Interview with Massachusetts Review
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to take part in Massachusetts Review's “10 Questions” interview series.
"Hunting Season" - Flash fiction at Pigeon Review
I dabble in fiction every once in a while and the end result is always weirder than it seems at first glance. “Hunting Season” is the current embodiment of that.
Thanks to the good folks at Pigeon Review for taking a chance on this strange little murder mystery.
A Virtual Reading for Main Street Rag
New York Quarterly Reading Series: 7/19/2021
The Zoom link to the reading on July 19, 2021 at 7:30 ET:
https://zoom.us/j/99893491089?pwd=WXd6czN3WU04UURtbm1lY2FlTjJEdz09
New poem in The Massachusetts Review
My poem “an open letter to the woman sharing her funny story in this writing workshop” has been published in the summer 2021 run of The Massachusetts Review!
Teaching While Black named a "Must Read" by Massachusetts Book Awards
I just learned my first chapbook Teaching While Black has been named a "Must Read" in the adult poetry category of by the Massachusetts Book Awards!
(Not that kind of adult poetry…i think)
I’ll find out in the fall if I won the big prize!
![CvrTeachingWhileWhite_Ad[52113].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d4d95401b2f610001882e44/1570141765418-SSF8FC00G2MGV7XLI1KK/CvrTeachingWhileWhite_Ad%5B52113%5D.jpg)
Two Poems Reprinted in Teaching Black Anthology
I am honored to have two of my poems reprinted in the upcoming University of Pittsburgh Press anthology Teaching Black: Pedagogy, Practice, and Perspectives on Writing edited by Ana Lara and Drea Brown.
Both of these poems— “an open letter to the school resource officer who almost shot me in my class” & “the surprising thing” — appear in my first collection, Teaching While Black.
Two Junenteeth Appropriate Poems in Awake (Lucky Jefferson)
On the first federally recognized Juneteenth, I’m honored to have two of my poems appearing in Our Power, Issue 3 of Awake by Lucky Jefferson.
“an open letter to the stupid [redacted] about to get [redacted] if they mention ‘affirmative action’ one more [redacted] time”
and
“revisionist history”
"Close Contact" -- Creative Nonfiction Published at Porcupine Literary
This school year has been broken, on fire, and drowning all at the same time.
I wrote some prose about this, and the good folks at Porcupine Literary have been kind enough to publish it.
It’s dedicated to all of my students, esp. those who survived this year.
You can read it here.
Review of Dust and Ashes at Sundress Reads
I didn’t know this review existed until my publisher tagged me on Facebook.
I read it and learned that review writing is an art form all its own. This one: a masterpiece. I am honored and humbled and embarrassed and exposed.
Good feelings all around.
You can read the review here.
You can buy your copy here.
Teaching Anti-Racist Poetry Workshop at Mass Poetry Festival 2021
Today I lead a workshop on Teaching Anti-Racist Poetry as part of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival!
I think it went when and I didn’t bring (much) shame to the family.
If you’re looking for a similar workshop with your students, your department, your school, your writing group (etc.) hit me up.
Here is the description of what we did today:
In this workshop, participants will explore anti-racist pedagogy through poetry. After defining terms, the time will be spent reading poetry from a variety of sources (mostly living BIPOC authors) and participating in analysis and discussion activities geared towards high school language arts classrooms. This workshop targets high school language arts teachers looking for ways to engage their classroom communities with honesty, vulnerability, and bravery. Participants will leave with a governing philosophy (“if not my class, then where?”), a classroom-ready packet of poems, and instructional ideas.
If you were in the workshop or the live stream and need access to the resources/materials that I provided, hit me up.
[Say God is the tough in the prison yard] published at New York Quarterly Magazine
Another theological sonnet—[Say God is the tough in the prison yard]— is making an appearance in the world at New York Quarterly Magazine.
"when asked why they can’t sing 'the N-word' in rap songs" is live at Bending Genres
I sometimes laugh out loud when I remember where my poems come from.
This one, true to form, was a result of an actual conversation.
That said, "when asked why they can’t sing 'the N-word' in rap songs" can be read in issue #20 of Bending Genres.
"red rover, red rover..." published in Presence 2021
Another of my theological sonnets—”red rover, red rover…”—was published in the 2021 edition of Presence.
"Job 42:7-8" published in The Windhover 25.1
Once again, the good folks at The Windhover have published one of my theological sonnets.
“Job 42:7-8” takes its title from a part of the conclusion to the story of Job when YHWH addresses both us and Job’s “shit-head friend” (as I dub them in the poem) for the belief that victims have brought about their own suffering.
tl:dr Stop blaming victims!
Interview with Apparel for Authors
As Black man teaching in a wealthy, predominately white environment, I am acutely aware that my appearance reflects on not only myself, but everyone else who looks like me…
