File, Digital Video

Collins' Dinner
Author Series

Digital video transferred from a Video8 tape containing a partial recording of the dinner and awards reception and the full writers’ workshop both held on April 23 and 24, 1999 in conjunction with Merle Collins’ appearance at Marygrove College for the 11th Annual Contemporary American Authors Lecture.

The tape begins with footage from the dinner and awards reception. The event is already in progress, and Nettie Seabrooks is at the podium. After a cut, the event’s host and Marygrove’s president, Dr. Glenda Price introduces S. Martin Taylor. Taylor then reads a tribute to Fred Currier. Dr. Price then introduces Dr. Frank Rashid, the Chair of English and Modern Languages, who presents awards to the winners of the McCombs-Currier Writing Awards. Next, Dr. Price recognizes Dr. Barbara Johns, IHM, with a bouquet. The program ends after some brief words from Merle Collins, and concluding remarks from Dr. Price.

The tape continues with footage of the 11th annual writers workshop. The occasion is hosted by Dr. Loretta Woodard, who turns the podium over to Merle Collins. Before soliciting questions from the attendees, she expresses thanks, discusses the differences between her poetry and prose especially in setting, and the value of unintended insights found in her works. In addressing questions from the audience, her responses deal with factual versus invented elements in "The Colour of Forgetting," voice in poetry, the naming of the characters in "The Colour of Forgetting," representing everyday life in Grenada in "Angel," will "Angel" get a sequel, the significance of wall hangings in her works, representing female characters in her novels (which leads to a reading of "Some Days, Mother" from "Angel"), how she works with her own writing students, the ending of "Angel," and her favorite writers. The recording fades out after Collins is presented a gift.