Kindred Voices: Maya Angelou
A writer, performer, and fearless voice for care and justice. Module III of the Kindred Voices seminar at Mechanics' Institute.

In the third and final module of this Kindred Voices seminar, we turn to the legendary Maya Angelou and her powerful memoir, The Heart of a Woman. This work captures the intersections of art, activism, and personal transformation, chronicling Angelou’s evolution as a writer, performer, and fearless voice for care and justice. Together, we will explore how her storytelling bears witness to the struggle for Black liberation and artistic agency, offering profound insights into resilience, identity, and creative expression. Join us as we honor Angelou’s legacy and uncover the enduring power of her words to inspire change.

Facilitated by Dr. Nigel Hatton, this (mostly) online seminar is limited to 15 participants to ensure an intimate setting for discussion and close reading. Seminar participants are welcome to join Dr. Hatton and other seminar participants in person on the 4th Floor of Mechanics' Institute for our hybrid session on April 29 (Module III, Session 1).

Kindred Voices: Maya Angelou (Module III) Seminar Schedule

• April 29 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
• May 6 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)
• May 13 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)

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About the Kindred Voices Seminar (Modules I, II, and III)

This Spring 2025 seminar at Mechanics’ Institute explores the literary and cultural contributions of Toni Morrison (Module I), Nikki Giovanni (Module II), and Maya Angelou (Module III) — three towering Black women writers whose works have shaped and redefined American literature. Across three modules, we will engage in close readings of their novels, essays, and poetry.

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About the Instructor

Dr. Nigel Hatton, Associate Professor at UC Merced, specializes in literature, philosophy, and human rights. His research and teaching span the areas of literature and philosophy, human rights and literature, critical refugee studies, and narrative medicine. Dr. Hatton received the dual Ph.D. in Modern Thought & Literature and The Humanities with a PhD minor in Political Theory from Stanford University, and master’s degrees from Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Jesuit University of San Francisco. He has volunteered as an instructor, tutor, and consultant in California prisons since 2003 and occasionally lectures in the Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University. Dr. Hatton teaches undergraduate courses such as "Human Rights & Literature," "Toni Morrison & James Baldwin," and "Literature & Philosophy."

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Class Information

Flexible Options: Choose your preferred approach - choose to enroll in just Module III (3 Sessions: $100 for members, $125 for non-members/public) or save $15 by enrolling for Modules II-III [6 Sessions], $185 for members, $235 for non-members/public).

Hybrid Sessions for Modules II and III: While this is a seminar that meets mostly online (via Zoom), Dr. Nigel Hatton will be joining us in-person at Mechanics' Institute during the first session of Module II (Nikki Giovanni) and Module III (Maya Angelou).

Module II. Nikki Giovanni (3 sessions - to register for this module, please click here.)

• We'll be reading Poems: 1968-2020

1. April 1 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. April 8 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)
3. April 15 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)

Module III. Maya Angelou (3 sessions)

• We'll be reading The Heart of a Woman

1. April 29 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. May 6 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)
3. May 13 (Instructor will be online via Zoom)

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About Membership Pricing

Mechanics' Institute offers both member and non-member/public registration options for this three-module seminar. To join as a Mechanics' Institute member to access the member pricing for this seminar, please join here.

For questions about registration, contact [email protected] or 415-393-0103.

Cancellation policy:

For seminars, we reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend the seminar, please email [email protected] or call 415-393-0103 by Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Wednesday, April 23, 2025 no refunds will be issued.

Register by using the Eventbrite window below