Paying tribute to Black history

During the month of February, the MSU Renne Library, the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons (DISC) and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host a book display to recognize the history of Black Americans who have struggled to achieve equality as well as the important people and events that have changed history. The display, “Prose and Poetry 4 Women Writers,” located on the second floor of the library, showcases works by Audre Lorde, Tracy K. Smith, Mahogany L. Browne, Roxane Gay and other Black female writers.

"MSU Library is pleased to partner with DISC and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion during Black History Month,” said Renne Library’s interlibrary loan assistant, Lori Hiris, to MSU News Service.“There has been a resurgence of interest in the work of Audre Lorde via republications and webinars featuring prestigious authors she has inspired, and we are pleased to showcase these important works."

Lorde, self-described as a “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” dedicated her life to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism and homophobia. Several of her books are on display including “From a Land Where Other People Live”, which was nominated for a National Book Award, “The Cancer Journals”, where she shares her struggle to overcome breast cancer and the powerful “The Black Unicorn,” containing poems of protest. “I have a duty,” Lorde once said, “to speak the truth as I see it and to share not just my triumphs, not just the things that felt good, but the pain, the intense, often unmitigating pain.”

Tracy K. Smith is the author of four well-known books of poetry along with a memoir. She was named U.S. Poet Laureate in 2017 and currently teaches creative writing at Princeton University. She also hosts American Public Media’s daily program and podcast “The Slowdown”.

Mahogany L. Browne is the Executive Director of Bowery Poetry Club and Artistic Director of Urban Word NYC and Poetry Coordinator at St. Francis College. Browne is also the founder of the nationwide diversity literature campaign Woke Baby Book Fair. Currently, as part of an Arts for Justice grantee, she is completing her first book of essays that investigates the impact mass incarceration has on Black women and children.

Roxane Gay is an American writer, professor, editor and social commentator. Several of her works have been on The New York Times best-selling list including “Bad Feminist,” “Ayiti, An Untamed State, Difficult Women” and “Hunger”.

The remarkable books of poetry and prose on display are also available for check out. An exhibition of powerful Black voices will also be featured in the display case in the lobby of the library along with the “Understanding Black Lives” book collection, which will continue to be displayed in the Bobcat Browse area near Brewed Awakening.

Whether you avoid the library at all costs or you are a student who spends every waking minute under the library’s fluorescent lights, take a ten minute study break to check out the displays and works of these authors.