Poet Tony Medina Recives Langston Hughes Society Award

2Leaf Press poet Tony Medina, who is set to publish his poetry collection Broke Baroque in May, was one of two keynote speakers invited to address the 31st Annual Langston Hughes Society Luncheon in Kentucky on April 11, 2013 at University of Kentucky, Lexington. Medina, who is also a children’s author, delivered the keynote address entitled, “The Poet Speaks of Dreaming: Langston Hughes and Black Children,” which discussed the impact that Hughes had on the poet’s life as well as Hughes’ commitment to connecting his works to black children, and his legacy in African American children’s literature.

After his keynote address, which was well-received by the distinguished Langston Hughes scholars in attendance, Medina was honored with The Langston Hughes Society Award. Attendees included Gordon E. Thompson, Dellita Martin Ogunsola, Tara T. Green, Sharon Lynette Jones, Donna Akiba Sullivan Harper, Dolan Hubbard and Naomi Long Madget, one of the senior most African American poets in the nation who met Langston Hughes, her mentor, when she was 15 years-old. This annual luncheon is part of the College Language Association Convention, which was hosted by the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky and held April 10-13, 2013.