Lunchbox Lecture: The History of Spoken Word Poetry
Date and Time
- Tuesday, Apr 21, 2026 12pm - 1pm
Location
Nebraska History Museum
131 Centennial Mall N.
Category
Details
Join us for this month’s Lunchbox Lecture featuring Jewel Rodgers, Nebraska State Poet 2025–2029!
During her keynote, Jewel reflects on her journey as a self-described spoken word artist stepping into a traditionally page-centered literary role. Through performance and storytelling, she explores the cultural roots of spoken word, its historical ties to jazz and artistic movements, and the skepticism it sometimes encounters in academic poetry spaces. Blending poems with personal narrative, she demonstrates how spoken word serves as a powerful tool for both artistic excellence and community-building.
Event admission is free.
Special thanks to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation for providing funding for this event series and the recording to broadcast on LNKTV.
