For years Wayne Brady had been working on a one-man show about being a young Black man growing up in Orlando, but he could never finish the project.That's until acclaimed actor Glenn Close asked him to participate in her spoken word jazz album."To be honest with you, the reason it took me a couple of … Continue reading Wayne Brady, his Black experience and his new spoken-word piece (via Daily Herald)
An incoming first-year student at Stanford University has been named the new National Youth Poet Laureate.Alexandra Huynh, 18, is a second-generation Vietnamese American from Sacramento, California, who sees poetry both as a means to self-expression and social justice.“I spend a lot of time in my head, so poetry is for me a sort of survival … Continue reading Alexandra Huynh, 18, is the new National Youth Poet Laureate (via Concho Valley Homepage)
After the first and second poets were killed, the third poet wrote a poem."They shoot at headsBut they do not knowThat revolution lives in the heart."After the third poet was killed, the fourth poet wrote a poem."Don’t let your blood run coldPool your blood for this fight."After the fourth poet was killed, his body consumed … Continue reading Poets Are Being Killed and Jailed After a Military Coup (via NY Times)
Click here to view the video for Hannah Flores’ “What Does History Sound Like?” Ever since she was able to write, Hannah Flores expressed her thoughts in written form. Whether it be poems or haikus, her thoughts flowed from pencil to paper but the restrictiveness of those formats never allowed the physical form of her expression … Continue reading Meet the BIPOC Creators OVO and the Raptors Want You to Know About (via Complex Canada)
Michelle T. Boone, a former commissioner of cultural affairs for the City of Chicago, has been named president of the Poetry Foundation, nearly a year after the previous president resigned amid an intense outcry over the Chicago-based organization’s perceived lack of commitment to social justice.Boone, who was chosen in a national search, brings a résumé … Continue reading Michelle T. Boone Named President of Poetry Foundation (via NY Times)
Rupi Kaur has had to fight every step of the way for her voice to be heard — and now, it's coming to the small screen. The best-selling poet, artist and performer's first-ever taped show, Rupi Kaur Live, will premiere globally on April 30 at 9 p.m. EST. The one-hour special, filmed in early 2020 at the … Continue reading Rupi Kaur Self-Releases Poetry Special After Being Turned Down By Streaming Services: ‘A Journey’ (via People)
Full Title: "Poet Ellen van Neerven wins Book of the Year, Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry and Multicultural NSW Award at NSW Premier's Literary Awards (via Australian Broadcasting Company) Young Mununjali Yugambeh author Ellen van Neerven pulled off a hat-trick at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards for their second poetry collection, Throat, at an online … Continue reading Poet Ellen van Neerven wins at NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (via Australian Broadcasting Company)
Life isn’t linear. It’s full of twists and drops, peaks and pitfalls. Sometimes paths can only be seen from a certain distance down the road.K.M. English’s debut book of poetry isn’t particularly linear, either, both physically and emotionally. Set to be published by Tucson-based Kore Press on May 15, “Wave Says” draws from English’s settled life in … Continue reading Sacramento resident and former restaurateur publishing debut book of poetry (via The Sacramento Bee)
Simon Armitage has written a poem to mark the death of Prince Philip, his first to address the royals in his time as poet laureate, saying that the obituaries had taught him that Prince Philip “hated sycophancy – I didn’t want to write anything that would have sounded sycophantic in his ears”.Titled The Patriarchs – … Continue reading Poet laureate Simon Armitage publishes elegy for Prince Philip (via Guardian)
At dozens of cafes, libraries and bookstores — even a garage in Bell — Southern California teemed with poetry readings and open mike nights before COVID-19 took hold of the world.Some of these events managed to survive by migrating online. Others we’ve lost for good.Now, as the vaccination rollout continues and an end to the pandemic appears … Continue reading Five Los Angeles Poets on Life Beyond the Pandemic (via L.A. Times)
