Poetry returns to McLeod Plantation Historic Site this Fall

African American poets reclaim the plantation landscape with their own voices

[JAMES ISLAND] – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s Poetry at McLeod series returns this fall with two events on Oct. 9 and Nov. 13. The events will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in person at McLeod Plantation Historic Site, and also broadcast via Facebook Live.

In this innovative series, African American poets reclaim the plantation landscape by exploring the past, present, future, and the imagined. Often representing pain, suffering, survival, and perseverance, our featured poets confirm in their own voices that plantations are places of conscience.

On Oct. 9, join poet Grace C. Ocasio with a poetry reading of her own works. A two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Ocasio was a finalist in the 2016 Aesthetica Creative Writing Award in Poetry and was a recipient of the 2014 North Carolina Arts Council Regional Artist Project Grant. Ocasio will also host a free poetry workshop called “Channeling Voice: Persona Tricks” on Sunday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration for the workshop is required and available atCharlestonCountyParks.com, and space is limited to 10 participants.

On Nov. 13, join poet and author Dustin Pearson as he reclaims the plantation landscape with a poetry reading of his own works. In 2019, The Root named Dustin one of nine black poets working in “academic, cultural and government institutions committed to elevating and preserving the poetry artform.” Pearson will also host a free poetry workshop called “Empathy and the Lyric Narrative Poem” on Sunday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration for the workshop is required and available atCharlestonCountyParks.com, and space is limited to 10 participants.

Poetry at McLeod is free to the first 50 participants, and thereafter free with park admission. Advance registration is not required for the poetry sessions. Interested participants can also watch the poetry readings live on social media via McLeod Plantation Historic Site’s Facebook page. The writing workshops the following day are also free, but space is limited, and registration is required for those. This series is made possible by the generous support of The Poetry Society of South Carolina and the Charleston County Parks Foundation.

CCPRC opened McLeod Plantation as a public county park and historic site in 2015. Located on James Island, McLeod Plantation Historic Site is a former sea island cotton plantation. In 2019, it was named a “Site of Conscience,” a designation that places it among an international coalition of museums, historic sites and memorials that confront both the history of what happened at the site and its lasting impacts.

For more information on McLeod Plantation Historic Site and these programs, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call 843-795-4386.

The mission of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes six regional parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, a historic plantation site, a skate park, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. CCPRC also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, and much more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386 or visit charlestoncountyparks.com.

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission / 861 Riverland Drive / Charleston, SC 29412 / (843) 795-4386