Cleopatra Mathis Poetry Reading

This morning, Southern-born poet and teacher Cleopatra Mathis read selections from her work in the Student Success Center at the GPC Decatur campus.

The primary theme of Mathis' reading dealt with how one reckons with dismal circumstances to eventually arrive at renewal. One of the ways that Mathis, whose maternal lineage is Greek, evoked this theme was through reference to the Persephone (Kore) and Demeter archetypes.

During the Q&A session, Mathis commented that the poems contained in What to Tip the Boatman? essentially constitute "a mother's story" dealing as it does the poet reflecting on her crossing the gulf of grief and her role as parent of a "troubled and gifted daughter" (from back matter of the book).

When asked during this session about her greatest literary influences, Mathis did not name a specific author but cited her experience as a high school English teacher as a catalyst toward her engagement with poetry. She remembered that as she prepped for her classes she wrote notes on the selections she planned to share with students. Over time, these notes organically took on poetic shape. She also spoke about how growing up working class and Greek during segregation in northern Louisiana shaped her artistic sensibility.

Mathis' work has appeared in numerous journals including The New Yorker, The Georgia Review and Southern Review and a host of anthologies. Her books include Arial View of Lousiana, What to Tip the Boatman? and White Sea. Since 1982, she has taught at Dartmouth College where she currently directs the creative writing program.

Toni Morrison Awarded French Legion of Honor Medal

Toni Morrison, author of Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and other now-classic works of literature-- was recently inducted into the French Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur . Read the full story here.

Spotlight on Ntozake Shange

One of this season's most talked about films is For Colored Girls. As everyone knows, media mogul Tyler Perry is responsible for bringing this 21st century adaptation to the big screen. Viewers of this new film may not know as much about the story's original writer, Ntozake Shange.

Shange (given name: Paulette Williams) was born into an upper middle class family in Trenton, New Jersey. Her father was a surgeon, her mother an educator and social worker. The environment that Dr. and Mrs. Williams raised their children in was intellectually and creatively stimulating. Shange recalls, "My parents have always been especially involved in all kinds of Third World culture. We used to go to hear Latin music, jazz and symphonies, to see ballets." The Williams family home was, in fact, frequented by luminaries of the day, including W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, Dizzy Gillespie and a host of others. This semi-idyllic childhood provided seeds of inspiration for novels like Betsey Brown and the picture book, Ellington Was Not a Street.

As a young woman, Shange became involved in community arts groups and alongside this earned degrees and taught at prestigious liberal arts colleges across the country. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf was her breakthrough theatrical work, and its first performances were staged restaurants, bars and community festivals in Berkley, California.

Shange's work is heavily infused with sensory references, interweaving history, fantasy and dream. It is cosmopolitan and country, a hybrid in every sense, often using multiligual references as a way to build bridges between cultures and brims with references to musical forms such as jazz, blues and Afro-Latin. Her sensibility is one that is not easily described. However, viewing the clips below may offer something of a glimpse:





To learn more:

CNN article on 2009 stage revival of For Colored Girls, including author speaking about inspiration for this work

Voices from the Gaps Ntozake Shange Artist's Page

Application Fee Waiver Opportunity for Admission to Georgia Colleges

Know anyone who is getting ready to apply to college?

High school students who want to attend Georgia Perimeter College or other colleges and universities in the state may want to learn more about Georgia Apply to College Week which extends from November 8-12. During this period, students can apply to any college in the state of Georgia for free.

Visit the Georgia Apply to College Week webpage for more details.

Ben Carson at Georgia State University

We just learned that famed pediatric neurosurgeon, author and motivational speaker Dr. Ben Carson will be speaking and autographing books at Georgia State University this afternoon at 3 p.m. in the GSU Student Center Ballroom. The appearance is part of that college's Distinguished Speaker Series.

Last semester, our own Georgia Perimeter College Learning and Tutoring Center hosted screening of the Carson biopic Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story as well as a reading of selected passages from Carson's memoir of the same name. All of the students who attended the event were moved and inspired by these glimpses of Carson's life, so we are sure that this appearance is one that no student should miss.

Those who wish to know more about Dr. Carson can read a brief bio here.