I've always wondered the reason why Omaha was so divided. Now the racial makeup is disproportionate, but there are times where you can see integration in action. However, this usually involves a whole lot of drinks, and a club atmosphere. And that's not so bad, but it's usually out west where most of the white population resides. See, I frequent a lot of what people call, "hood bars"--these are bars located on the northside; the black hood. And yea, I've seen white folks in these bars, but not on the same scale as I have seen blacks in west Omaha bars/clubs. My pa'tna says it's because hood bars are raggedy, and the people (women mostly) aren't responsive--but I don't find that to be entirely true. I usually have more fun on the northside than I do out west; but that's just me.

I bring up this topic because of course--poetry. Now when I left Omaha the first time in '95, I was a kid, and the most fun I had was rollin' the "L" down north, because there were no clubs in the city for youngsta's. So when I got to Atlanta, and I really started to get into the "poetry scene" the crowds consisted mostly of Black folk. Now by no means was I complaining, I reveled in it. Black people with Black thought, Black beauty, Black words--in a sense I was in heaven! And then in 2002, I came back to Omaha to pursue a teaching certificate, but I was still knee deep in poetry. So what did my Black azz do?? Damn right I found Nat, Matt, the subterranean peace tribe, and the Omaha Slam Movement. But guess what? Mostly all these poets were white! So in one sense it was like yet another culture shock. I had gotten so used to Black poetry, Black spoken word, Black rhythm, that I had to readjust to Caucasian poetry, and their rhythm. But wherever I went there was never any real intergration, but there was the same passion, and politics in each poet and poetry scene that I attended.

This brings me to my final thought. Where in the hell are the Black poets in Omaha?? I know that we had Grooves goin' on for a minuet, then there was Cartier's, and then there was The Velvet Lounge and Caffeine Dreams, but very little intergration between the two cultures. What's up with that?? Now I've done my best to tell all poets of the shows that are going on in the city; and most white poets intermingle between shows, but many Blacks just don't come out on a consistent basis.

So I propose this--come the phuck out and blaze the stage like I know you can!! If you're Black and you have poetry in you, then stop waiting for another "Black Venue" to open, log onto www.poetrymenu.com find a venue that sounds good, then come and check it out. Caffeine Dreams on 40th and Farnam is a good place to start, Shoot Your Mouth Off II @ Shea'Riley's on 72nd is another, and Micks on 61st and Maple does weekly shows. So bring that azz, and blaze, bring that energy and make it crazy!! So if you readin' this and you know a Black poet, or a Hispanic poet, or a Iraqi poet then tell them about poetrymenu.com and have them
BRING THAT AZZ!!

please and thankyou.

Well, it's been about a month and a half since my last visit, so, lets see what I've been up to.....

Feburary was the beginning of big big poetry happenings for me. There was poetry going on at the Velvet Room with some very young and talented poets, however, the Velvet Room has since shut down meaning that another possible poetry venue has closed. There are still the slam, Micks (Crosswords) on Thursdays, Shoot Your Mouth Off II @ Shea' Rileys, as well as Naked Words on Wednesdays at the Reading Grounds, so poetry will live.

February marked a big interview provided by Untamed tongues http://Xradio.biz/lasvegas and the host The Husbandman. Now this had to be the coolest interview that I've done in a long time. It went smooth and righteous. There was peace and respect the whole time during the interview. Now I know that Vegas is blowing up right now with Untamed Tongues as well as Rebel Poetry, and my goal for this summer is to hit Vegas live and in person!! So if anyone out there can help get me down there then please hit me up e-mail, phone, snail mail, covered wagon, carrier pigeon, whatever--just hit me up!!

I also competed in my final slam in February. I got called up first and I nailed a piece entitled Writers Block (please check audio post). However, there must have been some score creeps posing as judges, and I unfortunately did not make it past the first round. Damn Damn DAMN!!!

However March has been a God-send for my own personal poetry. First I found out that I would be featuring at Shea 'Rileys here in Omaha. Then I found out that I was poet of the month for March at The Black Poetry Cafe. (http://www.theblackpoetrycafe.com) Then I get a e-mail from a sista in Nigeria for a order for some cd's and t-shirts!!! And finally I get a e-mail from Jennifer, (a poet I know in Lincoln, NE) and she wants me to feature in April at her spot!!! I love poetry!

Now the feature at Shea 'Rileys was OFF THE F---N' CHAIN!!! I have to give a big shout out to Bad Andy!!(http://www.myspace.com/andrew_neely)
Without his help in playing upright, it would not of had 1/2 the energy it had....and boy did it have energy!! I love the crowd at Shea 'Rileys because it you throw out 110% of energy, they will throw back 220%!! I had real real fun people Thank You for having me!!

Blessings has to go out to the BPC because that board has been holding me down!! Big ups to Mark, Ebony, and Ro who have been out on the board posting some of the HOTTEST poetry in the world. And I know that I belong to other boards and network with all kind of people, poets and shit, so don't be salty because I ain't gave u a shout out, hell, I got all kind of links on my site, so a brotha does do his best to spread the word. But the BPC has honored me this month, and I have to let them know that it is greatly appreciated...(cuzz I got some shit on that board....)

Now the other two happenings I just had to mention--I mean the sale is like business, but I had to let people know that I may have some product in Africa--the motherland!! Come on people, that's love, that's pan-Africanism at the highest point for this poet!! And the feature that's coming up is going to be a blast because I traded Jennifer some books (which are awesome!!) for a cd and she is such a beautiful person!! Plus she said that there is going to be someone there doing a podcast, so be on the lookout for that as well!!

The one thing that I haven't mentioned above that a brotha is heavily involved in is a class that I'm teaching to youth on....you guessed it--spoken word. Now you can tell from this blog, that I won't be heavy on the english skills, but these youngstas will be ready to hit the stage after we work for 6 weeks. And the experience has been going great, Great, GREAT!!!

So my apologies for yet another long (at times senseless) blog. But hey, I gotta keep the word out, so if I miss a spot, or don't hit up a board, or come into a voice cypher too late, ya'll will know that I just wasn't f---n' off completely, a poet is tryin' to do this FOR REAL.

So last but certainly not least I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME BY BUYING CD'S, HITTING THE WEBSITE, THE BLOG, AND COMING OUT TO MY SHOWS!!! I got luv 4u and u got luv 4me...till next time ya'll.....