Tyehimba Jess

CHQ&A

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tyehimba Jess, author of 2018 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection Olio, joins Atom Atkinson this episode to discuss his life, career and writing process. As part of a week at Chautauqua celebrating "The Life of the Written Word," Jess presented Olio to the Chautauqua Amphitheater audience, taught a master class titled “Show the Receipts: Historical Documentation in Poetic Form” and even heard a performance inspired by his work by the Chautauqua Opera Company.

Jess is an award-winning poet and teacher. Olio, his latest book, has received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and The Midland Society Author’s Award in Poetry. Jess' previous works include African American Pride: Celebrating Our Achievements, Contributions, and Enduring Legacy, and leadbelly, which was published as one of five selections of the 2004 National Poetry Series. His honors include a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Chicago Sun-Times Poetry Award, and a Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award. He has taught at the Juilliard School and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and currently serves on the faculty at the College of Staten Island in New York City. Follow him on Twitter at @TyehimbaJess.

Atkinson is a poet and serves as director of literary arts at Chautauqua Institution. Follow them on Twitter at @AtomAtkinson.