FEATURED CONVERSATION: KALAMU YA SALAAM

Kalamu ya Salaam is one of New Orleans’ most prolific writers and activists, as well as a venerated retired teacher. He is the author of five books of poetry, over a dozen plays, numerous essays, as well as documentaries. He is known for his work with the independent writing program, Students at the Center, as well as founding BLACKARTSOUTH in 1968, a community writing and acting workshop for Black poets and playwrights. He also founded the NOMMO Literary Society, a New Orleans-based Black writers’ workshop whose work led to the creation of Runagate Press, which is still published in partnership with the University of New Orleans Press. A great lover of music, ya Salaam’s latest work is a debut novel, Walkin’ Blues, a speculation and meditation on the life and legend of bluesman Robert Johnson.

He is joined in conversation by TBD