Deerfield Public Library: Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry

The Deerfield Public Library will host journalist Catalina Maria Johnson for “Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry” on Wednesday, August 25, 7:00 p.m. The program will explore how Latin hip hop artists are advancing poetic traditions of their countries in unique ways.

Ana Tijoux from Chile was raised on protest songs and Pablo Neruda; Residente from Calle 13, Puerto Rico spits out rhymes as carefully crafted as any poet; Niña Dioz from Mexico reads dictionaries to find the precise words to fit her ideas and rhymes; Xiutehzcatl from Boulder, Colorado rhymes in three languages: Spanish, English and Nahuatl–an ancient indigenous language. Nevertheless, academia and poetic circles have surprisingly not embraced and celebrated these artists as poets.

The program is presented courtesy of a grant through Illinois Humanities. The program will be presented on Zoom. Register to receive a link at https://deerfield.libnet.info/event/5026978.

Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D., is a Chicago-based journalist. She hosts and produces her own radio show, Beat Latino, which airs in Chicago on Vocalo (Chicago Public Media). Johnson is also a regular contributor to NPR, Bandcamp, Downbeat and other outlets, and is a member of the editorial board of Revista Contratiempo.

Illinois Humanities strengthens the social, political, and economic fabric of Illinois through constructive conversation and community engagement. Founded in 1974 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Illinois Humanities is the only statewide proponent of the public humanities in Illinois.

For more information, visit deerfieldlibrary.org or call 847-945-3311.