Sixth annual NOMMO African American Authors Series, Nov 11 and Apr 28

From Ann Freeman.

What: Sixth annual NOMMO African American Authors Series
Who: Series host Alexs Pate, U of M professor and author of “Amistad”;
Ishmael Reed, poet, publisher, editor, and author of 25 books, including “Conjure” nominated for a Pulitzer Prize;
Quincy Troupe, American Book Award-winning author of 17 books, co-author of “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and recipient of the Peabody Award
When: Wednesday, Nov. 11, (Ishmael Reed); Wednesday, April 28, 2010 (Quincy Troupe). Both events begin at 7 p.m.
Where: Coffman Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis
Tickets: $15 per event; $25 for the two-event series. Complimentary tickets available to U of M Students and Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Call (612) 624-2345 or visit http://www.tickets.umn.edu

Contacts: Marlo Welshons, University of Minnesota Libraries, welsh066@umn.edu, (612) 625-9148
Ryan Mathre, University News Service, mathre@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552

Acclaimed African American Authors to Headline Sixth Annual NOMMO Authors series at U of M

The Givens Foundation for African American Literature and the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries are pleased to present the NOMMO African American Authors Series, featuring two widely acclaimed contemporary African American writers: Ishmael Reed and Quincy Troupe. Each event features a writer reading from his or her work and engaging in spirited dialogue with host Alexs Pate, University of Minnesota professor and author of the novel “Amistad.” The events take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, (Ishmael Reed) and Wednesday, April 28, (Quincy Troupe). Both events begin at 7:00 p.m. in Coffman Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis

Background
The Givens Foundation has presented the NOMMO African American Authors Series annually since 2004. This is the third year the series has been co-presented by the Givens Foundation and the University of Minnesota Libraries.

“Nommo” is a Dogon word meaning “the magic power of the word.”

“Too many vital African American writers, and I count myself among them, find our work sprouting shallow roots on the periphery of public awareness,” said Pate. “My conversations with these authors present rare opportunities to publicly define the state of the art of African American literature and to locate our work and contributions within the present authoring of our literary tradition.”

About Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed is the author of 25 books, including “New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006,” which was listed as one of the four best books of poetry in 2006 by The New York Times Book Review, and “Conjure,” which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is also a publisher, television producer, radio and television commentator, teacher and editor of numerous anthologies and magazines. He is the founder of the Before Columbus Foundation, which annually presents the American Book Awards; the Oakland chapter of PEN; and There City Cinema, an organization that furthers the distribution and discussion of films from throughout the world. For over 30 years, Reed taught creative writing courses in the English Department at the University of California, Berkeley, before retiring in January 2005.

About Quincy Troupe
Quincy Troupe is the author of 17 books, including American Book Award winners “Snake-Back Solos” and “Miles: The Autobiography.” In 1991, he received the prestigious Peabody Award for “The Miles Davis Radio Project,” broadcast in seven parts on National Public Radio. Troupe co-authored the best seller “The Pursuit of Happyness” with Chris Gardner, which chronicled Gardner’s journey from homelessness to success on Wall Street. The book became the basis of an award-winning movie of the same name, starring Will Smith. Troupe is professor emeritus of creative writing and American and Caribbean literature at the University of California, San Diego, and the founding editorial director for Code Magazine. He is currently editor of Black Renaissance Noire, published by the Institute of African American Affairs at New York University.

About the Series Sponsors
For more than 20 years, the Givens Foundation for African American Literature has been the only organization in the Twin Cities exclusively dedicated to advancing and celebrating black literature and writers. The Givens Foundation’s literary arts education programs, African American author series, and writers retreats enrich the quality of education, cultivate literary minds, and promote the crafting of excellence in African American literature. Each year, the Givens Foundation’s programs connect more than 4,000 youth and adults in the Twin Cities with the unfolding treasure of African American literature. Learn more at http://www.givens.org

The University of Minnesota Libraries are among the university’s and the state’s greatest capital and intellectual assets. With a collection of more than 6.8 million volumes, the University Libraries rank as the 15th largest research library in North America. Located in Elmer L. Andersen Library, the Givens Collection includes rare books, literary manuscripts, correspondence, pamphlets, photographs, playbills, ephemera, magazines, audiovisual media, and the like. It consists of over 5,000 items dating from the late 18th century to the present and covering such literary periods as the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. The collection is available for research by students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries is a vibrant group that combines advocacy for the University Libraries with an exciting outreach program celebrating a love of books, authors, knowledge, and curiosity. More information is available at http://www.lib.umn.edu.

The University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center anchors the University’s presence anchor in the North Minneapolis community; coordinates and facilitates new and existing University research, outreach, and engagement activities related to North Minneapolis; and creates inter- and multi-disciplinary teams able to foster sustainable partnerships. Learn more at http://www.uroc.umn.edu.