CBC Books | | Posted: July 26, 2019 7:23 PM | Last Updated: November 1, 2019
George Elliott Clarke, art by Lara Martina
Image | BOOK COVER: Portia White
Caption:
In his unique brand of spoken word, Africadian poetry, the incomparable George Elliott Clarke explores a personal subject: his great-aunt Portia White. The result is a stirring, epic poem vibrating with energy and music that spans White's birth in 1911, a coming of age amidst the backdrop of two World Wars, and her life-long love affair with music — from singing in to directing the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church choir to her bel canto tutlege at the Halifax Conservatory of Music to her final, command performance before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1964.
Portia White is a stunning testament to the first African Canadian to become an international star. Features vibrant illustrations by contemporary artist Lara Martina. (From Nimbus Publishing)
Portia White is available in Nov. 2019.
George Elliott Clarke was Canada's parliamentary poet laureate and was the fourth poet laureate of Toronto (2012-2015).
Media Video | (not specified) : George Elliott Clarke
Caption: Award winning poet, playwright and literary critic, George Elliott Clarke hails from Windsor, Nova Scotia. A seventh-generation Canadian of African-American and Mi'kmaq Amerindian heritage, Clarke has written in a variety of genres including poetry, opera, screenplay, and song
Media Audio | Q : George Elliott Clarke wants to be a poet for the people
Caption: Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke is on a mission to make his role relevant to the average Canadian.
more stories from this episode
Media Audio | Q : Poet Laureate George Elliot Clark, Radio Radio performs, U.K. comedian Dawn French 05/23/2016
Caption: George Elliott Clarke says poetry 'the soul of the arts' can't die. Radio Radio's first all-English album c'est right la fun. U.K. comedian Dawn French on developing resilience through humour.
Media Video | (not specified) : George Elliott Clarke reads the poem he wrote for civil rights activist Joan Jones
Caption: CBC News met up with poet George Elliott Clarke at the Halifax airport on Sunday night to capture him reading, 'For Joan Jones, Sanctified and Righteous.'