Shades of black - IWWG Black History Month - FREE!
Five Black women poets celebrate heart and heritage on this rare Leap Year day in honor of Black History Month.
Bestselling author of Soul Between the Lines, artist, activist, poet and master teacher Dorothy is a former LA Poet-In-Residence and is executive director of Women Writers & Artists Matrix. Recently appointed to represent the City of West Hollywood for National Poetry Month she has shared the dais with the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, performed spoken word in Iceland, danced with tribal children in Kerala, and believes in changing the world one word at a time.
Author of Truth Shots & Ida's Brew, Stella the Poet is a journalist trained a long time ago at Howard University. But, she started writing poetry in 2017 to express her passionate feelings in a changing political climate in America. Her her first book of poetry, published by World Stage Press (2021) enhanced her awareness of a world that allows words to bypass the brain and go straight to the heart of the the matter. "I write poetry to heal. I write it to bear witness and confirm the truth of our time and place. It was a companion for me during the Covid years and it continues to be my most intimate partner. The fact that people enjoy it says about more than just me. My next one, Love, Magic & Maroon Moons, makes me more excited than ever. It's what healing looks like!
Imani Tolliver (she/her) is an award-winning poet, artist, educator, public speaker, and event producer. She is author of Runaway: A Memoir in Verse. Imani is a graduate of Howard University, a Cave Canem Fellow, and served as Poet Laureate for the Watts Towers Arts Center. Learn more at ImaniTolliver.com
Hilda E. Ward is a registered nurse, poet, health educator, counselor and author of Images. She was a talk show host of the local public television program, Artistic Expressions in Charlottesville, Virginia and also served as Artist-in-Residence in Albemarle School District. She moved to New York where she worked at Jamaica Hospital, taught at Syosset High Schoolfor 24 years where she started the MLK Club and Peer Health Education. Hilda was diagnosed with Cancer in 2018 and given 3 months to live. Today, at 92 ,she is a cancer survivor and is Thankful and grateful every single day for God's Grace and Mercy. She retired in 1994.
Eisha Mason is a spiritual therapist, teacher, community facilitator, and writer. Her work continually seeks to answer the question: “How do we become the people who can live in the just and peaceful world we want to create?” Her first book of poetry, Red Door, was published in February 2023.