In "Return the White Breath to its Black Body: A Black Lives Matter Poetry Performance" , Black voices take center stage during this special Friday evening Grand Performances poetry showcase curated by award-winning author/poet, Shonda Buchanan. With a live music performance by Curtis Robertson.
RSVP on Eventbrite click here
Performers:
Bridgette Bianca
Conney Williams
Nailah Porter
David Judah 1
Curtis Robertson
Schedule:
6:00pm – DJ opening set
7:00pm – Poetry night begins
9:00pm – Evening ends
For Location, Parking & FAQ, click here
Shonda Buchanan
Award-winning author and educator, Shonda Buchanan has freelanced for the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly, AWP’s The Writer’s Chronicle, Indian Country Today, Westways Magazine, Sisters of AARP and The International Review of African American Art. Shonda is also published in Tab Journal, Inlandia Institute’s The Black Experience Anthology, the Mississippi Review, Urban Voices: 51 Poems from 51 American Poets, Black Renaissance/Renaissance Noire, Art Meets Literature: An Undying Love Affair, Phati’tude Literary Magazine, Red Ink, Strange Cargo: An Emerging Voices Anthology, Step into a World: A Global Anthology of New Black Literature, Arise! Magazine, Def Jam Poetry’s Bum Rush the Page, Geography of Rage: Remembering the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 and Rivendell. Shonda has served as a judge for multiple writing and grants contests including the Poetry Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, CavanKerry Press, Library of Virginia’s Poetry Book Awards, North Carolina Arts Council Poetry Fellowship, the George Floyd Youth Justice Poetry Contest, the Amanda Gorman Youth Poetry Contest, the Virginia Commission for the Arts Fiction Contest, the Metrorail Public Art Project Poetry Contest and NAACP ACT So Poetry Contest.
Website: https://shondabuchanan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shondabuchanan/
Bridgette Bianca is a poet and professor from South Central Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Howard University and her Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Otis College of Art & Design. Her first book of poetry, be/trouble, was released by Writ Large in 2020. When she is not sharing her poetry, she hosts two online series, “Young, Black, and Tenure-Track” where she documents her experiences in higher education and “We Be Readin!” where she discusses her romance reading obsession. Recently, she joined forces with poet, artist, and activist Gus Tavo Guerra Vasquez to form the literary curating team South Central Spits Fire.
Conney D. Williams is a Los Angeles based poet, actor and performance artist originally from Shreveport, Louisiana where he worked as a radio personality. His latest poetry collection entitled “The Distance of Observation” was released on World Stage Press in August 2021. He is also the co-founder of World Stage Press. He released two critically acclaimed cds (2015) of his poetry accompanied by music: “Unsettled Water” and “River & Moan." He has two previous poetry collections “Leaves of Spilled Spirit from an Untamed Poet (2002)” and “Blues Red Soul Falsetto (2012).” He’s been published in various journals, publications, and anthologies (Voices from Leimert & Voices from Leimert Redux, Rosebud, Writers Resist, Drumming between Us, and Wide Awake). He has performed his poetry on television, radio (KJLH, KPFK), universities (USC, UCLA, Claremont, CSLB, Antioch, CS-Northridge, and others), cultural events & organizations (Black Arts Festival, CAAM), for the City & County of Los Angeles, across the U.S., and he regularly curates poetry events in Los Angeles.
Nailah Porter, an L.A. based vocalist, composer, poet and photographer, has recorded and toured globally with artists from jazz to rock to hiphop. Lyrics from her EmArcy Records (UMG) debut release, Con Jazz Ness, were published in Voices from Leimert Park Redux and her work has appeared in film, tv, and other publications. The North Carolina native recently completed her first book of poetry and photography, Carolina Blue Black Tobacco Stained Wisdom, and is working on her next project, The Ritual of Mapping. As an artist, attorney, educator, and DEI consultant, Nailah is committed to social justice and creating a world where everyone belongs.
David Judah Oliver is an accomplished poet and author of two published books of original poetry. He is the Co Host and founder of LionLike MindState Poetry and Art Series at the Pomona Fairplex. He has been a member of the Los Angeles Slam Team 2005 and 2006. Coach and SlamMaster of the Empire MindState Poetry Slam Team of Pomona 2009 and 2010, leading his team of poets to 2nd in the nation. David Judah has taught poetry at every level of education spanning kindergarten to college and university workshops, even beyond bars and barriers as an art instructor for the Prison Education Program, teaching poetry to inmates at Chino men’s and women’s prison, Norco Rehabilitation Center for Men and including Camp Glen Rocky Detention Camp for Boys, San Dimas. Judah also had the honor of the 1st year long Art/Activist In Residence at Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges 2021-2022; teaching 5 classes and curating Pizter College's 1st poetry film and art festival! At current his latest brainchild, “LionLike Creative Education” is teaching poetry, journalism, story telling, beat production and hip hop in five high schools serving at-risk and underprivileged youth with the aid of six artists and the Trust of San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. He is...the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Pomona.
Curtis Robertson is a bassist, guitarist, songwriter and producer. He has performed and recorded with Syreeta Wright, Robben Ford, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, Lou Rawls, Nailah Porter and many others.
Poetry Nights at Grand Performances
On the final Fridays of June, July, and August, Grand Performances will host three poetry nights focused on Pride Poetry with West Hollywood Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace, LA Neighborhoods with 3rd generation LA Native Mike the Poet, and Black Voices with award-winning author, poet, and educator Shonda Buchanan. These nights will begin at 6pm at the amphitheater next to the stage at California Plaza and will feature music and various local poets each night until 9pm.
Featuring influential voices from all over Los Angeles, Grand Performances will host three nights curated by influential award winning LA-based poets and educators, reflecting the diverse cultures that make up the beautiful city we live in. With nights focused on Pride Month, LA neighborhoods, and black and indigenous voices, the experience will focus on singular voices in an intimate setting that will honor the resilience, strength, and beauty of these communities in order to create an opportunity for love, understanding, and acceptance.
Check out the entire series:
Friday, June 23rd - Pride Poetry Night, hosted by Brian Sonia-Wallace
Friday, July 28th - LA Stories, hosted by Mike the Poet
Friday, August 25th - Black Voices, hosted by Shonda Buchanon
This performance is made possible in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture and supported in part by Poets & Writers and California Wellness Foundation.
