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  For My People: The Life and Writing of Margaret Walker

  Arts & Culture, Black

  Margaret Walker has been described by Nikki Giovanni as the “most famous person nobody knows.” Walker established one of the first Black Studies centers in the nation, was mentored by Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois, and her signature poem, “For My People,” set a tone and a level of commitment to which African-American writers have been responding ever since. Narrated by Ruby Dee, this biographical film combines conversations with Walker, readings from her poetry, and commentary from leading scholars to make a powerful argument for the centrality of her work to contemporary American literature.

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  [Wholesome Roc Gallery & Cafe, Poetry Tostada 9/19/87]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video features one of Wholesome Roc’s monthly “poetry tostadas,” an open mic dedicated to poetry, music, and other performances.

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  [WHOLESOME ROC PERFORMANCE ART, 5/7/88 TAPE #1]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video contains footage from the first half of the Wholesome Roc First Anniversary Show, celebrating Wholesome Roc Gallery and Cafe’s first year in operation and featuring various types of performance art.

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  [Poetry Tostada with Pat Smith]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video contains footage from two separate nights of Wholesome Roc Cafe’s “Poetry Tostada” events, both hosted by Pat Smith. The “Poetry Tostadas” include an open mic, one or more featured readers, and a “Pocket Rocket” limerick contest.

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  [WHOLESOME ROC PERFORMANCE ART, 5/7/88 TAPE #2]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video contains footage from the second half of the Wholesome Roc First Anniversary Show, celebrating Wholesome Roc Gallery and Cafe’s first year in operation and featuring various types of performance art.

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  [WHOLESOME ROC, CHICAGO, IL. POETRY TOSTADA 5/21/88 TAPE #1]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Opened in 1987, Wholesome Roc Gallery and Cafe was an alternative art space that hosted exhibitions and events with and focused on queer Black artists in Chicago. This video is the first of two videos documenting a live poetry reading event called the “Poetry Tostada” in the gallery space.

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  [WHOLESOME ROC, CHICAGO, IL. POETRY TOSTADA 5/21/88 TAPE #2]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Opened in 1987, Holsum Roc Gallery and Cafe was an alternative art space that hosted exhibitions and events with and focused on queer Black artists in Chicago. This video is the second of two videos documenting a live poetry reading event called the “Poetry Tostada” in the gallery space.

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  Poetry Live(s)

  Arts & Culture, Black, Communities, Outside Agitators, Performance, Politics

  A short documentary featuring various performances of spoken word poetry, accompanied by thoughts from the poets themselves.