Des Moines Public Library's Virtual AViD Series - Hanif Abdurraqib

Celebrated author, poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib will appear on Zoom Wednesday, April 14 as part of the Des Moines Public Library’s Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series.

Abdurraqib will be discussing his latest book, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, which was released last month to critical acclaim from The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews, and more. In the book, Hanif reflects on Black performers and how they are intricately woven into the fabric of America. The book touches on famous cultural figures like Beyoncé and Aretha Franklin, as well as more personal moments, such as reflections on dance marathons of the early 20^th century or a game of spades among friends.

Abdurraqib’s 2019 book Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest was featured on several year-end best-of lists and was longlisted for the National Book Award. He is also the author of They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, a collection of essays, as well as A Fortune for Your Disaster and The Crown Ain’t Worth Much, both collections of his poetry.

The program will be moderated by Joseph Jones, the executive director for The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement.

This free program begins at 7 PM Wednesday, April 14. Participants must register in advance at dmpl.org/avid. You can also find information on the rest of the 2021 Authors Visiting in Des Moines series, including our May author, Ibi Zoboi, at dmpl.org/avid.