Poet Cornelius Eady recreates Mr. Zero in the Susan Smith drownings

Cornelius Eady?s book, _Brutal Imagination_, was a finalist for the 2001 National Book Award. The poet then adapted it for stage, along with musician Diedre Murray, and went on to win Newsday?s 2002 Oppenheimer award for the play. It concerns the poetic imaginings of the fictional black man, Mr. Zero, whom Susan Smith accused of drowning her children in a South Carolina lake in 1994. He reads from the book and talks frankly about race and prejudice in this interview. PROMO: NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR continues Black History Month with Cornelius Eady, who explores race and class in his poetry. He reads from his book of poems, BRUTAL IMAGINATION, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and later made into an award-winning play. It?s written from the point of view of Mr. Zero, the black man Susan Smith invented and accused of drowning her children in a South Carolina lake. Listen to Cornelius Eady, who also reads from RUNNING MAN on the next NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR?. UPLINK DATE: 02/08/2006 PROGRAM LENGTH: 29 minutes INCUE: (music) "Cornelius Eady is a poet who..." OUTCUE: "...Thanks for listening to NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR." At the end of every program, we give our address and phone number, so if someone calls, here is the info: NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR 5101 Rockhill Rd. Kansas City, MO 64110 (888) 548-2477; fax (816) 235-2611 E-mail: Radio@newletters.org