The Tradition: Civic Dialogue Edition
About this book
In this special edition of Jericho Brown’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Tradition, you are invited to participate in an urgent dialogue―sparked by poetry―about what it means to be human. Including a discussion guide and an interview with the author, The Civic Dialogue Edition is meant to catalyze and inspire deep and engaging community conversations.In 2021, the Free Library of Philadelphia selected The Tradition for their annual city-wide reading program, choosing a book of poetry for the first time ever. The vision was for neighbor to meet neighbor and discuss―in profound and transformative ways―the difficult subjects confronted so powerfully by the racism, homophobia, violence, and the human resolve to compose a joyful life. To encourage other communities―cities, schools, book groups―to follow Philadelphia’s lead, Copper Canyon Press collaborated with the Free Library to create The Civic Dialogue Edition. The dream is to tap the power of poetry to open hearts, clarify vision, spark conversation, and help make the world a more just and equitable place. And, if we’re fortunate, to laugh as freely and share as openly as the poet himself.