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  2. October 12, 2016 - Frank X Walker ('Affrilachia')

October 12, 2016 - Frank X Walker ('Affrilachia')

Oct 12, 2016

“Affrilachia” is the word coined by poet Frank X Walker to signify the importance of the African-American presence in Appalachia. It is his accepted responsibility to do work which challenges, in his words, “the notion of a homogeneous all-white literary landscape in this region”. 

Walker is a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets, a founder/Executive Director of the Bluegrass Black Arts Consortium, the Program Coordinator of the University of Kentucky’s King Cultural Center, and a Kentucky Arts Council Al Smith Fellowship recipient. He has lectured, conducted workshops, read poetry and exhibited at over 300 national conferences and universities, and was the recipient of the 2006 Thomas D. Clark Literary Award for Excellence.

A native of Danville, Ky., Walker is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, currently serves as Associate Professor in the UK Department of English, and was the 2013-14 Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In this episode, Walker discusses his work, reflections on campus both as a former student and now as a professor, and more…

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” when they're released. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be features, along with the most important news impacting the university.

If you have questions or comments about this or any other episode of 'Behind the Blue', email us at BehindTheBlue@uky.edu, or Tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.