Emma Lazarus' famous poem is inexorably linked with the Statue of Liberty. Learn the true story of how. Through images, film, and audio clips we explore its relevance to the continuing dialogue about immigration.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore…” While many people recognize this oft-quoted stanza they may not know its fascinating backstory and its many uses and abuses. “The New Colossus,” the sonnet by the Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus was written in 1883 to raise funds for the construction of a pedestal for “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
As issues of refugees and immigration continue to dominate the news, the poem’s relevance is greater than ever. Join us for a lively, informative, and interactive discussion led by writer, editor and historian Jim Van Buskirk, of the pioneering female poet, her sonnet and its history, legacy, and cultural influence.
LOCATION:Main Library - Koret Auditorium CLASS:PUBLIC TRANSP:TRANSPARENT END:VEVENT BEGIN:VALARM TRIGGER:-PT1440M ACTION:DISPLAY DESCRIPTION:Event Reminder - Presentation: Emma Lazarus's The New Colossus END:VALARM END:VCALENDAR