Hanif Abdurraqib at Stanford | On Art, Survival, and the Heart’s Work

Poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib joined Matthew D. Morrison, Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Stanford, for an expansive conversation on art, feeling, and the everyday work of care. Abdurraqib reflects on the abundance of everyday intellect that exists outside academia, his cherished Ohio roots, the discipline behind his writing, and the radical act of feeling deeply in a world that often rewards detachment. Together, he and Morrison explore the ties between culture, survival, and the creative impulse as a form of care and connection. This event was presented by Stanford Public Humanities and the Creative Writing Program and supported by the Denning Visiting Artist Fund, with partnership from the Office of the Vice President for the Arts, as part of the “What Is a Public Intellectual Today?” series. Recorded October 8, 2025 Presented by Stanford Public Humanities and the Office of the Vice President for the Arts Video Credits: Produced by Taylor Jones Camera Operator: Heechan Lim, Taylor Jones Editor: Taylor Jones