Community Voices: Poets Speak Raina León

Every Thursday at 5pm from June 29 – August 10, join us for Community Voices: Poets Speak at the Museum of the African Diaspora where Bay Area Cave Canem poets reflect on themes of our current exhibition. Now on view, The Ease of Fiction presents the work of four African artists living in the United States as the foundation of a critical discussion about history, fact and fiction. The readings and discussion of original work will take place in the gallery for a maximum of 30 minutes. The series culminates with a reception and an evening of poetry by the participating poets, along with Arisa White and James Cagney, on Thursday, August 17, 6:30-8pm. Free Admission.

Founded by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady in 1996 to remedy the under-representation and isolation of African American poets in the literary landscape, Cave Canem Foundation is a home for the many voices of African American poetry and is committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of African American poets.

Community Voices: Poets Speak is curated by Arisa White, poet, writer & educator.

Raina León

Raina J. León is the author of three collections of poetry, Canticle of Idols, Boogeyman Dawn, sombra: (dis)locate (2016) and the chapbook, profeta without refuge (2016).  She has received fellowships and residencies with Macondo, Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Montana Artists Refuge, the Macdowell Colony, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Vermont Studio Center, among others.  She is a founding editor of The Acentos Review, an online quarterly, international journal devoted to the promotion and publication of Latinx arts.