Star Tribune and MPR present Talking Volumes -- Talking Race with REGINALD DWAYNE BETTS
Tickets Are No Longer Available for this Event.
Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune are proud to announce a special series of Talking Volumes virtual events centered around the topic of race in America. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic disparities faced by communities of color. The killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked protests around the world. We are bringing together a diverse group of authors to talk about their books, which all provide unique insights on America’s growing racial divide. All events will be held via webinar and will include an hour-long interview with the authors and a live interactive panel discussion moderated by the Star Tribune.
Reginald Dwayne Betts – Felon Poems releases on March 30, 2021, published by W. W. Norton & Company
About the book
Felon tells the story of one man in fierce, dazzling poems- canvassing his wide range of emotions and experiences through homelessness, underemployment, love, drug abuse, domestic violence, fatherhood, and grace- and, in doing so, creates a travelogue for an imagined life. Reginald Dwayne Betts confronts the funk of post-incarceration existence and examines prison not as a static space, but as a force that enacts pressure throughout a person’s life. Challenging the complexities of language, Betts animates what it means to be a “felon.”
About the author
Reginald Dwayne Betts is a poet and lawyer. For more than 20 years, he has used his poetry and essays to explore the world of prison and the effects of violence and incarceration on American society. In 2019, Betts won the National Magazine Award in the Essays and Criticism category for his New York Times Magazine essay that chronicles his journey from prison to becoming a licensed attorney.
Tickets are available until 10:00am the morning of the webinar.