The Poetry of the Diaspora (Online)

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines diaspora as the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland. There can be a Vietnamese diaspora, an Irish diaspora, even a disinformation diaspora. But for the purposes of this poetry workshop for beginning and seasoned poets, our focus is on the African Diaspora to honor February’s Black History Month.

The first 90 minutes of this class are devoted to the Black women of the African Diaspora, some known, some obscure, all talented in the cultures of movement, freedom, and change. Poets such as Codjoe, Nefertiti Asanti, Maya Angelou, Romaissaa Benzizoune, Patricia Smith, Chekwube Danladi, and others will provide poems or quotes that enlighten, inspire, and connect with workshop participants.

The second 90 minutes have the echo of a Yusef Komunyakaa and Laren McClung poem:

I know it matters little what we leave, but since my circadian rhythms are off, I must busy my hands.

Maybe it’s best for us to busy our pens as we listen to poems or watch film clips of poets such as Quincy Troupe, Kwame Dawes, Jubi Arriola-Headley, Amiri Baraka, Eusi Kwayana, or local poet Rudi Francisco to get the feel of this rich, fecund diaspora. If you are looking for a critique group, this is not the class for you. This is a write from your heart poem-making workshop.

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