Eminent Writer Fills the House
Poet and novelist June Jordan read from a variety of her works.
The Daily Pennsylvanian
May 2, 2001
It was only one day after Penn's annual party weekend and more than 100 people were sitting quietly, listening to poetry. This was no ordinary poetry reading. This was June Jordan -- eminent poet, novelist, essayist and political activist.
Last Monday, the Kelly Writers House overflowed with faculty, students and members of the community to hear Jordan read old, new and soon-to-be-published poems as well as an excerpt from her memoir, Soldier: A Poet's Childhood.
"It is so exciting, as a woman, as a student of literature, as a young person who is committed to social justice, to hear the voice of June Jordan," said Dari Yudkoff, a College junior and member of the Writers House Fellows course, which brought Jordan to Penn in conjunction with the Writers House Fellows program.
"Literature and Social Change" was the theme of this year's Writers House Fellows program, for which Jordan was the final visitor. Earlier this semester, playwright Tony Kushner and playwright and author David Sedaris spoke on campus.
Jordan captivated the standing room-only crowd for about an hour and a half as she vacillated between humor and horror, discussing topics ranging from the idiocy of computers and the fickleness of relationships to ethnic cleansing, racism and rape.
"Jordan has completely erased the line between art and politics and between the aesthetic and the didactic," said Al Filreis, faculty director of the Writers House and the English professor who teaches the Writers House Fellows course.
The spellbound crowd included some who had never read Jordan's work and others who have been hooked since childhood.
"One of her pieces that I read eight years ago, 'Requiem for the Champ,' gave me insight into the effects of poverty and race in ways that nothing else I read in high school did," said Ayala Abramovici, a graduate student in the School of Education.
After experiencing Jordan's eloquence on paper, Abramovici was even more impressed with meeting her in person.
"I thought she was fabulous," said Abramovici. "There's a real power and grace to her."
Jordan is an African-American Studies professor at the University of California at Berkeley, where she also directs the Poetry for the People program -- an undergraduate course that introduces poetry to local high school students.
"If you're serious about trying to reach people, you gotta get out of the house sometimes," added Jordan, following the conclusion of the program, which was co-sponsored by Temple University and North Philadelphia-based Art Sanctuary -- an African-American organization that presents regional and national talent from the literary, visual and performing arts.
"I want to help people begin to think about democracy," said Jordan. "If each of us doesn't start to examine and think about those ideals, we might find ourselves without a democratic state."
Filreis's question, "Do you want June Jordan to read one more poem?" was greeted with a rousing yes, followed by individual screams of "two more," and "10 more!"
Filreis said he could not agree more with the enthusiasm of the audience.
"If you're looking for an African-American author who's concerned about the relationship between art and politics, you couldn't choose a better figure," Filreis said.