Ishmael Reed is a poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, songwriter, producer, publisher, MacArthur Fellow, and founder of the Before Columbus Foundation. He has twice been nominated for the National Book Award. His New and Collected Poems 1966-2006 is his first poetry collection in 20 years. He’s taught at U.C. Berkeley since 1968, and lives in Oakland.

Ishmael Reed is an award-winning poet, essayist and novelist, and one of the best-known and most controversial African American writers of his generation. He recently retired from teaching at the University of California, Berkeley. His latest book is New and Collected Poems, 1966-2006. He lives in Oakland.