The HistoryMakers

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, The HistoryMakers hosted a free public program entitled, Write On: The Art of the Written Word. A panel of four HistoryMakers including: publisher and poet Haki Madhubuti, author Samuel Greenlee, poet Angela Jackson and playwright Useni Eugene Perkins, were featured for Black History Month. The program started with event moderator, WGN-TV’s Merri Dee, welcoming everyone. She introduced writer and educator Sandra Jackson-Opoku, who gave a knowledgeable assessment on the history and current state of African American literature, the historical significance of the Black Arts Movement and Gwendolyn Brooks’ contribution to African American literature in Chicago. Each panelist was introduced and recited an excerpt from one of his or her literary works after a video introduction featuring clips from each panelist’s HistoryMaker interview. During the program, all four writers spoke about their work, personal experiences and writing techniques. A capacity crowd of diverse people: students, professionals, women, men and children were captivated by the panel discussion.

This Illinois Humanities Council funded-public program was hosted at the Harris Bank Auditorium in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Sponsors included Harris Bank, American Airlines, the Chicago Tribune, Aly’s Posey Patch, Black Sophisticate’s and Carson Pirie Scott.

At the conclusion of the program, audience members met with the panelists and got their books signed. Later that evening, The HistoryMakers’ staff hosted a private dinner for the four panelists.


Event moderator Merri Dee	Four panelists: Useni Eugene Perkins, Haki Madhubuti, Samuel Greenlee and Angela Jackson

Michael Lewis, Julieanna Richardson, Haki Madhubuti, Angela Jackson, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, Merri Dee and Useni Eugene Perkins.	Audience members