Humor is Path to the Human: African American Poetry's Activism of Laughter
480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
Get a glimpse into the innovative and impactful research taking place at Penn Arts & Sciences at the Penn Science and Lightbulb Cafes. The lecture series is free and open to the public and takes place in Center City at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
In this café, Herman Beavers reads from his latest poetry chapbook, The Vernell Poems, and talks about the African American poetic tradition of using humor and satire to engage in social commentary. Beavers traces his efforts back to poets Langston Hughes, Sterling A. Brown, Lucille Clifton, and Ishmael Reed, while situating himself among more recent poets like Terrance Hayes, Morgan Parker, and Wanda Coleman.
If you have any questions about the event, please e-mail Amber Grier at events@sas.upenn.edu.
Since 2005, expert faculty from the University of Pennsylvania have shed a light on their research at the Penn Lightbulb Cafe. Audience members are welcome to purchase food and beverages from the cafe at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to enjoy as they learn from the top experts in various fields. Each lecture will provide an opportunity for audience Q&A.