National Museum of African Art Presents a Discussion with Poet Maya Angelou

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art presents the third offering of its Director’s Discussion Series. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, director of the museum, will have a lively, engaging and thought-provoking discussion with Maya Angelou, world-renowned poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright and civil-rights activist. The discussion will be introduced by on-air personality Cortney Hicks of Washington, D.C.’s radio station Majic 102.3. The event will be held Friday, Feb. 1, at the Rasmuson Theater in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

For a full bio on Angelou, visit africa.si.edu/angeloubio.

The Director’s Discussion Series features leading public intellectuals, artists and other cultural producers in conversation with Cole. The series started in 2011 with a discussion between Cole and renowned philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah of Princeton University. In July 2012 Cole sat down with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.

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SI-25A-2013

Note to editors: To request an interview with Cole, contact Eddie Burke at (202) 633-4660 or burkee@si.edu.