We're so grateful and inspired by "The Color Purple" author. Thank you.

I’ve never been one to write poetry but I’m a strong supporter of the art. It’s truly an art that should be respected and appreciated. A poem is an unspoken form of language that can only make sense to those whose hearts are open to receive it. When you hear poetry, you stop and think […]

At this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival poet, professor and co-founder of the Black Arts Movement Sonia Sanchez screened her documentary Shaking Loose Memories . The film is directed by Jamal Joseph and combines interviews with Sanchez and performances of her poems by Amiri Baraka, T.C Carson and others. TheUrbandaily was given a few minutes with […]

According to his U.K. publisher Jamie Byng (via The Daily Swarm), Gil Scott-Heron, the celebrated poet, musician, and author, died today. He was 62 years old. Scott-Heron’s cause of death remains unknown. The influential poet and musician is often credited with being one of the progenitors of hip-hop, and is best known for the spoken-word […]

Did you really think that Barack was going to keep one of Chicago’s finest out of the building? Contrary to reports that conservative pressure caused the White House to revoke Common’s invitation to celebrate poetry, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. took the stage to perform at the White House’s Celebration of American Poetry. Spotted @ RapRadar […]

Poet Jasmine Mans dedicates a poem to Nicki Minaj at University of Wisconsin’s 2010 Stomp Da Madness poetry event.While some may perceive her words as a diss, I think the young lady sees the influence that Barbie has on her fans and is simply pleading with her to use her powers for good and not […]

Street poet/ activist, Monte Smith, has been noted for his fiery prose against racial & political injustice everywhere. He’s not only been co-signed by political prisoner Mumia-Abu-Jamal, but heralded by the likes of Bruce George (Co producer of HBO’S “Def Poetry Jam’), Sam Greenlee author of The Spook Who Sat By The Door, and even […]