Poets to ready from 'The Walmart Republic' Oakton

A black poet from Oklahoma, and a white poet from Texas, share the narratives of their separate journeys from the Bible Belt to Chicago during a unique evening of storytelling at Oakton's Footlik Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

This free event is part of the college's Chicago Writers Series.

Quraysh Ali Lansana and Christopher Stewart will read from their new book "The Walmart Republic," that explores identity and race against the backdrop of an ever-changing America where shopping centers play the role of community centers.

"In these poems, characters who often might be treated as stereotypical figures of fun are given dignity," stated Poets Quarterly about the collaboration.

Lansana, a faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Creative Writing Program and Oklahoma City University's Red Earth Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program, has penned eight poetry books, three textbooks and a children's book.

A faculty member of the Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Stewart has had his poetry appear in journals and anthologies, including After Hours and Red Truck Review. He also is a founding member of the poetry music ensemble Circadian Rhythm.

The event starts at 6 p.m., at Oakton's Footlik Theater, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. A reception with light refreshments will follow the reading. This program is generously funded by the Oakton Educational Foundation and student activity fees.

For more information, contact Lynn Woodbury at (847) 635-1953 or woodbury@oakton.edu.

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