2nd Annual Community Writing Intensive…Durham, NC
2nd Annual Community Writing Intensive
an Intergenerational Process for Art and Social Justice
Contact: Ebony Noelle Golden For Immediate Release
inthepeopleshands@gmail.com
ohsointense.wordpress.com
Durham, NC—Aug. 27-29 artists from North Carolina, Tennessee, and New York will gather for the second annual Community Writing Intensive in Durham, NC at the Healing with CAARE facilities located at 214 Broadway. The motto of this year’s Intensive is “Poetry for change: word.justice.community” and will focus on using poetry as a tool for actualizing justice in local communities. The Community Writing Intensive is sponsored by Funds for Southern Communities, Healing with CAARE, Inc., betty’s daughter arts collaborative, SpiritHouse-NC and BrokenBeautiful Press.
This year’s intensive features:
· Tuition-free workshops
· Workshops led by community poets and community organizers
· Travel Scholarships for commuters
· Release of In The People’s Hands Literary Zine
· Youth-led programs
· Workshops taught by youth, adults and elders
· Performance workshops
· Action-based community dialogue
· Re-issuing Community Writing Intensive online chapbook (ohsointense.wordpress.com)
For more information about the intensive, to apply or to donate time, money, or services contact inthepeopleshands@gmail.com or call Ebony Golden at 9194233780.
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above: Monica Daye meditating on some Ntozake Shange. Oh so necessary!!
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Betty’s daughter arts collaborative | Durham, NC http://www.myspace.com/inthepeopleshands |
Press Release
Contact: Ebony Noelle Golden, MFAinthepeopleshands@gmail.com | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Community Writing intensive a success!
Durham, NC, May 18, 2007: Congratulations to Betty’s Daughter Arts Collaborative, Broken Beautiful Press, and SpiritHouse-NC for successfully completing the first annual Community Writing Intensive. Last week a group of intensely passionate and community oriented poets and artists met to discuss how poetry fortifies communities, provides a voice for community members, and is a viable political and social response to the issues local communities face. Here are some of the highlights of the first annual Community Writing Intensive:
· Workshop focused on Africana poets and poetic forms
· Tuition-free (thanks to dedicated sponsors)
· Lunch provided (thanks to dedicated sponsors)
· Poet and activist D. Noble awarded the Betty Ann Sims, Ed.D. Artist/Scholar Travel Scholarship
· Creation of Community Writing Intensive online chapbook(ohsointense.wordpress.com) launched July 07
Although we have completed the first annual Community Writing Intensive, you can stay involved in the activities and initiatives of our sponsors. Do not hesitate to email inthepeopleshands@gmail.com to offer a donation, share opportunities for networking or, to join our virtual community and to get involved.
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And Now Introducing….
Oh So Intense….
An online Chapbook of poems and photography
A Note from the Director of the Community Writing Intensive
Greetings Loved Ones,
Below you will find writings created by members of the Annual Community Writing Intensive held in Durham, NC. Those sistas and brothas who participated graciously shared their time, critique, and love over a three day period and here is just a taste of what we learned together.
I would like to personally thank all those who participated, and sent their well wishes as Broken Beautiful Press, Betty’s Daughter Arts Collaborative, and SpiritHouse-NC continue to create and share arts programming all over this planet.
Please check back for more poems and ways to get involved with grassroots literary organizing.
Ashe (all day)
Ebony Noelle Golden, MFA
Betty’s Daughter Arts Collaborative
poet/activist/husband/father /D. Noble
Betty’s Daughter Arts Collaborative, Broken Beautiful Press, and SpiritHouse-NC are proud to annouce the winner of the Betty A. Sims, Ed.D Artist/Scholar Travel Scholarship, Mr. D. Noble of Greensboro, NC.
Biography
D. Noble is a grassroots community artist informed and inspired by the angst and passions of the people. He believes in functional Black art that can be wielded into a tangible weapon empowering the people to strike back against the stifling forces of oppression.
“Praises Be Upon My Mother”
Candice Mitchell*
Greetings, life-sustainer of four,
Full of intelligence, strength, and determination.
I show gratitude for helping shape my identity.
You who worked continuously making sure your children are fed,
I show gratitude.
You who remained after each surgery,
I show gratitude.
