The University of New Orleans Press and Earl K. Long Library will present a lecture on April 29 called “What Langston Did,” featuring author and Runagate Press imprint editor Kalamu ya Salaam, along with UNO Press editor Chelsey Shannon.

Shannon and Salaam will explore Salaam’s latest release, “Cosmic Deputy,” part anthology and part creative treatise, that traces his evolution as a poet and names writer Langston Hughes as one of his most influential mentors. They will discuss the lasting influence, as well as the breadth and depth of Hughes’ accomplishments as a writer.

This free virtual event will stream live at 6 p.m. on the UNO Press’s Facebook page as well as its YouTube channel.

The presentation is part of Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters, a national public humanities initiative of Library of America presented in partnership with The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Emerson Collective.

“Cosmic Deputy,” can be purchased from any of UNO Press’ local bookstore affiliates or online at unopress.org.

Founded in 2003, the University of New Orleans Press is a nonprofit book publisher stemming from the rich cultural tradition of New Orleans and its surrounding region. UNO Press seeks literature inspired by this tradition, as well as work that contributes to the intellectual and aesthetic life of academic and general audiences everywhere.