooga State

The Writers @ Work program at Chattanooga State Community College will welcome literary virtuoso Ishmael Reed as artist-in-residence this week, April 8-12. While on campus, Reed will interact with students as well as faculty in the classroom and over meals.

His public appearances include two free poetry readings, as well as an interview following a dance exhibition.

Reed will read from his poetry at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the auditorium of the Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad St., and at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. Both events will include a question-and-answer session and book signing.

The dance exhibition, called "Intersection of Poetry and Jazz: Interpretive and Hip-Hop," starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the Humanities Theatre on campus, 4501 Amnicola Highway. It will be followed by a Behind the Writer interview and book signing.

Reed was born in Chattanooga in 1938 and raised in Buffalo, N.Y., where he attended 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 black experience. Critics have praised his experimental style in both language and theme. His work has been nominated for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

In addition to his writing career, 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.

For more information on the author, visit www.ishmaelreed.org. For more details about his visit to Chattanooga State, visit Writers at Work on Facebook. Questions? Call 423-697-4745.

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