This timely poetry reading features three local Black poets whose powerful work challenges white privilege and pervasive racism in the United States. The poets include Saida Agostini, Kyle Dargan, and Emily Kombe. You can watch the Youtube premiere on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 pm or watch it later at https://youtu.be/DjqlemK51Fo.

This poetry reading is sponsored by the City of Takoma Park's Takoma Park Arts series. You can find more info about our free online events and sign up for our e-newsletter at takomaparkmd.gov/arts.

Saida Agostini is a queer Afro-Guyanese poet whose work explores the ways Black folks harness mythology to enter the fantastic. Her poetry has been featured in Barrelhouse Magazine, the Black Ladies Brunch Collective's anthology Not Without Our Laughter, and other publications.

Kyle Dargan is an associate professor of literature and assistant director of creative writing at American University. He is the author of five poetry collections, including Anagnorisis which won the 2019 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize and was long-listed for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in poetry.

Emily Kombe is majoring in public policy at the University of Maryland. She was introduced to slam poetry five years ago and has been creating her own work ever since. She is a strong supporter of using slam poetry as a vehicle for social justice.