Chicago’s Influence On Poetry

Chicago has given the world many wonders: architecture, ketchup-less hot dogs, house music. But did you know about the influence the city has had on poetry? Slam poetry got its start in Chicago in the 1980’s, spawning worldwide competitions, including the largest youth poetry festival in the world, right here in Chicago. Reset sits down with three local artists, Haiku Fest founder Regina Harris Baiocchi, Chicago’s first-ever Poet Laureate avery r. Young, and Illinois’ fifth Poet Laureate Angela Jackson, to learn what makes Chicago’s poetry scene unique. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.