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."

Join Us!

  • 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.
  • Our COVID-19 protocols 


  1. Poetry at McLeod: 4/10
  2. Poetry Workshop: 4/11
  3. Poetry at McLeod: 5/29
  4. Poetry Workshop: 5/30

Poetry at McLeod: Yvette Murray, Malachi Jones, Joey Tucker

April 10, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

No registration is required for this event.


Image for poet Yvette R. Murray

Yvette R. Murray, a Charleston native, writes science fiction, children’s books, and poems appearing in Fall Lines, Petigru Review, Catfish Stew, Genesis Science Fiction, and elsewhere. She is a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee and the 2020 Watering Hole fellow.

Image for poet Malachi Jones

Malachi Jones a Charleston native studying Creative Writing at Columbia University received the 2018 Gold Medal Writing Portfolio award, was a 2016 National Student Poets Program finalist, and is published in Rattle’s Young Poets Anthology and USC’s Anthology, Writing South Carolina.

Image for poet Joey Tucker

Joey Tucker aka Mr. Enlightenment, of Walterboro has released three chapbooks, Walletz & Pursez, L.I.G.H.T. and A Poet’s Playground and two poetry CDs, Worth My Weight in Watts (2015) and Summer Soulstice (2017). He teaches high school English.




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.