Poetry in America reunited with PBS Books on January 26th, 2022 to host another virtual event on trailblazing women poets. Elisa New and PBS Books host Heather-Marie Montilla were joined by PIA Season Three featured poet Evie Shockley to discuss her poem, “you can say that again, billie.” The group was joined by two distinguished guests, who also appear in our Season Three episode: historian Robin D.G. Kelley, and actor LisaGay Hamilton.

Their wide-ranging conversation used Shockley’s poem to dive into the history of racism, violence, and artistic tradition in the American South. The event included a clip from our Season Three episode, which also features jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, and is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The event was co-presented by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. It was featured by Poets & Writers, and shared widely by libraries from Jefferson County, Missouri; Akron, Ohio; Wyoming; Sante Fe; Orange County and many more.