Watch ‘Black Poets in a Time of Unrest’

Watch Los Angeles poet laureate Robin Coste Lewis and seven other poets share their experiences in verse with Times readers.

The L.A. Times Book Club’s virtual meetup, Black Poets in a Time of Unrest, started at 7 p.m. Pacific Sept. 24 and livestreamed on the L.A. Times Facebook page, YouTube and Twitter.

Lewis, USC’s writer in residence, said she tries to offer her students a refuge: art.

“I’m trying to show them that this is in fact what most literature is about,” Lewis says. “Being a comfort to you at hard times. Even if it’s a comedic literature. Even if it’s absurdist literature. Even if it’s something that’s light and fluffy and pastel. All art, hopefully, if it’s good, will give comfort in the most trying of times.”

Lewis was in conversation with Times arts writer Makeda Easter. She joined these poets: Amaud Jamaul Johnson, Ashaki M. Jackson, Khadijah Queen, jayy dodd, Natalie J. Graham, Kima Jones and Douglas Kearney.

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