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An Emerging Poet: Remembering David Blair Todd Duncan, Senior Lecturer, English;

Matthew Wisotsky, Associate Director for Library User Experience (Access Services)

For more info about the Humanities Center, call (313) 577-5471 or visit www.research2.wayne.edu/hum

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 12:30PM-1:30PM Rm. 2339 Faculty Administration Bldg

David Blair, “Blair” was Detroit. A poet. A songwriter. An activist. A teacher. Through his written and spoken word, Blair wrote and performed to impact and inspire. Blair passed away in 2011, but his work remains alive and an important outlet to navigate these uncertain times that the world is in.

David Blair, "Blair", grew up in Newton, New Jersey and moved to Detroit in the 1990's. He was an award winning poet, artist, songwriter/musician, author, community activist and teacher. He toured all over the world, independently released albums of original spoken word and music, produced and performed a one-man show of music and poetry and earned a National Poetry Slam Champion title. In this paper, Todd Duncan and Michael Wisotsky will present and discuss the artistic and professional accomplishments of the late David Blair.

Todd Duncan, Senior Lecturer in English and African American Studies, teaches courses on various aspects of American Literature. He is interested in the ways in which African American Literature is constituted as a distinctive, coherent body of literature and also vital in defining American Literature. He has especially enjoyed developing two Detroit-centered courses and is currently teaching one of them, “Detroit Poetry,” a course David Blair visited several times.

Matthew Wisotsky is the Associate Director for User Experience (Access Services) at Wayne State University. He decided to pursue a Masters in Urban Planning to help “save” the city of Detroit, but is currently focused on using his knowledge to implement new library services and spaces that cater to the changing needs of our patrons and works to maintain an engaging environment for the staff he supports. Matthew had the pleasure of working with Blair for the latter part of his career as his manager, assisting him with routing tours and producing material.

Photographed by David Lewinski Photographed by Michael Wisotsky Photographed by Michael Wisotsky Images: Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of

Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.