By Whitney Hale
(Aug. 25, 2015) — Legendary 81-year-old poet Sonia Sanchez will return to the upcoming Kentucky Women Writers Conference on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the conference series named for her. The Sonia Sanchez Series, which brings a major thinker in multicultural and human rights issues to Lexington to speak throughout the community, will this year present the nation's fourth screening of "BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez: a new documentary," on the life and work of the celebrated writer, at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center.
For Sonia Sanchez, writing is both a personal and political act. She emerged as a seminal figure in the 1960s Black Arts Movement, raising her voice in the name of black culture, civil rights, women’s liberation and peace as a poet, playwright, teacher, activist and early champion of the spoken word.
Sanchez is among the earliest poets to have incorporated urban Black English into her poetry; she was one of the first activists to secure the inclusion of African-American studies in university curricula. Deemed "a lion in literature's forest" by poet Maya Angelou and winner of major literary awards including the American Book Award, Sanchez is best known for 17 books of poetry that explore a wide range of global and humanist themes, particularly the struggles and triumphs of women and people of color.
The iconic poet will kick off the Kentucky Women Writers Conference at the 10th Sonia Sanchez Series keynote event by participating in a discussion on a new documentary on her monumental contributions to the world of poetry and culture, and in turn society. The free public screening of "BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez" will begin 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Lyric.
"We are so pleased to offer a showing of the film 'BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez' for free at the Lyric Theatre," said Patrice Muhammad, who will lead a Q&A with Sanchez at the event. "Since being released, the film has been featured at film festivals in Durham, North Carolina; Philadelphia; and Chicago. It is an honor to be the fourth city where the film will be shown. And to have a conversation with Sonia Sanchez herself afterward is going to be one unforgettable night in Lexington."
In the film, Sanchez’s life unfolds in a documentary rich with readings and jazz-accompanied performances of her work. The documentary includes appearances by such artists and writers as Questlove, Talib Kweli, Ursula Rucker, Amiri Baraka, Haki Madhubuti, Jessica Care Moore, Ruby Dee, Yasiin Bey, Ayana Mathis, Imani Uzuri and Bryonn Bain. "BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez" examines Sanchez’s contribution to the world of poetry, her singular place in the Black Arts Movement, and her leadership role in African-American culture over the last half century. The film will next be shown in New Orleans and New York.
Following the screening of "BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez," the audience can hear a conversation between Sanchez and Muhammad, founder and editor of The Key Newsjournal, which has served Central Kentucky’s Black community since 2004. Muhammad is also the host of the syndicated talk radio program "Key Conversations" on WUKY. Much of Muhammad's Q&A will focus on Sanchez's latest published project, a landmark anthology titled "SOS — Calling All Black People: A Black Arts Movement Reader," which she edited with John H. Bracey Jr. and James Smethurst.
"This film and my talk with Sonia will shed light on how the Black Arts Movement of the '60s was an integral part of the civil rights movement that first fought for the basic human rights of black people but ultimately, all people," Muhammad said.
The following day, Sanchez will also give a reading for Kentucky Women Writers Conference registrants only. The reading will be followed by a Q&A with DaMaris Hill, assistant professor of creative writing and African American and Africana studies at the University of Kentucky. The reading featuring Sanchez will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11. Also on Sept. 11, Sanchez will visit with UK students in the African American and Africana Studies Program.
"Sister Sonia is always so generous and gives so much to Lexington during her visits. Aside from her conference and campus commitments she always takes time to listen to shy poets, she seeks out classrooms and groups of school age students to read to and invites young writers to call her at home; she’s a rare artist indeed," Muhammad said.
Always in demand as a performer and educator, Sanchez has become extremely busy since the passing of Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou, and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis; Sanchez and members of The Last Poets are among the last remaining artists of the Black Arts Movement.
This weekend, prior to Sanchez’s visit, Lexington Public Library's Tates Creek Branch will host a book discussion of her work from "Shake Loose My Skin." The discussion will be led by Shawntaye Hopkins, a member of the conference's Sonia Series Committee. This event, which will include free copies of the book for the discussion's first 12 participants, will begin 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.
To enroll in the conference, conference registration must be purchased in advance. A listing of the events' times and dates can be found here: http://womenwriters.as.uky.edu/itinerary. For more information and to register, visit www.kentuckywomenwriters.org.
Now in its 37th year, the Kentucky Women Writers Conference is an annual event known for bringing notable women writers to Lexington for readings, writing workshops and discussions. A program housed in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, the conference is made possible in part by continued community partnerships, including its primary venue, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. Registration for the conference is open now.
For more information on the conference or the Sonia Sanchez events, visit online at www.kentuckywomenwriters.org.