Traveling, Yoruba Culture and Spirituality, African and African American History (Moms Mabley in particular), dancing
Music
Prince, Daara J, Etta James, Three Dog Night, MIA, Ayisha Knight, Martin Luther, Krista Franklin, Roger BonAir Agard, Roger Robinson, Ozy Magic, Mendi Obidike, Farm Crew, Public Housing, Chakra Chants, Orisha Chants, Sam Cook, Alice and John Coltrane, Jr. Gong, Ugochi, Bryon Bain, Olu Dara, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Fela and Femi Kuti, Salif Keita, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Sade and Sweetback, Maxwell, Erika Badu,
Movies
Ghost Dog, Eve's Bayou, Dirty Pretty Things, Love & Basketball, Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire (duhh, i am a child of the 80's), The Exorcist, Lumumba, Sankofa, Straight No Chaser (Thelonius Monk), Nothing But A Man, Amelie, Daughters of the Dust, Star Wars (not the new crap). When We Were Kings. I mostly dig movies with intriguing takes on love, race, and class.
Television
Monk, Battlestar Galactica, Nip Tuck, News, Image Union, just about anything will get my attention for a bit but I try to make time for Everybody Hates Chris and my number one guilty pleasure Will & Grace. I usually don't own a tv but it's been fun having this one for the past 2 years.
Books
Everything by Earl Lovelace especially "The Dragon Can't Dance". Everything by Terry Pratchett especially "Feet of Clay". Everything by Octavia Butler especially "Mind of My Mind". Everything by Tim Seibles especially "Hurdy Gurdy". Everything by Marilyn Nelson especially "A Wreath for Emmit Till". Sam Greenlee's "The Spook Who Sat By The Door". Ana Mendez "In Cuba I Was A German Shepard". M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A (before there was Akeelah and the Bee there was Macnolia) by A. Van Jordan, Leadbelly by Tyehimba Jess, What to Eat, What to Drink, What to Leave as Poison by Camille Dungy, I love My Hair by Natasha Tarpley, Ash by Sharon Strange, There Are No Love Songs for Dictators by E. Ethelbert Miller, Maverick Room by Thomas Sayers Ellis, Sister Chicas by Jane Alberdeston Coralin, Lisa Alverez, and Ann Hagman Cardell. Too many more I'll just keep on adding as time goes by.
About me: I am a poet, teacher, performer, and activist. Born and raised in Washington, DC, I started hosting poetry readings in 1993 at Soul Brothers Pizza and moved to It's Your Mug in early 1994. The poetry reading brought the likes of Saul Williams, Willie Perdomo, Miguel Algarin, The Darkroom Collective from Boston, Rhoma Spencer of Trinidad & Tobago and some of the best poets in DC. It's Your Mug spawned several poetry groups including the one I co-founded with several other poets - The Modern Urban Griots. Our collective performed at the Whitney Museum, University of Massachusetts-North Dartmouth, the National Theater, and individually all over the country. After leaving the DC scene as a poetry host I started a Bed & Breakfast in Trinidad & Tobago. I also concentrated on learning the craft of writing and became a Jenny McKeen Moore, Cave Canem, and Soul Mountain fellow. I have been a part of several CD projects including the voice of Ayisha Knight on her CD Until and I was also her voice when she was the only deaf poet on Def Poetry Jam. After moving to Boston in 2000, I joined the Blackout Arts Collective and through them helped to create the Lyrics on Lockdown tour of 2001 which is still sending artists around the country to educate audiences about the prison industrial complex. In 2002, I moved to Chicago to work within the literary arts. I have worked with the Guild Complex, Young Chicago Authors, ETA Theater, Family Matters, Neighborhood Writing Alliance, Chicago Park District, Chicago Children's Museum, and several schools. Enjoying life on the Westside and leaving Chicago anytime the wind blows opportunity my way. Distance alone would never keep me away from performing, teaching, or coordinating poetry readings.
Who I'd like to meet: readers, writers, thinkers, travelers, scientists (yeah, i thought i'd be an engineer at one point in my life and i still dig scientists), artists.
ARC AND HUE will also be available at the Chicago book parties:
10/1, 8:30 p.m. Katerina’s, 1920 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613
10/2, 8 p.m. The Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60642
Love your neighborhood corner store? Yeah, so do we. Show it off in all its splendor -- including its fresh produce -- by throwing a Bodega Tasting Party. Bust open your Bodega Party in a Box for recipes, shopping tips, invitations and even a hot shopping bag and party decorations. You can be a party of one or invite the whole neighborhood, on one night or every night of the year. $10 plus shipping.
Your Bodega Party in a Box is part of the Food & Liquor project, which helps get more fresh produce into local corner and liquor stores.
TO PURCHASE GO TO: www. yachtparty08. eventbrite. com WHO: Howard Alumni & Friends sponsored by the MOVEMAKERS WHAT: Alumni Homecoming Yacht Affar WHEN: Saturday October 18th (11p-3a) WHERE: Spirit of Washington (Washington, DC) ..
