KAMAU BRATHWAITE IN MINNEAPOLIS

I'm in Minneapolis tonight, having flown in this morning for a symposium on Bob Dylan, about which more later. But this evening was all poetry. Kamau Brathwaite was giving one of his marathon readings and talks at THE OPEN BOOK on Washington Avenue.



As is his custom, Brathwaite's presentation was a reflection upon his entire life and work, from his early days in Barbados, through his time in England and Ghana, his return to the Caribbean, touching down in his major books along the way. It's always good to revisit the familiar terrain of Brathwaite's earler career, but there is always the excitement of the newer works that come into view at the end of each of his readings, and tonight was no different. The new work was startling in its appearance. I won't say more, as you'll want to witness it for yourself as it becomes available.

A special note of thanks to Maria Damon, one of the organizers of the event. It was thanks to a notice she posted over at the POETICS list that I knew this reading was scheduled. I made sure I got into Minneapolis in time for it.

Thanks, too, to Gregory Rigsby and C.L.R. James, who first introduced me to Brathwaite's works some three decades ago.