In 1958, Esquire magazine commissioned Art Kane, a young photographer, to photograph as many of the luminaries of the New York jazz scene as possible together. The group included Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Thelonius Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and many other notable artists. The photo would be used for Esquire's 1959 Golden Age of Jazz edition as a way to highlight and celebrate the soundtrack of America. Over the years, other facets of Black America's cultural landscape would be commemorated in similar ways: A Great Day in Hip Hop (1998), A Great Day in Hollywood (2018).

In keeping with this tradition, Kwame Alexander has organized A Great Day in Poetry, with event primarily taking place on February 1, 2024 - Langston Hughes' birthday. Coinciding with the publication of his 40th book, This Is The Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, A Great Day in Poetry will feature various contributing poets gathering in select bookstores across the country including Washington, DC, Charleston, SC, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, reading from their work and paying homage to the legacy, and future, of African-American poetry.

February 1st - A Great Day in Poetry Event Information

Washington, DC
6:30pm (ET)
MahoganyBooks at Planet Word Museum
Hosted by Abdul Ali and featuring Kimberly Collins, Kyle Dargan, Brian Gilmore, Reuben Jackson, Alan King, Chet'la Sebree, Clint Smith and Truth Thomas
Registration & Additional Information

Charleston, SC
5:30pm (ET)
Buxton Books the Charleston County Public Library, John L. Dart branch
Hosted by Dr. Tonya Matthews and featuring Joanna Crowell, Gary Jackson, Asiah Mae, and Ronda Taylor
Registration & Additional Information

Boston, MA
7:30pm (PT)
Brookline Booksmith at the Public Library of Brookline: Coolidge Corner
Featuring: Jarita Davis, January O’Neil, Pamela Taylor
Registration & Additional Information

Los Angeles, CA
7:00pm (PT)
Malik Books - (Westfield Culver City)
Featuring: LeRonn Brooks, Safia Elhillo, Jonterri Gadson, and Yvette R. Murray
Registration & Additional Information