To Act...To Compose...To Deliver...To Write...

Happy Monday. To start of this last week in February, I like to share some of my favorite heroes and sheroes in honor of Black History Month. For me, Black History is every day.


Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an African composer in the court of Marie Antionette. He created beautiful music that still stands the test of time.



Mary Fields also known as Stage Coach Mary, first African American and second woman who was a Pony Express Rider. She is said to have stood six foot, had her rifle by her side while riding and delivered all her mail successfully.



Ira Aldridge, one of the first great African American Classical actors. Toured in America and Europe performing Shakespeare most notably Othello. He is one of my closest heroes. When I go to audition for classical theater, I think of him and walk in with pride knowing the history of my people performing Shakespeare.



Phillis Wheatley, the second African American and first African American woman to publish poetry in America. One of my favorites of her is An Hymn to the Morning.



Of course, these are only a few of the notable people of African Descent who have dreamed, strived and inspired me and others.

Thursday Love: Imagination

Imagination! who can sing thy force?
Or who describe the swiftness of thy course?
Soaring though air to find the bright abode,
Th'empyreal palace of the thund'ring God,
We on thy pinions can surpass the wind,
And leave the rolling universe behind;
From star to star the mental optics rove,
Measure the skies, and range the realms above.
There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,
Or with new worlds amaze th' unbounded soul.

from On Imagination by Phillis Wheatley

Phillis and Emily

Happy March! Even though it's cold here in The Bronx, I am dreaming of Spring. Finally, I have another audio post. This one has the poetry of the first African American female published poet, Phillis Wheatley and my old friend, Emily Dickinson. I am reading the poems: On Being Brought from Africa to America and A Hymn to The Evening by Phillis; also, I taste a liquor never brewed and Adrift! A little boat adrift by Emily.

Please be aware that the text I'm reading Emily from may be slightly different from the links to her poetry. I don't know why editors feel the need to edit her work! Even the version I have does not have Emily's dashes which I love. So eventually I want to get her poetry with her dashes left intact. Also, Phillis isn't the first African American poet as I stated in the video. (I just discovered this today!) That honor goes to Jupiter Hammond; nevertheless, she is still the first sistah poet to be published in this country.

I hope you all enjoy. Please send me requests of poetry or prose you like to be read. I am happy to do so. As always, sweet dreams to you all.


PS. My last audiopost was lost when I changed my youtube account. I'm going to go back and redo it.