Frederick-Douglass Knowles II
Hartford Poet Laureate Emeritus
Frederick-Douglass Knowles II is a Professor of English at Connecticut State Community College (Three Rivers Campus). He is a Hartford Poet Laureate Emeritus. Knowles is a recipient of the Nutmeg Poetry Award and the Connecticut of The Arts Fellow in Artist Excellence for Poetry/ Creative Non-Fiction. He is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee and the author of BlackRoseCity.
Bio
#BeatLit
Imagine a young poetic voice that is powerful, yet fearful. It fears that no one wants to hear about its innermost vulnerabilities due to a cultural absence of empathy. Or a powerful young voice that is fully aware of its magnitude, but unaware of how to articulate its experience utilizing literary techniques designed to amplify its story. Now imagine those same voices expressing themselves to the heartfelt rhythm of #BeatLit.
Mission:
#BeatLit illustrates an interactive, creative writing campaign designed to amalgamate the literary and performing art of poetry. #BeatLit combines the element of active reading with generative creative writing exercises to compose literary and/or performance poetry in order to improve the competency and confidence of aspiring writers.
Vision:
#BeatLit establishes working relationships with local schools, libraries, community organizations and institutions, as well as, artistic venues throughout Greater Hartford to encourage young writers to achieve their literary dreams.
Emeritus Tour '25
1. Spit Nights. London, England. January 18th 9pm. London, England
2. Judge. Connecticut Poetry Slam Team. Poetz Realm. 9pm. Bridgeport, CT.
3. 15th Annual Black History Month Spoken Word Tribute. February 22nd 8pm. Shelton, CT.
4. Booker T. DeVaughn Book Collection Dedication. February 25th 1pm. Connecticut State Community College: Three Rivers Campus Library. Norwich, CT
5. Women's Group. Reliance Health Inc. March 13th 6pm Norwich, CT
6. ACES Educational Center for the Arts. March 24th 3pm New Haven, CT.
7. 3rd Annual Literary Festival for High School Students. April 1st 9am ECSU. Windham, CT.
8. Prudence Crandall Celebration. Prudence Crandall Museum Canterbury, CT 9/5 1pm
9 Hartford L.I.T. Fest. Main Hartford Public Library Hartford, CT 9/27 1pm
10. Poetry Jam. Lizard Lounge Cambridge, MA 9/28 8pm
11. Bet on Black II. Location TBA. Norwich, CT. 10/4. 6pm
12. CT Lit Anthology. Real Artways. Hartford, CT 10/18 TBA
13. CT Lit Anthology. Stratford Public Library. Startford, CT 11/2 4pm
