Poetry For The People

Suheir Hammad, was born in Amman, Jordan to Palestinian refugee parents and immigrated to Brooklyn NY when she was five years old. Fellow poet Elmaz Abinader has called her “a new voice with an authentic blend of language that’s her own, and music that belongs to the streets” She has been on and worked with Def Poetry Jam. Suheir has read her poems in many places, from Ivy League Universities, to prisons, and Brooklyn’s street corners. Her writing has appeared in various publications and award winning anthologies.

Her books Born Palestinian, Born Black and Drops of This Story, have received critical acclaim: “[ Born Palestinian, Born Black] is about culture, conflict and consciousness… I was born Black and Suheir Hammad has taught me what it means to be a Palestinian… this book opens a door” (E. Ethelbert Miller, Howard University). She recently published her latest book of poetry, Zaatar Diva.

Class starts at 3:15pm in the Unit 2 Rec Room, 2650 Haste St, Berkeley, CA.

A Poetry for the People alum, Ruth Forman is an award-winning young writer and filmmaker. Her first book of poetry, We Are The Young Magicians, won the Barnard New Women Poets Prize. In its starred and boxed review, Booklist said, “Ruth Forman[’s]… poems are alive and kicking; they pound and pulse with a hard-won sense of self, beauty, femininity, strength and righteous indignation.” Renaissance, Ruth Forman’s second book, is written with the same irrepressible voice.

A graduate of UC Berkeley and the famed USC film school, Ms Forman works to inspire others with the power and magic of language, frequently collaborating on music and film projects, and providing readings and workshops to a wide variety of audiences. She most recently received the 2001 Durfee Artist Fellowship to continue work on Mama John, her first novel, as well as a third volume of poetry.

Ms Forman will be reading during class on February 15th in the Unit 2 All-Purpose Room (2650 Haste St). Class begins at 3:15pm.