On this episode of VOICE, Stephanie Rodriguez speaks with John Keene, author of the award-winning collection Counternarratives and the forthcoming collection Punks. He is a translator of poetry, fiction, and essays from Portuguese, French, and Spanish. He chairs the Department of African American and African Studies, is Distinguished Professor of English and African American Studies at Rutgers University-Newark.

They discuss language as a superpower, John’s unique process as an experimental writer that engages historical context, and the need for more translation of literary works by non-Anglophone black diaspora authors in English.

John also shares a moving poetry reading!