My full-length collection the Colored page—a semi-autobiographical follow-up to Teaching While Black—was a finalist in Sundress Publication's 2020 Poetry Open Reading Period.
One step closer to having this collection out in the world.
Dust and Ashes now available for purchase from Californios Press
Dust and Ashes, my new chapbook of ekphrastic poems, is now available for purchase from Californios Press!
Read samples and learn more here (also buy a copy).
Poem Nominated for a Pushcart Prize
I’m pleased to announce that Porcupine Literary nominated my poem “an open letter to the secretary who asked how i haven’t taken to drink or schedule 1 narcotics like so many of our colleagues” for the Pushcart Prize.
Maybe this is the time the powers that be will move me from a nominate to a recipient. But I’m honored nonetheless.
"an open letter to a classmate on a conversation we never had" published in Twyckenham Notes
My poem "an open letter to a classmate on a conversation we never had" was just published in Twyckenham Notes’ Voice’s of Color issue.
This is one of my school poems, except this time, I’m a much (much) older student.
And if you realize the poem is about you…oh well.
This Present Former Glory: An Anthology of Honest Spiritual Literature [Editor]
When you’re asked to edit an anthology of creative writing by atheists, clergy, and people everywhere in between you can’t say no. At least I can’t. I am thrilled and humbled by how this all came together.
45 stupid talented writers tackled the deepest and most abiding questions about wrestling with their conceptions of divinity and spirituality in the midst of systematic racism, church camps, sexism, babies, a pandemic, slavery, callings into ministry, abusive parents, divorces, holding hands with the dying, sweeping glass after a riot, and sitting by the ocean, waiting.
This Present Former Glory: An Anthology of Honest Spiritual Literature can be purchased at A Game for Good Christians’ website for $16.95. And it’s well worth the price.
Two Poems Reprinted in Pensive
Two of my poems were reprinted in Issue One of Pensive: A Global Journal of Spirituality & the Arts, published by the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service (CSDS) at Northeastern University.
You can read them starting on page 118.
Interview with Why We Write at Lesley University
From the show notes:
'Teaching While Black': a poet explores racism in the classroom
Matthew E. Henry, PhD, gives an unflinching portrayal of teaching while black in his debut poetry collection of the same name.
On How I Ended Up On (Another) Government Watch List...
My poem “an open letter to the school resource officer who almost shot me in my class” has been reprinted in Into the Void’s new anthology We Are Antifa: Expressions Against Fascism, Racism and Police Violence in the United States and Beyond.
Available on Amazon, 100% of the proceeds from this collection goes to Black Lives Matter Toronto.
A Nod from Winning Writers
I’ve been added as a Recommended Author at WinningWriters.Com,
and The Weight Journal has been added as a resource for young writers!
I’ll take it.
Interview with Frontier Poetry about The Weight Journal
Click image to read
Another Theological Sonnet up at The Windhover
“TO HE WHO GREATLY ENNOBLED HUMAN NATURE BY CREATING IT”
is published in The Windhover (24.2).
This sonnet takes its title from Soaphead Church's musings on theodicy in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, and wrestles with the same questions of divine justice in the face of genuine evil.
“when asked why Black people can't be racist” is up at Mineral Lit Mag
My poem “when asked why Black people can't be racist” has been published by Mineral Lit Mag.
tl:dr - If racism was a game, it'd be rigged.
"The Whitening" - Flash Fiction at The Fiction Pool
“The Whitening” is my first piece of fiction to be published. No surprise that it’s flash.
I’m grateful to the good folk at The Fiction Pool for accepting it, espcaily when I’m still not sure on the genre. Horror? Speculative? An average Tuesday?
And a special shout out to Vincent, who was there when the story began—back when it was supposed to be a joke.
How things have changed.
Best of the Net Nomination
“fugue state in B minor” was nominated for Best of the Net 2020 in poetry by 3Elements Literary Review.
More on the poem in the link above.
Teaching While Black Reviewed in The Radical Teacher
An in-depth and insightful review of Teaching While Black was written by Eben Wood for The Radical Teacher (where some of the poems in my collection originally appeared).
Mr. Wood comments on my work through the critical lens of radical pedagogy, including not only my poems in his analysis, but also my choice of epigrams, ordering, and this historical moment.
It’s always humbling to see my work through someone else’s eyes. Click image to read.
![CvrTeachingWhileWhite_Ad[52113].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d4d95401b2f610001882e44/1597848330746-B5C75CLO63QI6J3AM47R/CvrTeachingWhileWhite_Ad%5B52113%5D.jpg)
“self-evident” on the Radio
My poem “self-evident” read and discussed on WOUB's Poetry Conversations.
This was the first time being a fly on the wall to a discussion of my work. I'm pleased.
The reading and discussion begins around the 12:30 mark.
“first grade mural” Tweeted at Nightingale and Sparrow
My tiny poem “first grade mural” was recently Tweeted by Nightingale and Sparrow.
"Between the woods and frozen lake..." Creative Nonfiction at Barren Magazine
This story takes its title from Robert Frost’s “Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening” for many, many reasons. It was first written for my kids in class a few years ago, completing a memoir assignment alongside them.
But it was more than that.
I was sharing the burden of vulnerability in writing. An exercise in revealing without revealing. Saying something at a slant, through omission, obscured, knowing only some would see the picture clearly. Knowing that those who did see at first glance were able to because of something shared. Something unspoken, but now brought to light.
Everyone else simply saw an interesting story.
This story is dedicated to those with eyes to see and is now live at Barren Magazine
Five New Poems at Rigorous Magazine
The following five (5) poems were just published at Rigorous Magazine .
“Little Africa” ~ a school poem
an open letter to the young man on the subway platform, looking back, hurt and disgusted ~ for when “whistling Vivaldi?” isn’t enough
honesty in advertising ~ exactly what the title says
the conversation with my pastor, after she posted my bail ~ midrash
exposure therapy ~ being an ally takes different forms
