Kalamu ya Salaam

Kalamu ya Salaam is a writer, editor, photographer, and retired educator. He was born Vallery Ferdinand III in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes and the civil rights movement, Salaam became interested in writing and organizing for social change. He was a founder of BLACKARTSOUTH and changed his name to Kalamu ya Salaam, which is Kishwahili for “pen of peace.” Salaam was also a founder of NOMMO Literary Society and Runagate press. Among many things, he has been Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a DJ on WWOZ, administrator of the Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Health Center, and the editor of The Black Collegian magazine. He is the author or editor of numerous books, most recently Seeing Black: Black Photography in New Orleans, 1840 and Beyond and his first novel, Walkin’ Blues.