Reading by Genny Lim & Nellie Wong, with Hyeyung Sol Yoon
Weds., April 19, 2025, 2pm – 3:30pm Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room Main Library, 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102
SFPL’s Humanities Center celebrates National Poetry Month with a reading by Genny Lim, San Francisco’s 9th Poet Laureate. Cherry blossoms have long been a symbol of life’s brevity. Lim, together with poet Nellie Wong, will address themes of life, death and renewal in the historical and personal contexts of their poems, accompanied by Del Sol String Quartet violinist Hyeyung Sol Yoon.
Feb. 11, 2025, 5–7 p.m. Koret Auditorium, SF Main Library, 100 Larkin St. San Francisco
An exciting, kinetic procession of Indian and West African dance and drums joined together with Chinese lion dancers kicks off an electrifying evening of music, dance and poetry with San Francisco’s new poet laureate Genny Lim and former poet laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin this Tuesday, February 11, at the Main Library. San Francisco Human Rights Commission and San Francisco Public Library, in partnership with Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, the API Heritage Foundation and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, are thrilled to present the 3rd Annual Drumbeats, Heartbeats, Communities as One celebration of the Lunar New Year and Black History Month.
“The Joint Celebration of Lunar New Year and Black History Month is an amazing opportunity to bring to gather two of San Francisco’s integral communities to celebrate unique cultures and share experiences. In view of the movement to dismantle appreciation for diversity in the country, it is upon us to step up and amplify all the contributions of diverse communities to our City,” said Claudine Cheng, APA Heritage Foundation President. “The APA Heritage Foundation is proud to partner with the San Francisco Public Library, the Human Rights Commission and Booker T. Washington Community Center in hosting this annual celebration for the third year.”
“Drumbeats, Heartbeats is a testament to the power of unity and cultural exchange. At a time when division threatens to overshadow our shared humanity, this event brings together the African American and Asian communities to celebrate resilience, artistry and history. As the San Francisco Human Rights Commission marks its 61st anniversary, we are reminded of our ongoing mission to advance equity, inclusion and justice for all. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is honored to stand with our community partners in fostering a city where diversity is not only acknowledged but uplifted as our greatest strength,” said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, Acting Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.
This year’s program highlights artists and performers representing the African American and Asian communities, and the event attendees will gather afterwards to enjoy a meal of mixed Asian and Black cuisines for all to share. Performers include Duniya Dance and Drum Company, LionDanceME, current SF poet laureate Lim, former poet laureate Eisen-Martin and the youth group Loco Bloco.
“We’re thrilled to bring back this exciting cultural celebration,” said Michael Lambert, City Librarian. “Our City is intentional about recognizing the beauty and unique contributions of our diverse Asian American diaspora and our African American community. And that is what makes the City and County of San Francisco so special; our diversity is our strength.”
This program is produced through a partnership of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, San Francisco Public Library, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, APA Heritage Foundation and Booker T. Washington Community Center, as well as with the community support of the Japantown Community Benefit District, Nihonmachi Street Fair, Value Culture, East West Bank, Asians Are Strong, Chinese Culture Center and Dear Community.
Sunday, February 2, 2025 3:00pm – 5:00pm Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Main Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102
An afternoon of poetry, youth performances and music to mark the inauguration of San Francisco’s 9th Poet Laureate, Genny Lim, at the San Francisco Main Library.
Hosted by City Librarian Michael Lambert, the event featured performances by youth poets from Youth Speaks, a youth chorus from Clarion Children’s Theater, past San Francisco poets laureates Kim Shuck, devorah major and Alejandro Murguía with live art by Adrian Arias, and a reading by writer Kevin Simmonds.
Genny Lim, Poet Laureate of San Francisco. Photo: Kit Castagne
Lim was appointed as the city’s poet laureate in September 2024 by then Mayor London Breed. As part of her required duties as laureate, she will host an inaugural event to celebrate her poetic vision for San Francisco.
Lim is the first Chinese American appointed to the city’s three-year poet laureate position. She was born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods and is a graduate of San Francisco State University and Columbia University. Her writing has been widely awarded and published.
This One City One Book title was chosen with the unveiling of the new monument honoring Dr. Angelou, Portrait of a Phenomenal Woman by Lava Thomas, on the front steps of the Main Library overlooking Civic Center. This is the first monument commemorating a Black woman in San Francisco’s Civic Art Collection and is the foundation of an entire Citywide celebration of Dr. Angelou this year.
At the monument’s dedication ceremony on September 19, 2024, San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim delivered this poem dedicated to Dr. Maya Angelou.
Why the Caged Bird Sings For Maya Angelou
If you’re going to die this evening, what will you do in the time that remains? -Mahmoud Darwish
Why does the caged bird sing? She sings when darkness falls Not waiting for tomorrow’s call Why does the caged bird sing? She sings because she does not wait for the sun to lift her from her fate or some quick fix or court of law to save her from the lyncher’s claw This bird waits for no one Her flight to freedom’s never done To be dragged by hatred’s chain Hell no, that’s not her game She is not invisible She is indivisible Like the sun that rises on her Black, Brown and Yellow sisters who stand proud and tall beside her She knows that life is an unmade bed ready for love any day or weather So why does the caged bird sing? She knows that freedom rings with whatever joy you bring and If you’re going to die this evening what will you do in the time that remains? That’s why the caged bird sings
