On Being American: An Evening of Poetry and Music with Kwame Alexander and Amy Shook

In partnership with the African American Heritage House How do you tell a story about strength and pride and refusing to be broken? In this powerful evening of poetry, storytelling, and live music, Emmy Award-winning producer and New York Timesbestselling author Kwame Alexander explores the American experience through verse -- inviting audiences to let the poems tell the story of America. Accompanied by acclaimed bassist Amy Shook, Alexander weaves together works by literary giants including Langston Hughes, Joy Harjo, and Emily Dickinson with original reflections on resilience, freedom, identity, and hope. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award and author of 46 books -- including the Newbery Medal-winning The Crossover, later adapted for Disney+ -- Alexander brings warmth, urgency, humor, and lyrical insight to an unforgettable performance that celebrates the courage to speak, imagine, and transform. Part spoken-word performance, part musical meditation, On Being American is an inspiring and deeply human exploration of the stories that shape us -- and the possibilities that connect us.