You who learned the basis of my disease,
I show gratitude.
You who placed all our needs above your own,
I show gratitude.
Receive my morning greetings
above: if these fingers could write the ancestors, what would they write?
See hear
by: ebony noelle golden
grab the dirt rotate the skull spit light lighten the step step light rest in the right then write
like this
1. fight 2. remember 3. resistresistresist 4. rest 5. rise and chop 6. splay and shed 7. bring leave burn 8. repeat
turn slow bring the palm to cheek check for pulse the repeat resist repeat resist
where does the body begin
itch swing
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ebony noelle golden is the director of betty’s daughter arts collaborative and an active member of SpiritHouse-NC. she is currently a graduate student in Performance Studies at NYU where is articulating the artistic and spiritual resistance models of her ancestors all day every day. contact her at furiousflower@gmail.com
Above: Mama Nia drops knowledge how it should be dropped.
for gil
(an almost gigan created at the Poetry by the People Community Writing Intensive)
by: alexis pauline gumbs
we cannot write a eulogy for you
period becomes ellipsis
like battered prophecy in vein
tomorrow claws our collective back
money knocks teeth forward holes
soul on shiver
smack on cage
choke hold every stolen page
rage to proof that lines do make us bleed
and you were in our heartbeats all along
slice the forearm skin right off the news
we cannot write this eulogy for you
soul on shiver
smack on cage
you steal the present into final stage
we memorize your face a fading blue
and we would quit, breathe water, heal for you
but you remain to make us beg the task
be
last
above: “Locked” and Loaded/ or this is how two sistas poetically build!
FOR RICHARD WRIGHT
by: D. Noble
how many suns have you sonned
brilliant source of how beautiful
and ugly black can be
your pen knows no fear
your words, reckless and precise
black flesh violently split wide
course language scrapes scabs off
authentic manuscripts gush from open wounds
flesh of my flesh
you dare to know me, understand me- challenge my black face
how many suns have you sonned
violently split open
we emerge
screaming from your womb of words
12 million black voices
beautiful and confused black boys, your native sons
Jack & Jill
Train up a child in the he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
– Proverbs 22:6
black babies born beautiful
full of light and verve
grow
to be colin and condi colored corpses
colonized in colleges
less they seek…
niggas first
above: basking in the glow of poetry. if you don’t know now you know!!
Hush
By: Jamilla
Hush…Do YOU hear?
Shh…That is the song of Racism,
Strumming its song of ignorance.
Dance! Dance for your superior master.
Mammy! I hear the song, oh so loud…
though all its instruments makes no sound.
“From the Plantation to the Penitentiary
To the Heart of Freedom…”
Hush…Do YOU hear?
Shh…The strings of hate strummed so hard.
It wraps around my neck of a musical noose.
Jig! Jig that dance you do so well…
Sambo! Sing that song from coast to coast…
Letthe band silently play, though there is no sound.
“From the Plantation to the Penitentiary
To the Heart of Freedom…”
Hush..Do YOU hear?
Shh…This is the encore of revolution.
Dance! Yes, dance your way to salvation.
So ALL can hear THIS song.
Melodies so loud.
Hear and sing…resounding and clear is this sound.
above: Alexis Pauline Gumbs (left) and Mama Nia (right) shining so bright in the Durham sunlight!
i am b/c u are
by: LIZ
i am b/c u are
shout out to ubuntu ar
the black stars
u don’t have have to go far
to realize the power of the brown eyes
look forward to blue skies
i’m the hottest like the goddess
transformed
to channel oshun
now i control the rain
released the pain
never 2 be the same
raise my voice when needed
raise my fist when that’s goes unheeded
violent culture won’t be repeated
haters unseated
survivors rule
come to the new school
study war no more
see whats in store
safety, dignity
from wealth to poverty
all city all country
i see a world
without pain for little girls
all truth revealed
secrets unsealed
the world must heal.
because you are i am
we take a stand
take it back to the land
grass roots
dusty boots, we in cahoots
knocking on your door
give it to you raw
silent no more
info
nappy fro
on the go
unified
with the stigmatized
strength in numbers
strong and humble
corruption crumbles
last will be the first
honor her birth
quench your thirst
because i am you are
because you are i am
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