poetry Archives - Rolling Out

Age is not a determining factor of success. Eighteen-year-old college senior and prolific writer Fanta Ballo is evidence of that. The Harlem, New York, native tells the story of her community and identity through spoken word poetry. A rigorous academic, Ballo was the 2019 commencement speaker at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Massachusetts, where…

K Love the Poet is a spoken word artist, motivational speaker. She made her poetry debut in 2003 in the heart of Chicago. Since 2015 she has had more than three videos to go viral. She is well known for empowering people of color with her signature poem “Million Dollar Melanin.” As poetry month comes…

Edoheart understands the power of words. A royal descendant of the Ugu Kingdom of the Benin Empire of Nigeria, Edoheart is a princess of Ugu. Raised in Detroit and now a resident of Brooklyn, New York, Edoheart stands as one of the nation’s top poets and songwriters. On April 10, Edoheart will release For The…

Tasha “Sixfootah ThePoet” Turner is a Bay Area native and poet who commands the attention of audiences with her stature and moves spirits with her insightful poetry. Inspired by the iconic Maya Angelou, Turner uses her flow to address uncomfortable topics, like the dangers of menthol and tobacco. We spoke with Turner about an open…

The gymnasium was filled with dozens of children who were excited to be in the presence of professional basketball player Omari Spellman. Smiles covered their faces as the students played games with the 21-year-old power forward inside Gresham Park Recreation Center. Spellman, an Atlanta Hawks rookie, hosted a poetry workshop for 60 middle and high school students…

National Poetry Month is in full swing and wordsmiths from around the country are celebrating. Chicago represents a hub of poetry where some of the most eloquent and prolific poets are born. We spoke with one of those amazing poets. M’Reld Green has traveled the world with her words. We were able to catch up…

Dr. Maya Angelou was a renowned poet, author and teacher who touched the hearts of her fans with her words. She is best known for her catalog of autobiographical memoirs that painted an authentic picture of life. A pragmatic leader of her people, she was the second poet in history to read a poem at…

Toiné is an artist who understands the power of the word and speaks deliberately to help affect change. Her style has been compared to the likes of Jay-Z and Common. We spoke to her recently to gain some insight into her music and the way she expresses herself. Talk about who you are as an…

Black erotic poetry is growing in popularity as more people of color are feeling free to express themselves sexually. The Punany Poets theater group is a prime example of this expression. Rolling out spoke with Jessica Holter, the writer, and creator of The Punany Poets. Where did the name “The Head Doctor” come from? “The…

This millennial world is a much different landscape than the world those of us born in the ’70s and ’80s remember. Social media and the ability to communicate and engage seamlessly on a global platform are the biggest contributors to this changing backdrop, but according to debut author Chandra Meadows the process of coming into…

The BET series “Rebel“ has taken off like a rocket. The show, which debuted on March 28, has been doing extremely well in the ratings. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the show just yet, you have to catch up soon. The show is a police drama that examines the unique and conflicted…

J. Ivy’s poetry has allowed him to travel the world. He has worked with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra and Steve Harvey. His words allow him to to touch the world and provide inspiration and healing. We spoke with Ivy about what he does and why it resonates. Tell everyone who you are…

Famous poet Nikki Giovanni performs in Chicago at the Promontory. She recites one of sexy poems with performer Morris Gearring.

Columbia University hosted the New York screening of BaddDDD on Sunday, Dec.13, 2015. The 90-minute film starring renowned poet and activist Sonia Sanchez details her story during the 1960’s Black Arts Movement, her contribution to the world of poetry and the pivotal role she played in African American culture over the last five decades. Through eloquent…

The best time of day is when the clock strikes 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. You run out of your employers’ office so fast, just to hit up a happy hour and go home to pregame for the weekend festivities. Now, happy hours and weekend entertainment are a nice finale after a grueling work week,…

Reduction of anger is a key aspect to surviving attacks of insecurity, jealousy and mayhem. There are individual ideas that are suppressed like jealousy and anger and there are keys to being able to remove this from the African American community. Flowers possess the ability to transform what is sparse and provide identity to an environment.…

Chicago’s hot spot The Velvet Lounge recently played host to an album release party and performance by popular poet Young Flame in celebration of her latest project, Love States. Hosted by actor and musician Mel-Rob, the night featured a well-received mix of live music and spoken word before Young Flame’s grand entrance to the packed house.…

I In part three of rolling out‘s discussion with Chicago hip-hop pioneer and teaching poet Geoffrey “Dr. Groove” Watts, he discusses how the women he encountered on the train helped to professionalize his approach to his ministry. He talks about how Black Pullman Porters used to provide information to other Black people in need of…

In part two of rolling out’s discussion with Chicago hip-hop pioneer and poet Geoffrey “Dr. Groove” Watts, rolling out talks to Watts about how he transitioned from hip-hop into spoken word and of the people who influenced him along the way. He also talks about how his train ministry began, how he utilized his train…

Why does a man commit himself to others, choosing to live his life as one of service, first to God, and then to mankind? What type of energy and mental fortitude does it take to constantly give of one’s self, with or without reward? How strong must the spirit of one be, to pull from…