Debut of collections is now available and his memoir the cookoff will be released in may. Nice. And can we have a hand please . [applause] [inaudible] and awardwinning poet and journalist, critic and poet, his books are the New York Times best seller and book show of the month raising fences. Claims a l novel also americas and collection of essay, the life and death of tupac and hes a professor of english at lola Marymount University in los angeles. [applause] seated next to me is nirk coal raised in bronx, new york. Hand for the bronx. [laughter] a masters degree of psychology and worked as a counselor for teenagers and families in crisis situations. She also has mfa in creative writing for a new school. Her first novel won Los Angeles Times book prize for young adult literature and novel kendra and bronxwood selected by American Library association as best book for young adults. Her first middle grade novel kind of elected as an ala notable book for children, and an npr best book of
Democratic Party Platform did not support emancipation. This hourlong discussion was part of a symposium on the 1864 election hosted by the Lincoln Group of d. C. Our next speaker is known to many of us. And some of us have the strength to have read one of the two volumes this is the second volume covering the period of todays symposium, of Abraham Lincoln a life by Michael Burlingame who holds the distinguished chair at university of illinois at springfield. His earlier work, the inner world of Abraham Lincoln, is being discussed on saturday mornings monthly by a Book Discussion group that is sponsored by the Lincoln Group of d. C. And we meet at fords theater education center. Michael has done the most Massive Research on Abraham Lincoln of any scholar. He has edited 12 major books that lay out original source material from those who knew lincoln or studied him closely in the early years after lincoln. So, we are very pleased to have, as our final speaker before our panel, professor