Poet Jaki Shelton Green to read at Bates

Acclaimed African-American poet Jaki Shelton Green will read from her works at Bates College Friday at 7 p.m. in the Edmund S. Muskie Archives. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Green, author of several books of poetry, including “Dead on Arrival,” “Masks” and “Conjure Blues,” wrote the play “Blue Opal” and was a contributing writer for “Pete and Shirley: The Great Tar Heel Novel.” Currently, she is working on her first novel and the “Juke Joint” project, documenting an African-American cultural phenomenon. Her poetry has appeared in several journals and anthologies, including Crucible, the African-American Review, Essence and Obsidian.

A native of North Carolina, Green works as a community activist and arts consultant. She is employed as a community economic development consultant for Legal Services of North Carolina. Her portrait, commissioned by the state of North Carolina in recognition of her artistry and community work, hangs in the Statehouse.

Green’s poetry reading is sponsored by the Bates Multicultural Center and Women of Color.