Spoken Word: 'The Libretto of the Opera: Death of a Black Boy' (Ed Mabrey)

Spoken word is powerful when it is done correctly. Ed Mabrey does it correctly. Ed Mabrey is the current Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, having won the title three times in his poetry career. He was the first person of color to win the title and continues to be a trailblazer, consistently raising the bar and setting new and ambitious standards for this performance art form.

I saw him perform this poem on Versus and Flow. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:



Do you have any Spoken Word artists that you would recommend to other Villagers?

Spoken Word: Daniel Beaty, 'Knock, Knock'

Soulclap to my sister for sharing this with us via her Pinterest account.

Daniel Beaty is an actor, singer and author ... as well as a spoken word artist. I hope you enjoy his personal 'Knock, Knock' story.

Spoken Word: Carvens Lissaint, 'Tell Them'

If your message is right ... you don't need music to make a connection. I'm discovering that I enjoy listening to the spoken word quite a bit. I just heard this particular poetic genius and decided to share him with the entire 'village'. Let me introduce you to Carvens Lissaint!

His message is powerful in so many ways ... however as a Black man in America ... it struck a deep chord with me.



Carvens Lissaint is a Haitian American award winning performance artist who began his career as a spoken word artist in 2006. You can find this brother on Twitter and Facebook.

Did you enjoy his flow? What was your favorite part of the poem?

Spoken Word: 'Miss America 2014' by Ramya Ramana

Nina Davuluri

Nina Davuluri won the 2014 Miss America contest. She is the first American of Indian descent to win that prestigious award. Not everyone in America was happy with her victory. There were some who chose to 'hate' on Ms. Davuluri rather than glory in the diversity that is America.

Ramya Ramana, 2014 Youth Poet Laureate, recently won a full scholarship to St. John's University as a result of her creative talents. Ms. Ramana was proud that Nina Davuluri had a similar heritage as herself. As such, she was deeply offended when she read from anonymous 'haters' on the Internet who spat out vile against Ms. Davuluri.

Ms. Ramana responded with her own lyrical spit.

"...say back, 'NO'. Your great-grandfathers raped, killed and oppressed every race in the world ... YOU are the biggest terrorist I know."

Powerful words...

Spoken Word: 'The System' - Prentice Powell

Prentice Powell is a powerful poet as demonstrated by the following video-clip in which he challenges the Black community with a dark view of the way we are raising the current generation of young people.



What did you think?

Spoken Word: 'Why I Hate School But Love Education' - Suli Breaks

I suspect that many of our young people agree with the images and words expressed by Suli Breaks in this spoken word poem. Listen to his message and let me know what you think?



I think that I was most surprised by how much this British student understood American culture and our American icons. Did you enjoy his flow?

Spoken Word: 'Niggers Niggas & Niggaz' (Julian Curry)

I noticed that a Miami Dolphins' football player left the team ... and another one lost his career ... at least partially over voice and text messages in which the use of the N-Word was prominent. Here is how poet Julian Curry discussed the N-Word in his Def Poetry opportunity many moons ago:



The prevalence of the ugly word among Blacks in America may be in decline ... but the word's ugliness needs to be continuously examined so that we can eventually eliminate the N-word entirely from the vocabulary.

Spoken Word: 'On the Day that Barack Obama is Elected President' - Javon Johnson

Today is the anniversary of the first time that America elected a Black man to become President of the United States. It was a truly uplifting day for all of America ... especially for people of African descent in America! Here is one very creative vision of how things will be in America on the day that Barack Obama is elected president as shared by poet Javon Johnson.



What do you remember most about November 4, 2008 (the day that Barack Obama was elected president)?

One Day Those Who Flaunt Their Racism Will Experience the Backlash of Karma

I'm not sure what it is about wearing 'Blackface' that white folks think is funny? It's never funny. It's like folks that compare politicians to Adolph Hitler ... it's never appropriate. So you can imagine my dismay when someone forwarded to me the following image from Twitter:

I wonder if their parents were chuckling when they came across this tweet? I wasn't. Well, I did smile when it dawned on me that these two idiots looked like the Oompa Loompas.

Anyhow, a few hours after seeing this tweet I was introduced to the spoken word poetry of Dominique Christina. The sister is powerful. She is a spoken word champion and one of her poems is entitled, 'Karma'.

I've decided that whenever I come across racists on the Internet I'm going to spend a few minutes listening to Dominque as she shares her insights on what 'Karma' is going to be at some point in the future for these racist fools.



'...If I could write this shyt in fire, I would write this shyt in fire!' Yeah, this ignorant and evil folks that try to degrade and denigrate with their race-based humor will one day learn what 'Karma' is all about.

