Frank X Walker will speak on February 17

UNC Asheville will host a reading by Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in UNC Asheville’s Humanities Lecture Hall. “Affrilachian,” a term coined by Walker, refers to an African-American who lives in Appalachia, and challenges the idea of a homogeneous all-white landscape in the Appalachian region. The event is free and open to the public.

Walker, a native of Danville, Ky., created the term “Affrilachian” when he realized the definition for Appalachian only included white residents of the Appalachian mountains. The term now appears the Oxford American Dictionary and “The Encyclopedia of Appalachia.”

Walker has lectured, conducted workshops, read poetry and exhibited at more than 300 national conferences and universities. He holds a master’s degree in writing from Spalding University, and is a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets. He is the author four poetry collections, including “When Winter Come: the Ascension of York,” “Black Box,” “Buffalo Dance: the Journey of York” and “Affrilachia.” Walker is also the editor and publisher of “PLUCK!” the Journal of Affrilachian Art & Culture.

This event is co-sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Honors Program, Phi Eta Sigma and the Office of the Provost.

For more information, contact event coordinator Holly Iglesias at 828/350-4562 or higlesia@unca.edu.