Denver program picks up book of poetry on racism
A book of poetry focusing on race and social justice is the cornerstone of conversations Denver hopes to start among residents across the city.
The citywide program, Denver Talks, will be distributing 1,200 free copies of poet Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric.” There will also be a series of events, workshops and talks around the book that will culminate with two free talks with the author, led by Mayor Michael Hancock.
“There are strong forces working to divide us,” Hancock said during a news conference to announce the series Wednesday. “We are gathered here today to say no.”
For three years, the city has been having conversations about building an inclusive, accepting community, which is especially important these days, Hancock said. This program will hopefully facilitate conversations that lead to change and new policies, he said.
“Do not only read this book and talk to someone you know but read this book and talk to someone you don’t know and don’t look like,” Hancock said.
The six-week Denver Talks program is funded through a National Endowment for the Arts Big Reads grant of $15,000, the most offered. The Big Reads program supports 75 community reading programs designed around books it selects. Pueblo City-County Library District received a $9,000 grant to create a program around Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven.”
Denver already has a similar book initiative, called One Book, One Denver, which was started when John Hickenlooper was mayor. But Hancock said Denver Talks extends beyond that program, which focuses on book clubs, by broadening who is having that conversation.
“Citizen” highlights racism in the modern era, referencing everything from everyday slights in the classroom to police shootings to racially charged incidents involving public figures. It was published in 2014 and is Rankine’s fifth volume of poetry. “Citizen” won numerous awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry and the 2015 PEN Open Book Award.
The program’s kickoff event is Saturday, Oct. 7, from 2-5 p.m. at the Clyfford Still Museum. A copy of the book will be available. The event is free and open to the public.
Copies of “Citizen” will then be available for purchase at Tattered Cover and BookBar. Free copies will be available at various locations across the city that are listed on denvertalks.org.