Obasi Davis: Young, Gifted, Black and Oakland's Youth Poet Laureate

Earlier this summer, this blog introduced many of you to an aspiring young spoken word artist named Obasi Davis.  Obasi continues to share his passion for the spoken word with others in the community as evidenced in this interview conducted by the Oakland Public Library.


Oakland Poetry Finalist 2013 - Obasi Davis from Oakland Public Library on Vimeo.
The Post News Group recently shared some new and exciting news about young squire Davis!

Obasi Davis

The Oakland Public Library has selected 17-year-old Obasi Davis as the new Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Oakland.

Davis emerged as the best of eight talented finalists in a competition that began in April with a highly competitive process juried by accomplished authors, educators and community leaders.

Born and raised in Oakland, Davis is a founding member of the heralded poetry ensemble Young, Gifted and Black. A t student of prose and poetry since age 12, he has dedicated himself to his craft in workshops, at open mics and on stage at some of the nation’s largest performance venues.

Davis has shown leadership as a member of Spokes, Youth Speaks’ teen advisory board and production training program. Earlier this year, he represented the Bay Area as a member of its delegation to the Brave New Voices international Teen Poetry Slam and Festival.

California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, a judge in the competition, calls Davis “a rare master of the out-breath, “born into consciousness, singing. With the humanity-voice of Gwendolyn Brooks, the long-jeweled line of Ginsberg and his own Obasi magic, here stands a giant poet in the making – for the people of Oakland and the world.”

Judge Raphael Cohen, a poet and local publisher, immediately recognized Davis as a frontrunner. “He bravely engages the painful puzzles of young adulthood in an era that alternately derides or dismisses young people’s experiences, turning inward to explore his, and our, capacity for truth-telling and change-making. Expertly balancing a focused rage with an irrepressible tenderness, Davis is certain to inspire and activate a new generation of leaders through both the written and spoken word.”

Now in its second year, the Youth Poet Laureate competition was staged by Oakland Public Library’s Teen Services Department, in partnership with Youth Speaks, ProArts Gallery, Oakland School for the Arts and more than a dozen community partners.

As the winner, Davis will receive a $5,000 scholarship and the opportunity to officially represent the Oakland community through poetry, media, and public appearances.

Too often we are bombarded with negative news about young Black men in our community. Today we are proud of a young Black man who is developing his craft in a positive and future-oriented manner. Please share some Village-love with Obasi Davis!

Young, Gifted and Black: Spoken Word by Obasi Davis

Obasi Davis

Family history is amazing. My great-grandfather, George W. Crockett (1883-1975) married my great-grandmother, Minnie Jenkins (1884-1983) in South Carolina back in November 1906. They both passed away before they met their great-great-grandson, Obasi Davis.

Obasi is my second cousin once removed. I'm sure that George and Minnie would be proud of this young man! He is carrying a 4.0 GPA as a high school junior in Oakland, CA. Obasi was featured in his local newspaper as a high school freshman back in 2011.

The past two years he has been sharing his inner thoughts and insights via his spoken word poetry at the annual Youth Speaks Grand Slam. He made the finals both years.

Please take a moment to check his messages in 2012 and 2013.





Much love to my young cousin! Keep letting your light shine ... and I look forward to meeting you in person one day!

Spoken Word: 'Raising Black Boys' by Javon Johnson

Actually, I don't know the actual title of this spoken word composition by Javon Johnson so I'm calling it 'Raising Black Boys' until Bro. Javon comes by to correct me! In any case, a rose by any other name is still some powerful commentary that speaks to the soul of any of us that are engaged in raising a Black boy in America.



Did you hear the truth in his poetry?

Spoken Word: 'Beautiful is Black' by Prentice Powell

I heard this brother earlier this week on TV-One show called, 'Verses & Flow'. I thought that others in the 'village' would enjoy this spoken word by Prentice Powell. Share this link with the Black men in your life!



It is nice to flip the script on the world! What say u?

Jon Goode's Legendary Performance: 'Dark'

...for the love of Black woman I share this brother's flow!





God bless you Black women!

Sunday Inspirations: In The Essence of Change

Sunday Inspirations is the meme to get help get us through the week ahead, the trials we may face, and yes, to say Thank Ya and testify! I hope that you participate and share with us your Sunday Inspirations.

It turns out that I have a cousin who I've never met in person. Her name is Faylita Hicks. She is a spoken word artist ... actress ... singer. Her spoken words hit home for me. I feel that many villagers may hear something in her words that resonate as well.

Anyhow, I thought it would be good to share them as part of the weekly Sunday Inspirations meme.