Jack Hirschman (December 13, 1933 – August 22, 2021) Nina Serrano presents Jack Hirschman’s inaugural address as poet laureate of San Francisco at the San Francisco Public Library on April 4th, 2006. In this address, Hirshman recounts his life history.
In the 1950s and 60s, Hirschman taught at Dartmouth College and the University of California, Los Angeles. The Vietnam War, however, put an end to Hirschman’s academic career, he was fired from UCLA after encouraging his students to resist the draft. Hirschman moved to San Francisco where he roamed the streets, cafes, and readings, becoming an active street poet and an activist.