CooXooEii Black '20 recently garnered acclaim by winning the Rattle Chapbook Prize for his work, “The Morning You Saw a Train of Star Streaking Across the Sky.” His victory in this highly competitive contest, which drew over 2,000 entries, is a testament to his profound talent in poetry. At Colorado College, he pursued a creative writing track, deeply influenced by his mixed-race heritage and commitment to the Arapaho language and ceremonies. Black recently completed his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis, where he also served as the lead poetry editor for The Pinch Journal. Recognized as a First Peoples Fund Cultural Capital Fellow in 2020, Black's work is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage and personal experiences, positioning him as a significant voice in contemporary poetry. In this episode, CooXooEii is interviewed by Chloe Brooks-Kistler ’23.