Oral history interview with Elizabeth Alexander, 2021
Abstract
Elizabeth Alexander reflects on her experience of the Obama presidency, relationship with the Obama family, and delivery of her inaugural poem, "Praise Song for the Day," at Barack Obama's first presidential inauguration in January 2009. She remembers the development of her relationship with Barack and Michelle Obama in the community surrounding the University of Chicago, and discusses her drafting of "Praise Song for the Day," providing details about the major themes, issues, and histories that she explored through the poem. Alexander also considers the significance of Obama's presidency and speaks broadly about major issues of the Obama presidency, including the administration's use of the White House as a stage for arts and culture; Obama's approach to speaking publicly about race and racism; Obama's oratory and delivery of major speeches, namely his eulogy commemorating the attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015; the Obamas' international reception; the first family's cultural legacy; and Michelle Obama's support for young artists
Presidents--United States; Presidents--Family; Authors; Charleston Church Shooting, Charleston, S.C., 2015; African American poets; Alexander, Elizabeth, 1962-; Obama, Barack
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
38 pages
Note (Biographical)
Elizabeth Alexander is a poet, essayist, playwright, and, at the time of this interview, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Alexander's poetry collection, American Sublime, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her memoir, The Light of the World, was nominated for the National Book Critic's Circle Award. In 2009, for the first inauguration of President Obama, and at his behest, she wrote and read her poem "Praise Song for the Day." Alexander's academic career includes positions at Yale University and Columbia University. She is a founding member of Cave Canem, an organization dedicated to promoting African American poets and poetry
Note
Interviewed by William McAllister on March 19, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Elizabeth Alexander, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023