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Danez Smith Reads “Heartbeats” by Melvin Dixon

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September 17, 2020 — Danez Smith reads the poem by Melvin Dixon (1950–1992) as part of the launch event for "Lift Every Voice," a nationwide celebration of the 250-year-long African American poetic tradition presented by Library of America and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. "Hearbeats" is included in the Library of America anthology African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song, edited by Kevin Young.

Watch the complete Schomburg Center launch event