Poetry for the People

with special guest and spoken word poet Too Black.

Friday, Feb. 14, 6 p.m., Student Union Starbucks

Open mic session before the performance. If interested please contact akronpaso@gmail.com

Hosted by: Pan-African Student Organization & Student African American Brotherhood
Sponsored by: The Office of Multicultural Development 

ABOUT TOO BLACK

TOO BLACK, a graduate of Ball State University, is a poet and spoken word artist from Muncie, IN. The name TOO BLACK developed from wanting to challenge the perceptions of blackness and humanity in general.  Influenced by a wide variety of artist and historical figures from Malcolm X to George Carlin, TOO BLACK brings a versatile perspective to the stage. TOO BLACK does an incredible job of utilizing hip hop and musical influences to help relay his point and as a way to relate to his audiences. Most of his works are highly informational as a result his love for reading and continued self-educating through research. TOO BLACK’s delivery can be described as conversational with a “matter of fact” undertone. He has a working dialogue with the audience and draws from personal experiences and past and current events. A large amount of his poems are controversial in the sense that he speaks on subjects that most people might be afraid to discuss.  Issues of race, class, gender, education, and corruption are common themes throughout TOO BLACK’s poetry.

TOO BLACK has been performing poetry professionally for three years and has featured throughout Indianapolis, IN and has headlined venues in IN, OH, NY, IL, VA, D.C. and PA; including the historical Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, Jus Words in Philadelphia, Soul Speaks in Chicago, Spit Dat in D.C., and several colleges and universities.  TOO BLACK is a part of poetry movement called Street Poets Collective.  The Street Poets Collective reaches from NYC to the Midwest and is growing a movement hoping to encompass the entire country in the upcoming years. TOO BLACK has opened for nationally renowned poets, including former Indiana poet laureate nominee, Tasha Jones and Def Jam HBO poet Tommy Bottoms. Learn more at http://www.tooblack.net/