“A certain me is desirable”: Bob Kaufman Turns 101
Born in New Orleans on April 18th, 1925, Bob Kaufman stands out as one of the most eclectic poets of the mid-twentieth century. Strongly affiliated with the Beat Generation, Kaufman’s blend of jazz and surrealism earned him the moniker “The Black Arthur Rimbaud” and a dedicated readership in France. While significant recovery work has been done on Kaufman in recent years, little of it brings Kaufman back to his southern roots. In this panel (part-conversation, part-séance, part-birthday party) moderator Anthony Sutton will provide brief historical context on Kaufman and each panelist will respond with a short commentary revealing the complexities of this underappreciated poet’s work.
Panelists: Michael Christopher Peterson, Dr. Yalie Saweda Kamara, Erin Noehre, Joshua Burton, Anthony Sutton and Camilo Roldán.