Literature
Poetry & Spoken Word
Poet & Actor
The subject of the acclaimed documentary Lemon, speaker Lemon Andersen is taking the world of spoken word by storm with plays such as "ToasT" and "County of Kings." |
Spoken Word Artist
Redefining poetry and spoken word as a living art form, speaker Saul Williams has written such works as The Dead Emcee Scrolls and said the shotgun to the head. |
Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author
Since bursting onto the scene as a passionate, influential force in the Black Arts Movement almost 40 years ago, Giovanni remains one of the commanding voices gracing America’s political and poetic landscape today.... |
Poet / Musician / Social Educator
A cast member of MTV's The Real World: San Francisco, speaker Mohammed Bilal is a musician, poet and diversity consultant. |
Actor / Writer / Spoken Word Poet
Joe Hernandez-Kolski, aka "Pocho Joe," is committed to creating work that challenges the audience while it entertains. He combines poetry, comedy and his unique socio-political "Chicagoan" point of view to create a... |
Poet, Professor & Activist
Speaker Sonia Sanchez authored the American Book Award winner Homegirls and Handgrenades. She speaks on a variety of topics from racial justice to hip-hop. |
Novelist, Poet & Playwright
Reed has received writing fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, along with National Endowment and New York State Council of the Arts fellowships for publishing and video... |
Slam Poet
Born and raised in Alaska, National Slam Poetry Champion Noël Jones moved to New York City in 1994 to become a jazz vocalist. Upon discovering slam poetry in 1997, she battled her way to a national championship with... |
Poet & Spoken Word Artist
An Asian American poet who faced identity issues growing up, speaker Beau Sia turned to the mic to release his frustrations. He is now a slam-winning writer and performer. |
Hip-Hop Pioneer / Scholar
Fab, now considered one of hip-hop's architects and pioneers, has lectured at schools and universities around the world, published numerous articles for various publications including The New York Times Magazine and... |
Author, The Color Purple
A gifted and prolific novelist as well as a leading voice among African American women writers, speaker Alice Walker authored the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Color Purple. |
U.S. State Department's Hip-Hop Ambassador
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Poet, Emcee & Hip-Hop Artist
Slam poet Black Ice was discovered by Russell Simmons and went on to appear in five episodes of HBO's Def Poetry Jam. |
Poetry & Grammy-Winning Artist
Miller Williams and his daughter Lucinda Williams offer a powerful look at the origin of artistic talent and reveal the similarities between poet and musician. |
Cross-Cultural Performance
In The Color Orange, long-time friends Mohammed Bilal and Josh "Boac" Goldstein challenge American notions by offering a vibrant new look at race, racism and how we get along. |
Spoken Word Artist
Ursula Rucker is one of the premiere spoken word recording artists in the music industry. Having worked closely with The Roots, she is known for her relevant subject matter. |
Political Activist / Writer
As a talented political activist, poet, journalist, essayist, hip-hop historian, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Powell is widely considered one of America's most important voices in these early years of the 21st... |
Musician, African American Music Expert & Author
Emmett G. Price III is a well regarded musician, educator, and consultant who actively researches, lectures and writes about Black music of the United States with a focus on social, political, economic, cultural, and... |
Poet / Performer / Filmmaker
Author of "Reinventing the Enemy's Language" and "Women Who Fell From the Sky". Recording artist with her band Poetic Justice. |
Spoken Word Artist
A firm believer in poetry as politics, his writing approaches serious topics from an emotional point of view. He draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, including Pablo Neruda, Stevie Wonder, Martìn Espada... |
