Poet, Professor and Father: Charles Fort
By Celeste Roche | Correspondent at March 12, 2024 | 6:45 pm | Print
The New Britain City Journal is currently running a series of articles introducing residents of the New Britain Artists’ Cooperative. This article is the second of the series.
Charles Fort, a “semi-retired professor,” is without a doubt the most acclaimed living poet from New Britain. After decades spent across the country, he has returned to the city to be near his mother, film a documentary and complete his debut novel: The Last Black Hippie From Connecticut. He has been living in the New Britain Artists’ Cooperative for over a year.
“I’d like to see it become a green, smoke-free building,” says Fort. “The Cooperative needs to start over again, focus on fundraising for more art shows and not take issues of artistic excellence personally.”
Fort began writing stories in second grade and set out to read every book in the world. His career ambitions temporarily shifted and he took on the goal of becoming “the first black James Bond,” but in high school and college his interest in writing grew and he became a “jock poet,” lettering in varsity track. He studied at Siena Heights College for his Bachelor’s and Bowling Green State University for his Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA). Fort was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Siena Heights.
He stated he would like to “put a dome over the city—like a terrarium” to make people unquestionably aware of the economic, cultural and artistic isolation of New Britain, so we would be forced to acknowledge our responsibilities, but also the things that make our city precious.
“We need more visionary politicians and entrepreneurs,” he says.
Born and raised on Park Street, Fort’s family arrived in New Britain in the 1920’s and helped to cofound the Saint James Baptist Church.
“I used to have my photography published by the Herald—look it up!,” he added.
Fort has two adult daughters, both equity actresses, who he delights in seeing perform on stage.
Neighbor Elliot Vallez says he thinks Fort has his “heart in the right place,” but that he would like to see “more positive help and mentorship” from the Professor.
Jim Malloy, a visual artist in the building, has a simple view of Fort: “I like him. I don’t always agree with him.”
“He’s been a help to me, even though we don’t produce the same sort of art,” says another neighbor. “If you actually want to consider the advice of someone more established, he will take you seriously.”
The advice he extends to aspiring and emerging artists is to apply to the top MFA programs, to get a sense of where they stand amongst the competition. Other than that, “writers should simply sit on their arses and write.”
Other residents describe him as “confident,” “structured” and “political.”
“Writing is a form of social criticism,” muses Fort. He quotes the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley: “Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” He looks forward to local artists continuing to engage in the dialogue and acts that forward social progress in New Britain.
You can learn more about Fort at his website: www.charlesfortpoet.com.
