Acclaimed poet, jazz critic, and Grammy-winning artist A.B. Spellman visited Harper College on Wednesday, April 16, from 11:00 to 12:15 in the David K. Hill Family Library (F226). Coordinated by the Harper College Cultural Arts Committee, the room was filled with roughly 40 students and staff who gathered to hear Spellman’s story and listen to him read excerpts from his new book Between the Night and Its Music (2024).
Kurt Hemmer, Organizer and Chair of the Cultural Arts Committee, reflected on the rarity of the event.
“This event is being held because it is a rare opportunity for Harper students to hear a Grammy-winning artist who is known as an outstanding poet and jazz critic,” Hemmer said. “Mr. Spellman had a fascinating life that included being part of the avant-garde poetry scene in New York, working with the esteemed poet Amiri Baraka (who was one of his close friends), interviewing Malcolm X, being part of the Black Arts Movement, teaching at major universities across the United States, and working for the National Endowment of the Arts for many years. There is even an NEA award named in his honor.”
Spellman kick-started the event with a brief recap of his life story. Born in August 1935 in North Carolina, Spellman grew up during the Great Depression. He attended Howard University and started as a Pre-Med major. While in college, he realized his love of poetry, formed a poetry club, and began to write.
Participants were especially intrigued to hear about the time Spellman interviewed Malcolm X, a human rights activist and a prominent figure during the Civil Rights Movement. Spellman met Malcolm X at a United Nations reception in New York. Spellman then read a few excerpts from his books. The room was silent as everyone listened attentively to the poetry.
At the event, Spellman took some time for a Q&A session. When asked about how he felt his poetic voice had evolved over the years, Spellman took a second to reflect.
“A lot of it has to do with getting older and knowing more. You have to find what you want to do with words,” Spellman said. “I don’t consider performance when I write poetry, as many contemporary poets do. It’s a matter of getting to a point where you are relaxed in the act of creation- then knowing how to revise. Revision is very important.”
El Michelsen, an Engineering student at Harper College, who writes poems themselves, shared that they enjoyed hearing Spellman read his poetry and that they find it interesting how each poet reads their work out loud.
“Each poet reads their poems differently; reading poetry and listening to poetry are two different experiences. The way his diction is and the way he moves his hands is very fascinating,” Michelsen said.
Kurt Hemmer announced that A.B. Spellman’s new book was available for purchase at Harper’s Book Store. Spellman ended the event by taking some time to sign participants’ copies of his book.
For future Harper events, check out the Events Calendar and stay posted on The Harbinger’s Instagram @harbstudentnews.
