The evening involved student presentations that focused on a number of the 60 interviews done by class members who met with citizens of various Black Columbus communities: specifically, Black educators, performance poets, and religious leaders. As a part of the course, graduate and undergraduate student groups identified lists of research questions they wanted to investigate, contacted and interviewed citizens, videotaped their comments, and presented their observations.

 

Some 80+ individuals attended the event including state senator Ray Miller, public school teachers, authors, OSU faculty, prominent Columbus performance poets, and political leaders. One group of students (who focused on Black Performance poetry) so impressed the poets with whom they worked that they have been invited to appear on a local online radio show to talk about their project.  

 

OSU English congratulates Dr. Selfe and her students for hosting such a successful event for the Columbus and university communities!