Ishmael Reed, whose sharp pen and sharper wit have reshaped American letters for decades, received Chattanooga’s Key to the City on March 17. At a private lunch, Mayor Tim Kelly presented the tribute to Reed, acknowledging the author’s extraordinary contributions to literature and his lifelong advocacy for marginalized voices.
The occasion marked a hometown celebration of Reed’s influential career as a poet, novelist and essayist whose work has challenged conventional narratives and expanded the American literary landscape.
In a moving commemoration, Mayor Kelly also named him Chattanooga’s Poet Laureate Emeritus.
“Ishmael Reed is one of the most influential literary voices of our time,” Mayor Kelly stated. “His fearless storytelling and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices have shaped generations of writers and artists, including me. It was an honor to welcome him back to Chattanooga.”
The mayor further highlighted Reed’s connection to the city by recalling his State of the City address last September, where he opened with a reading of Reed’s poem Chattanooga.
“His words speak to our city’s history, its struggles, and its resilience, capturing both the wounds of the past and the hope for the future,” Mayor Kelly said. “That’s why I wanted everyone in the room that day to hear them.”
Ishmael Scott Reed, born in Chattanooga in 1938, is renowned for his satirical works that challenge American political culture. His 1972 novel, Mumbo Jumbo, stands as a landmark of his prolific career.
Reed’s work has consistently sought to represent neglected African and African-American perspectives, broadening his advocacy to encompass all vulnerable populations.
Reed’s journey took him from Chattanooga to Buffalo, New York, during the Great Migration, and later to the University at Buffalo. Though he withdrew from college to pursue his writing, the university later awarded him an honorary doctorate.
In 1962, he moved to New York City, co-founding the influential underground publication, the East Village Other, and engaging with the Umbra Writers Workshop.
His career includes a 35-year tenure teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Distinguished Professorship at California College of the Arts.
Reed’s literary achievements are extensive, including National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations. His works have been translated into numerous languages, and he has received prestigious honors such as the Langston Hughes Medal, a MacArthur Fellowship, and a lifetime achievement Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. Reed resides in Oakland, California, with his wife, Carla Blank.