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BLOG#2 - by Traycee Lynn

OPINION: How is it that Philadelphia has one of the largest parks in the country and yet we have no venue like Poets in the Park?”


How does Philadelphia measure up to other metropolitan cities in the realm of spoken word? When I visited Baltimore this summer for a Poets in the Park festival, I thought to myself, “how is it that Philadelphia has one of the largest parks in the country and yet we have no venue like Poets in the Park?”

Other times, I notice many other poets and promoters come to Philadelphia bringing sold out tours and bringing their own crowds for well sponsored events – and again I wonder, “how is it that Philadelphia is a mecca of premiere performance venues like the Clef Club, Kimmel Center, Freedom Theater and the list goes on…and yet, among the poetry and spoken word community - there is no big sponsor behind any of our events?”

How is it that poets and spoken word artists sit in the middle of all these resources without tapping into them? I see tons of great ideas, great venues, and passionate visionaries (myself included) but many of us are aimlessly working by ourselves, with little knowledge of what it takes to maximize things or take things to the next level. In other words…do we just think of the applause, the notoriety, the five minutes of fame and that’s it? Do we not think any further?

Has the Black Lily “open-micers getting signed” era made the generation that followed (us) socially drunk or legally blind or too egotistical to see the potential in the city of Brotherly Love? Are we talking to loud on stage that we don’t hear or see the signs that we should be taking more advantage of the resources around us. Are we really successful or are we a metropolitan joke compared to other cities?

Lets face it, the last legacy for this city was left by the Black Lily artists, and that era has long passed. Where is the evidence of our legacy, millennium poets? What have we added to mix? Are we living our words we speak in our poems? You know, the words about brotherhood? Respect for women? Unity? Working together…and all the poems that nag about “what we need to do…” What are we really doing?

I wrote this article out of frustration. I look around and see so many resources, and I see so many people with bright ideas (myself included) but no teams...and we don't take advantage of the resources...

the possibilities of bigger shows, audiences, more official sponsors...

I wonder if its that everyone wants to be the chief and no one wants to unite?

Seems like out of towners give better shows in this city than the people from here?

Ex: the show Queen Sheba did, a few years before that Taalam had the Kings of Poetry...then there's the venue Soul Aquatics where a lot of Baltimore people come out and its always nice.

I see us doing it, but it could be / should be better. We had a huge headstart with the Black Lily. I'm just saying, where is the legacy? What is our contribution? Will we ever come together to do something seriously? How long will we work in clicks?

maybe people just want to do what they do and they're not aiming for more. they want to enjoy the poetry and company of their clique and that's it. it might not be about "the art" so much as it is about sharing a communal experience with others and getting a little props for what they've managed to spill on paper.

[quote="Tizzy Lizz^"]

glory wrote:

Tizzy Lizz^ wrote: Where are all the people at who get up on stage and preach when you really need them to be about it? my point is that maybe, just maybe, people really ain't about it. we can't tell if someone is or ain't by what they say. we can only tell by what they actually DO.

i agree with these two statements whole heartedly! i think you hit the nail on the head here. i'll give my spin on it.
after hearing rant after poetic on-stage rant about being mentors to the young men of Philadelphia Stacey Dowling, owner of Dowling's Palace (home to Jus Words) opened the doors on Wednesdays to facilitate "Jus Brothers Social Club". This gave us a base to work from. From our artist scene: Shyste, Stacey, K. D. Morris, True Dialect, Hassan Malik (and maybe one or two folks I don't remember) were there faithfully, recruiting young men through email blasts, myspace, sidewalk solicitation, phone calls and word of mouth.
the rest of the "revolutionaries" were, and still are M.I.A.!
no one asked them to provide anything except a few minutes whenever they could to talk to some young baws that desperately need it.
WE ARE STILL WAITING ON EM! then again, NO WE ARE NOT STILL WAITING ON THEM! What God has intended will take place regardless!
I've even heard of artists trying to start their own programs. God bless them. If it's what you want to do then by all means DO IT! We cant have enough positivity out here on these streets!
but why spread ourselves thin?
i think that if individuals cant be in charge they dont want to participate! if some of these shallow, self-serving, narcissistic, mofos cant have their name appear solo on a marquee....THEY DONT PARTICIPATE!
the same folks will come off stage and ask, "Are you comin' to my venue/slam/ recital/slam/party?"
I'm like, "What about the kids, fam?? The fuckin' kids?? You know, the kids like the ones you were just talkin' about??"
but then again, maybe my passion, my cause is mine and not important to others. i can eat that.
it still makes me upset to see so many phony activists. it may be politically incorrect to say so but alot of artists are all talk. wince at it.face it. live with it. but know it.
right now, its fashionable to be a pro.
PRO CHILDREN. PRO EDUCATION. PRO KNOWLEDGE OF SELF. PRO FAMILY. PRO ADVOCACY. PRO 1ST AMENDMENT. PRO BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..
alot of that PRO SHIT ends in three minutes, when that bullshit poem is over.
i posted these lines before in a thread on the old boards:

