The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has appointed San Jose resident Tshaka Campbell to the honorary post of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate for a two-year term.
Campbell, curator of “Beautiful Black Books” as part of Poetry Center San Jose, conducts lectures, workshops in creative writing, spiritual verse and in other related topics and is an author and musician.
Campbell has authored four books — “Tarman,” “Muted Whispers,” “Tunnel Vision” and “Stuff” — and released three music albums: “One,” “Bloodlines” and “Skin, Vol. 1”. He has collaborated on a number of musical projects in the house, jazz and blues genres, as well as appeared in national commercials.
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“I am standing on the shoulders of those who have held the post in the past, so I am both honored and humbled to be chosen,” Campbell said.
He is the seventh poet laureate to be appointed by the board. Nils Peterson was the first (2009-11), followed by Sally Ashton (2012-13), David Perez (2014-15), Arlene Biala (2016-17), Mike McGee (2018-19) and Janice Lobo Sapigao (2020-21).
A presentation will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, during the supervisors’ meeting to formally introduce Campbell, who will read a selection of his work.
More information about the Poet Laureate program can be found on the Santa Clara County Library District’s website.