Poetry at McLeod

In this innovative series, African American poets reclaim the plantation landscape by exploring the past, present, future, and the imagined in their own voices. Often representing pain, suffering, survival, and perseverance, these poets confirm that plantations are places of conscience. One poet recalled, "Reading poems where my ancestors were was a return. On their behalf, I was returning with power. It belongs to them. I would be a part of reclaiming it."

  • Poetry at McLeod is free to the first 50 participants, thereafter entry is included with your park admission. No preregistration is required. 
  • Writing workshops the following day are also free but space is limited so preregistration is required.
  • Not able to attend in person? Our Poetry at McLeod series is also broadcasted live via our Facebook page!

This series is made possible by the generous support of The Poetry Society of South Carolina, the SC Humanities Council, the Charleston County Public Library, and the Charleston County Parks Foundation.

  1. Poetry at McLeod: 9/10
  2. Poetry Workshop: 9/11
  3. Poetry at McLeod: 11/12
  4. Poetry Workshop: 11/13

Poetry at McLeodPhoto of Yona Harvey

Yona Harvey

Saturday, September 10, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Yona Harvey is the author of the poetry collections You Don't Have To Go To Mars for Love, which won the Believer Book Award for Poetry and Hemming the Water, winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. She co-wrote with Roxane Gay Marvel's World of Wakanda and co-wrote with Ta-Nehisi Coates Black Panther & the Crew. She has also worked with teenagers writing about mental health issues in collaboration with Creative Nonfiction magazine. She is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow.