Birmingham Public Library: Reading Of Voice Porter Poetry Book To Take Place In Ensley This Saturday

Press release from Birmingham Public Library:

Roy L. Williams

September 23, 2021

Where: Tres Fine Dressing at Cotton's 400 19th Street Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218  Birmingham, Ala. -  Join a celebration of the life and legacy of Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins, community activist in Ensley and longtime host and creative director of Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library’s spoken word poetry event.  Poets will be reading from his new book, “The Devil Came to Alabama,” from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. this Saturday, September 25, in an event hosted by Tres Fine Dressing at Cotton’s, located at 400 19th Street Ensley in Birmingham.

Tres Fine Dressing and Heritage Coffee, located inside the Cotton’s building, will be open for business.  Steve Miller of Red Hydra Press in Birmingham published Voice Porter's first poetry book in mid-August, a few days before the popular poet was found dead August 25 in his Warrior home.   All copies of Hawkins book have been sold or distributed. For a PDF copy of Voice Porter's book of poetry, visit https://www.redhydrapress.com/limited-edition-books.  Please refer all questions about the book to the publisher, Steve Miller, by visiting the website, Red Hydra Press, www.redhydrapress.com.  Miller has a special message about Voice Porter on the website.  Advanced registration is required for Saturday's reading of excerpts from Voice Porter's book. Register for the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-devil-came-to-alabama-book-launch-tickets-170554795986 . For more information, contact Bettina Byrd-Giles via email at bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com. Voice Porter's last public appearance was as host of the August 13 Bards & Brews held at the Central Library.  Check out Voice Porter's powerful poem "A Poem for Indigo" by clicking here  Stay tuned soon for details of the next Bards & Brews poetry slam which will take place sometime in mid to late October 2021.    About Voice Porter Best known by his stage name Voice Porter, Hawkins was a celebrated poet and community activist who mentored many young poets and as emcee helped make BPL's Bards & Brews one of the library system's most event series. Two of his poems, "Sun Ra's Ethos" and "A Poem for Indigo," were included in the July/August issue of the Poetry Foundation's Poetry Magazine, under the leadership of its guest editor, Birmingham native and recently named Alabama poet laureate Ashley Jones.    Hawkins received national attention in August 2019 when he was spotlighted in feature by Starbucks coffee.   

This press release was produced by Birmingham Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.