PEN America Virtual Author’s Evening with Reginald Dwayne Betts

Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Time: 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
Location: Zoom
Donation to Attend: $125 per person

Join us for a special conversation with Reginald Dwayne Betts on his collection of poems, Felon.

In this powerful collection, Betts swings between traditional and newfound forms, from the crown of sonnets that serves as the volume’s conclusion to revolutionary erasure poems. Redacting legal documents that challenged the continued incarceration of individuals simply because they did not have the money to make bail, Betts illustrates the injustice of a legal system that exploits and erases the poor and imprisoned from public consciousness. Traditionally, redaction expunges what is top secret; in Felon, Betts redacts what is superfluous, bringing into focus the profound failures of the criminal justice system and the inadequacy of the labels it generates. We are honored to be joined by Betts to discuss the impact and importance of his work and the power of writing as a tool for justice.

A $125 donation is required to attend this very special evening. This donation is considered 100 percent tax-deductible and supports PEN America’s mission to defend writers and free expression at a time of unprecedented need. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

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Space will be limited to 25 guests to facilitate audience participation and discussion. Following your RSVP, you will be sent the Zoom meeting invitation. This is a private video meeting, and only guests who are on the RSVP list will be permitted to join.

Closed captioning is available for our Authors’ Evenings events upon request. Please email [email protected] within 24 hours of the program to include closed captioning.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].

To make the required donation online, please click the button above. PEN America also accepts donations through checks, wire transfers, and donor-advised funds. Please indicate in the notes or memo section that the payment is an “Author’s Evening donation,” and if possible, include the name of the event. PEN America’s mailing address and transfer information are below.

Check
Please make checks payable to:
PEN America
Attn: Development Department/AE
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012

Electronic Transfer
Account name: PEN American Center Inc.
Routing code: 021000021
Account number: 616368556
Bank: JPMorgan Chase, New York, NY 10012