Visiting Scholar, Joshua Bennett, Continues To Make An Impact

On Thursday, April 22, Visiting Scholar, Dr. Joshua Bennett introduced the community to his robust collaborative project of poetry and music which tackled race, poetics, accountability and the sound of freedom as well as possible futures of radical belonging. Following the presentation, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Jason Craige Harris, hosted a Q&A session with Dr. Bennett, who took questions from the audience on everything from finding inspiration to his family to the purpose of school.

Dr. Bennett began the evening by taking his audience on a journey through his creative process, citing the guidance of his mother and older sister as major influences. The linguistic prowess that his family fostered in him as a young person and the “music of everyday people” that surrounded him as he grew up in the Bronx were vital tools he used to find his voice. Dr. Bennett’s passion for words, combined with the rhythms that moved him through life allowed him to share his gift in the most meaningful way, all while lovingly taking on the task of conceptualizing his place in the world as a Black man.

When questioned on the importance of poetry to the younger generation, Dr. Bennett explains, “It’s a space to experiment. It’s a space in which we can embark upon the adventures that make us whole. You just get to dream.” Creating poetry is also a safe space to explore triumph and pain.

Dr. Bennett ended the discussion by focusing on his relationship with school and its significance in “creating a rich inner life and confidence” and how his education helped cultivate his own imagination and led him to his success today.

Friends Seminary students will continue to get to know and work with Dr. Bennett through May when he hosts poetry workshops in the Lower and Middle Schools, an Upper School lunch conversation, and a workshop for humanities teachers. 

The Visiting Scholar Program at Friends Seminary was created in 2009 to bring to campus outstanding practitioners in their field to enrich the academic and artistic experiences of our students. The program augments the curriculum by exposing students to scholars and artists who would not normally be accessible to pre-collegiate students. The impact of this experience will further inspire and motivate students to go out and “bring about a world that ought to be.”