By Louis Martin, RCAC staff writer
This year Joy Harjo became the 23rd Poet Laureate and the first ever of Tribal membership. Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is an international renowned writer and performer who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A prolific writer, Harjo has published nine poetry books and two children’s books. Her personal memoir Crazy Brave was awarded the PEN USA Literary Award in Creative Non Fiction and the American Book Award. She is also a musician and lead singer of The Arrow Dynamics Band. Joy sings her poetry onstage when she’s not playing the saxophone or flute.
Each year, the Library of Congress appoints a Poet Laureate to serve from October to May. During that time, the laureate is considered the official poet of the United States, and works in her/his own unique way to educate the public about the value and appreciation of poetry.
Read the full story here: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/19/733727917/joy-harjo-becomes-the-first-native-american-u-s-poet-laureate
