"And then we heard the Thunder"...the title/theme for Medgar Evers College 10th National Black Writers' Conference. And the thunder was indeed loud and boomed like like Toni Morrison, Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite, Sonia Sanchez, Cornel West, Bernice L. McFadden, Tayari Jones, Donna Hill and so, so many other authors and poets and literary contributors.... Colored, negro, Black, African American and 'other'...and proud. I was beaming with pride. Beaming is actually an understatement, I was having an out of body experience.
The National Black Writers' Conference is a yearly event is a celebration of African Americans'voice in the literary world. Not just African American's but a people long time considered to be minorities. But here...we're the majority. And we have a right to celebrate our purpose and selected mission in life. They are, we are, chosen for greatness. And greatness need to be celebrated in every way.
As a student at Medgar Evers College, I never had the chance to indulge in this remarkable festivity,as I always had an exam to tend to. But the thought of all this literacy under one roof brought me back to volunteer. I always imagined it to make blood rush through veins and beat against the roof of your skin, so hard, that you want to scream with joy. And that's the very emotion I felt being at the VIP reception on Saturday March 27th. The reception in which author/educator/historical figure Ms. Toni Morrison was honored. And an honor it was.
As Dr. Cornel West stated: "Who will celebrate us, if we don't do it ourselves".
Though I was merely a volunteer at the event, my excitement was irrepressible when I had the chance to schedule car service for Ms. Sanchez...call her and hear her poetic voice. It couldn't be contained when I had the chance to meet her, hug her, speak with her and hand her a copy of one of my own poetry collections. I was elated. No, no...I think at that moment I understood what Michael Jackson fans experience.
I spent 4 days at the event. Giving my time to help make sure that it went as smoothly as possible. I helped with honoring those who have contributed to my passion for writing, my passion for poetry, my passion for literacy. From a timid child in Trinidad, to a dream seeker in New York. This is my path.
While gathered in the room to honor Ms. Morrison, I stood in awe. I practically forgot that I was there on duty. Not to mix and mingle, but I was in a trance. And even more in hypnosis when I had to replenish Ms. Morrison's table with h'ordeuvres. She was quiet, she was still, she was precious. I wanted to reach out and touch her face, to feel her words, to steal some of her magic and to be reminded that while a picture holds a thousand words...words can give you a million more pictures. As I placed the tray on her table, Mr. West reached over for a bruschetta. It brought me back to reality...they're just as normal as we are. Lol!
The hostess of the evening Ms. Susan Taylor (of Essence Magazine) opened the floor with some beautiful remarks, that made you feel all the glory of honoring Ms. Morrison. Then Ms. Sanchez had the honor of dedicating a poem to Ms. Morrison, and she recited it from paper...ha! I felt like I won a prize. I'm a devout paper poet. Spoken word isn't my gift, so reciting always came as a challenge, but words, no matter what or how displayed can move you as long as you believe in what you're reading or hearing. And I was moved. It was spiritual, it was historical, it was slavery, it was rising out of slavery, it was becoming, it was Toni Morrison.
I thank the staff and the committee at Medgar Evers College, who take the time to bring awareness to the role of African Americans in the literary world. I'd also like to thank them for allowing me to be a part of this magnificent event.
All of the greats under one roof to celebrate this heavenly structured literary mind. And it was a celebration I'll NEVER forget.
1 comments:
I love meeting women that inspire me, its very rewarding.
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