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Nikky Finney, First Year Book Author, Spreads Message On Campus

August 12, 2016 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center | College of Arts and Humanities | David C. Driskell Center for the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora

Nikky Finney, First Year Book Author, Spreads Message On Campus

Finney discusses her work and inspiration with students and faculty.

By Miranda Jackson, The Diamondback

Photo by Miranda Jackson

In 2013, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center commissioned an original poem from critically acclaimed poet Nikky Finney, whose book of poetry, Head Off & Split, won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2011. The poem, titled “The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy,” was written to be included in a series of events held at The Clarice to reflect on the anniversaries of the Civil Rights movement and the end of the Civil War. As a child of activists, Finney grew up with strong opinions on civil rights and racism, making the topic of the Trayvon Martin case the perfect choice for this new piece.

Finney visited the University of Maryland last week for a series of events that included the unveiling of her poem with a special-edition cover for the university at an exclusive reception Friday night at the David C. Driskell Center.

She also spoke with a great deal of students and staff regarding Head Off & Split, which was selected as this year’s First Year Book. The First Year Book is a 22-year-old program at this university designed to provide each first-year student with a piece of literature regarding a topic pertinent to conflicts of that year. Past topics have included climate change and war; this year’s book dealt mostly with racial conflicts and feminism. 

Read more here.