When it comes down to it alot of us aren't the poor righteous teachers we pretend to be.
i present "Exhibit A", the same reason hip hop will never produce another Public Enemy.

i usally don't reply to posts (i just like to ghost read) but this is a topic close to my heart so i feel compelled to respond. there are a couple of things at stake here that i want to add my two cents to. first of all, i do agree that there are so many talented people in philly and yet we are not living up to that legacy (in my humble opinion). we have a lot of people scurrying around, but not a lot of empowering activity that leads to opportunity. the artists for the most part, are all still working day jobs (including myself) when the goal is to have your art sustain you. we have to collectively make an effort up the ante artistically so that we can all eat off of our art. that means creating business relationships that will allow the artform to gain a bigger audience, and therefore more support. right now, we are all just happy with being a big fish in a little pond. people know our names when we walk in a room. we get to feature at local venues. and all of that is okay. but if we want to move the genre forward, we have to think bigger and move towards that vision. glory is right, some people just don't want anything other than what they have right now. and that's cool. some folks just want entertainment, comradery, precious memories, and to do what they love (sing, play music, recite poetry, host, promote, etc.). nobody is knocking that. we have to respect that without judgment. but for those who want more, we have to move in that direction collectively. (when spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion). right now, there are too many cliques on the philly scene. we are on some junior high school tip with the gossip, back biting, and cliques. nobody wants to say it, but the emporer has no clothes. we have to come to terms with that honestly and then we'll be able to address it. baltimore is thriving because they made the effort to patch up old wounds and begin healing. they had a conversation about folks working together and they made an effort to support each other. that's why they'll drive up to philly to support a baltimore artist when philly artists won't even go across town. poets in the park was beautiful. i left there feeling refreshed, inspired, and in awe. i'll be back there this year as well. we had a meeting in philly a few years to address some of these issues and to motivate folks to work together, and nothing really materialized. since we all fam, i'll put it out there. some people won't go to certain venues because they don't like the host, the promoter, or someone performing there. "i don't fuck wit dat nigga" - - "he/she don't come to my venue, so i ain't going to theirs" - - "he/she only come around when they want to promote something". these are actual conversations that i've heard personally. so when we begin to focus too much on personality, the communal spirit is lost. we always speak about community in our pieces, but there is very little communal effort. that's what we need to fix. if we are going to support an event, support it because you belive in it, you want to preserve the artform, you want venues to maintain strong numbers, you want the public to be ensured of a good product, or just cause you like poetry. don't come to a venue looking for a hook-up (get in free) and then call that support. don't come to a venue just to get on the mic and call that support. don't come to the venue to get some coochie, and then call that support. and don't come to the venue just to promote and then call that support either. call it what it is. (too many poets only show up to events that they can perform at) sam spoke of the mentoring piece. i respect that. it is an honorable effort. if more brothas were involved, it would make a bigger impact. but you have who you have. i went through the same thing. i've been mentoring youth for the last six years, and i've always invited other brothas to come out and share with the youth. some people have answered the call (bernard collins, traycee lynn, quiet rage, shyste, whisper, just greg, lyrispect). but because the masses haven't gravitated toward my vision doesn't mean i'll stop making the effort. i've ran a venue for the last six years and i'm proud to say that just about every poet in philly has performed at one of my shows. i've always made the effort to reach out to folks for collective projects, but that effort hasn't always been reciprocated. it doesn't stop me from doing what i do though. but there is a lot of other good work going on too. i just wish we could all work together. because of my schedule (two jobs, grad school, children, family, relationships) i'm not able to make it over there on wednesdays, but my love for my community and commitment is not lessended by that. but i think we judge people on superficial information. we don't always understand or have the facts yet we'll make a judgment. what we need to do is just stop bullshitting! do what you say you are going to do. be who you are. nobody is going to love you less. in fact, they'll probably respect you more.

