Middle East studies in the News

Invitation from Columbia University's Middle East Institute for poetry reading and dinner with Amiri Baraka

Middle East Institute, Columbia University
April 19, 2005

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/1969

Subject: poetry reading and dinner with Amiri Baraka

From: Astrid Benedek XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sent: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 10:09:29 -0400

Poetry Reading and Dinner with Amiri Baraka
Tributes by Suheir Hammad and D.H. Melhem

Thursday, April 14, 2005 7 PM
Alwan for the Arts
16 Beaver St. 4th floor
$60/ Person
Seating is limited; Payment at the Door
R.S.V.P <mailto:ahmed@alwan.org>ahmed@alwan.org or call 212 967 4318

You are cordially invited to a benefit dinner with guest of honor poet Amiri Baraka. This gala event is hosted by the Radius of Arab American Writers, the National Union of Writers, NY, and Alwan for the Arts.

Tributes to Amiri Baraka will made by Suheir Hammad and D.H. Melham during the event. Proceeds from the dinner will support the upcoming literary conference of Arab American writers "Kalimuna- Speak to Us" at Hunter College, NY, June 3-5, 2005.

This first RAWI conference will feature veteran journalist Helen Thomas, anthologist Salma Khadra Jayyusi, poets Naomi Shihab Nye and Lawrence Joseph, along with many emerging young writers, filmmakers, and dramatists.

Amiri Baraka, one of America's foremost literary figures, is a playwright, poet, novelist and essayist. He is best known for his articulation of African American experience. Baraka is the recipient of numerous awards including the Guggenheim and NEA Fellowships, the PEN/Faulkner Award, Rockefeller Foundation Award for Drama, the Langston Hughes Award, and a Before Columbus Foundation lifetime achievement award. Baraka has taught at the New School, NY, University of Buffalo, Columbia, San Francisco State, Yale, and George Washington universities. He was Professor of Africana Studies at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. With his wife, poet Amina Baraka, he is co-director of Kimako's Blues People, a community arts space. Baraka's many publications include Preface to Twenty Volume Suicide Note (1961), The Dead Lecturer (1964) and he produced It's Nation Time (1970), Spirit Reach (1972), Hard Facts (1974) and AM/TRAK (1979). His plays include the critically acclaimed Dutchman (1964). Baraka's The Slave and The Toilet were also produced in 1964. Amiri Baraka is founder of The Black Arts Repertory Theatre in Harlem.

Suheir Hammad, a Palestinian American poet, is the author of Born Palestinian Born Black, 1996, ZaatarDiva, to be released Fall 2005 by Cypher Books, and a co-writer and performer in the TONY Award winning Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway.

D.H. Melhem's recent works include NY Poems, 2005; Conversation with a Stonemason, 2003; Heroism in the New Black Poetry, 1990.

Menu

Starter Course
Selection of cheese
Artichoke, Fennel, and Tricolor Tomato Salad

Side Dishes
Steamed Rice over Spiced Lamb and Vegetables
Yogurt Cucumber Salad with Ground Mint, Garlic and Olive Oil
Sautéed Squash with White Mustard Seeds, Curry Leaves and Red Chili Peppers

Entrees
Tilapia baked in Orange Sauce over a bed of Cilantro, Parsley, Mushrooms and Pine Nuts
Baked Chicken and Onions with Sumac

Dessert
Plate of Fresh Seasonal Fruit

Drinks
Open Bar

Directions:
In the Financial District at 16 Beaver 4th floor between Broadway & Broad
Subway:
4,5 Bowling Green
R,W Whitehall
2,3 Wall Street
J,M Broad Street;
1,9 South Ferry

Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.

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