Poetry at McLeod

In this innovative series, African American poets reclaim the plantation landscape by exploring the past, present, future, and the imagined in their own voices. Often representing pain, suffering, survival, and perseverance, these poets confirm that plantations are places of conscience. One poet recalled, "Reading poems where my ancestors were was a return. On their behalf, I was returning with power. It belongs to them. I would be a part of reclaiming it."

  • Poetry at McLeod is free to the first 50 participants, thereafter entry is included with your park admission. No preregistration is required. 
  • Writing workshops the following day are also free but space is limited so preregistration is required.
  • Not able to attend in person? Our Poetry at McLeod series is also broadcasted live via our Facebook page!

This series is made possible by the generous support of The Poetry Society of South Carolina, the SC Humanities Council, the Charleston County Public Library, and the Charleston County Parks Foundation.

Upcoming Events


Malcolm Tariq

Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Malcolm TariqMalcolm Tariq is a poet and playwright from Savannah, Georgia. He is the author of Heed the Hollow (Graywolf, 2020), winner of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize and the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Poetry, and Extended Play (Gertrude Press, 2017). His plays have been developed by Working Title Playwrights and Brave New World Repertory Theatre.

Malcolm was a 2016-2017 playwriting apprentice at Horizon Theatre Company and a 2020-2021 resident playwright with Liberation Theatre Company. A graduate of Emory University, he holds a PhD in English from the University of Michigan. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he is the senior manager of editorial projects for Prison and Justice Writing at PEN America.


Poetry Workshop with Malcolm Tariq

Sunday, April 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Space is limited for the workshop; please register in advance.

Participants will work with historical and personal artifacts to uncover deeper meaning and new understandings to get at Alice Walker’s emphasis on “the larger perspective.” Poets are encouraged to bring historical items (news stories, will and testaments, photographs, speeches, legal documents) to further investigate historical moments or their choosing, or family histories.