if we can push our egos to the side, we can have a hellava scene. but from where i sit, that's one of the biggest problems. nobody wants to say it out loud, but everybody is thinking it. people on the outside see poetry as to judgmental, too preachy, and too holier than thou. so the concersation has to be about changing that perspective if we want to win new fans and bring in bigger support. we are in our own way. nobody else to blame. no fingers to point. check yourself and do an honest assessment of your actions. have truly supported the artform as best you can? have worked to further its development? have you in any way contributed to a negative conversation or interaction? have you stunted the growth and development of any poet in any way? have you impeded the progress of the artform in any way. have you uplifted your people as musch as possible. have you nurtured the youth. are you open to new ideas? are you open to change? have you made the effort to bridge gaps? have you extended your hand to heal wounds? have you madesacrifices to push the genre forward? and finally (to quote myself: "are you an activist or a capitalist?")

Wow - you touched on a LOT of stuff.

Business sense, ego, support.

I think that this city was blessed before and during the Black Lily era. Very blessed. I think it was because of the sincerity of the support. The consistency of creativity. The heart and the spirit in the art at the time. Until those things come back, the blessings will be gone.

I was groomed under the October Gallery umbrella. That's one of the first places I read (also WarmDaddys) and to this day, people I run into from October Gallery remember the little things that were big to me at the time...they ask "Do you still work at that job you hate [laughing]" or they actually remember poems, still have chapbooks, bookmarks and so on...And that's how it still is...I see Trapeta Mayson and I think of her poem "You Are 12" ... I see Michelle and I think of her poem that lists the do's and don'ts of relationships. I see Bernard and I think of "Snowflake"....It was SO much love, acceptance, unity and support. Its still here today - there are always soldiers working, but its just dwindled down so much.

I've heard stories of people who put on special personal venues and people that don't even speak to them, asking them can I get a feature?

I've heard stories of people having beef with each other because they were not included, featured, or whatever....and it makes me miss the times when folks showed up because they wanted to listen. They wanted to hear and be inspired by your creativity. They knew that you would give them something to go away with...

Funny thing is, I started Writer Blocks at October Gallery. It was originally only distributed there and Pearl of Africa...None of those poets have ever asked me "When am I going to be in it?" or "How come you did a story on [this poet] and not me yet"....soon as it spread out...there would be beef, pressure, expectation, hate from people that I had just met, or only heard do 2 poems... For example, the hate on Taalam Acey was unbelievable when he was featured in WB. He probably doesn't know about it personally...but the backlash that I felt was crazy from some people. Ridiculous and very pre-mature egos.

I remember how cool it was to see people reading a poem they just wrote...coming in there with a napkin...I remember Davina writing poems on the spot from being inspired from the creativity...being touched...new poems, new styles, new ways of thinking on a regular basis...No one had to apologize for reading from paper, cause people knew - hey that's creativity...that's your heart, your spirit on paper - we will recieve it. we accept you. bring it. *I actually love reading from poems from paper...looking at the persons composition book...and all that.

I think one of the things that contributes to ego happens when people confuse support with praise.

I think the scene has to be humbled before it can flourish again. Its doing okay now, but it could be doing a LOT better. We have amazing resources, potential that we haven't fully tapped into yet...there is a lot of ego in the way of people coming together to do that. There is a lot of jealousy. There is a lot of ignorance. When I say ignorance...I mean, studying the craft. Stepping outside of the box. Exploring different styles, subjects, deliveries...all these things nurture the creativity in others as well.

I can say that I do see that fire in the youth. That's why I love the Philly Youth Slams. The creativity. The support. The originality!!! The stepping out of the box. ALL of that is there....I feel it. They inspire me the most, and the beauty is that they don't expect anything...they just love what they do. And even with that, they don't necessarily have a lot of support from the wider arts scene - BUT they do have a LOT of support from their scene, their group (and now HBO). I know that if there were "feature" opportunities...then there would probably be more support - but it just wouldn't be as sincere (Spit and Split). Anyway, I know their artist generation will be blessed greatly, and if they keep on that path they will be able to work together and take advantage of the resources and potential here.

I have not given on on what is here now...I am just more aware.