spencer's boy

cartermagazine:

Today In History

“A man is either free or he is not. There cannot be any apprenticeship for freedom.”

‘Amiri Baraka, born October 7, 1934 in Newark, NJ. He is the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism. A poet icon and revolutionary political activist, acknowledged on many stages around the world for his recitation of poetry and lectures on cultural and political issues facing humanity.’

(photo: Amiri Baraka recently)

-CARTER Magazine

blackgirlphresh:

cartermagazine:

Today In History

‘Sonia Sanchez is an African-American poet, activist and revolutionary, who has authored over a dozen books of poetry, as well as plays and children’s books. This year at the 15 Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, September 14 - 18, her WORLD PREMIER documentary: Sonia Sanchez Shake Loose Memories, directed by Jamal Joseph will be screened.’

For more information on attending the screening, visit: www.urbanworld.com by clicking on the link.

(photo: Sonia Sanchez)

- CARTER Magazine

i wish i could go…  check out the book shake loose my skin: new and selected poems by sanchez here.  she is my favorite poet/activist and there is magic in her stage presence. her website is sonyasanchez.net. 

watch a trailer for the urbanworld.com x carter-mag.com annual film festival event here. about from vimeo: The Urbanworld® Film Festival is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind. The five-day festival includes features, documentaries, and short films, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings, and the 2nd Annual Urbanworld® Digital, a 1-day Conference during the festival focused on digital and social media. Over the last fourteen years, Hollywood studios and talent-driven independent films have consistently chosen Urbanworld® to premiere box office and award-winning hits. Urbanworld® has also become home to some of today’s top brands who wish to reach key influencers and media & entertainment leaders across the multicultural landscape. The Urbanworld® Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes dedicated to redefining the multicultural roles in contemporary cinema, television, and online by implementing programs and initiatives that support the development of the urban content creation community. 

anthonythegreat:

Langston Hughes by Carl Van Vechten

(Source: pornographickisses, via lepoinconneurdeslilas)

anthonythegreat:

Langston Hughes by Carl Van Vechten

(Source: pornographickisses, via lepoinconneurdeslilas)

ne-plus-ultra:

Amiri Baraka, one of the most fiery political poets and cultural critics in Black Amerikkka, recently celebrated his 75th birthday. He is the father of the Black Arts Movement of the ‘60s and after 2001, New Jersey abolished the poet laureate position because they couldn’t fire him, the incumbent, after he wrote his controversial piece, “Somebody Blew Up America.”