From Billie Holiday singing the anti-lynching ballad “Strange Fruit” at New York’s Cafe Society in 1939, to Mahalia Jackson’s performance of the 19th Century spiritual “I Been ‘Buked, and I Been Scorned” at the March on Washington in 1963, African-American musicians throughout the 20th Century made vital contributions to the struggle for equal rights. Join us for a discussion focused on a handful of artists whose songs—both in recording and performance—helped make possible the landmark Civil Rights legislation passed in the 1950s and 60s.

Dr. Kareem Tayyar's work has appeared in a variety of literary journals. He has received many prizes and awards for his writings including, the Atlanta Review International Poetry Prize, the Eric Hoffer Prize for Young Adult Fiction, a Glenna Luschei Poetry Prize, and was a recipient of a Wurlitzer Poetry Fellowship. His next collection of poems, “Afternoon Constellations” will be released this fall. He holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from U.C. Riverside, and is a Professor of English at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA.

EVENT INFO.

This will be an in-person event only.