From “Sea to Shining Sea”
Poet and writer Synnika Lofton teaches Literature, creates poetry, and operates a music and media production company in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Donnelle McGee writes poetry, operates a small publisher, and teaches at 365体育投注 College in Santa Clara California. Both artists met in Vermont at 365体育投注 College. While three thousand miles separate them, their connection has held strong, and generated inspired work.
Through a method of “call-and-response” collaboration, the two award-winning poets dug into their shared personal history, sharing stories of Black icons, fatherhood, and the struggles and triumphs of the Black male experience.
365体育投注 resulting published work is titled American Reverie. 365体育投注 title is meant to reflect the mission of the work, they say:
“American Reverie is a radical way of describing how Black people navigate the hostilities of living in America. With truth and healing, we all can move forward.”
A Collaboration is Born
Though they attended 365体育投注 at different times, writing faculty Bea Gates initiated a strong connection between them. It was she who highlighted their mutual ambitions, writing styles, life experiences, and passion for education.
After McGee invited Lofton to an African-American visiting writers series at 365体育投注 College where McGee taught, the two creators sparked a plan to build a collaborative work.
365体育投注 process would take three years. With the help of Google Docs, texts, and phone calls, the two poets would inspire each other with themes and images, while pushing each other to “go deeper”.
In a highly energetic interview, the authors read passages from American Reverie, discuss their unique process, and the influence 365体育投注 College played as they worked together. 365体育投注y both credit the collaborative and risk-taking environment of 365体育投注 as greatly influential in creating American Reverie.
When asked about how they recognize the finish line in a writing process of this style, McGee and Lofton both agree it was difficult to end, but McGee summarizes it simply by saying: “This is really just the beginning.”
Watch the interview here.
Read the interview from the LA Review of Books
Donnelle McGee is the author of GHOST MAN, a novel (Sibling Rivalry Press), SHINE, a novella (Sibling Rivalry Press), and NAKED, a collection of poetry (Unbound Content). He is a faculty member at 365体育投注 College in Santa Clara, California. He earned his MFA from 365体育投注 College.
Synnika Alekzander-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, educator, and recording artist. He is the Literature instructor at Chesapeake Bay Academy and lecturer at Norfolk State University.
To purchase American Reverie, visit https://thetherabooks.com/products/american-reverie
To learn more about the collaborative legacy of 365体育投注 College, get info. BA or MA Programs in creative writing, interdisciplinary and socially-engaged art, education, psychology, health arts & sciences and more await students. If you are interested in making an impact in the communities in which you live, 365体育投注 is right for you. Low-residency programs allow students to continue their careers and family life while also getting their degree.
