October 7th is now NATIONAL BEAT POETRY DAY

On October 7th, 1955, a 29-year old Allen Ginsberg read his epic Beat Generation manifesto, "Howl" for the first time at the now historic Gallery 6 reading in San Francisco. It was a sold-out show on a Halloween night, and "Howl" would become known as the poem that changed America.

NATIONAL BEAT POETRY DAY recognizes, honors & celebrates the iconic poets, artists & free-thinkers who shunned the social conformity and Puritanical oppression permeating post-WWII suburbia. They talked about things that shook polite society. They shined a light on social, racial, and sexual injustice. They stood up for equality, civil rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. NATIONAL BEAT POETRY DAY commemorates the work, sacrifices, and victories of the Beat Generation and the Beat Movement, and how it personifies the power, impact & importance of poetry.