Philadelphia 14 March
I wanted to start my blog with the Irki book tour – but it’s been so full on – I’m going to start with my last reading and work backwards. On 14 March, I was in Philadelphia at the Charles L. Blockson Collection at Temple University.
The one main thing I’ve realised through travelling and attending and participating in conferences and readings is that it is rarely the reason that I’m there for that produces the highlight consequentially the people I meet and the environment I’m in. This was underscored by the event organised by the totally passionate literary and community activist Larry Robins (known for Robin’s Bookstore). For the short time I lived in Philadelphia, Robin’s Bookstore was an ‘anchor’. He had sent me an email a few weeks ago saying ‘I messed up’ ; my name wasn’t on the list to perform at Fergie’s on the 13th. You know, this was one of the best ‘mess up’s ever – because of it I met a wonderful new poetry sistah , Trapeta Mayson from my country next door – Liberia. She is amazing – my gosh – fantastic poet, beautiful spirit. Her poetry speaks of her childhood, growing up as an African child, who had moved from Liberia because of the civil war to the USA; mental health issues in her family . We are going to meet up again before I leave Phila in a few days because we know there are things we want to do together in the future.
Here Trapeta Mayson reading here:
I had not heard of – the Charles L. Blockson Collection. A jewel that (I hope) Temple University treasures. We were given two beautiful books – The Haitian Revolution – Celebrating the First Black Republic by Blockson and The Journey of John W. Mosley – an African American Pictorial Album. I had vowed not to carry any new books on this trip but …It’s on my radar to go there and visit again before I leave or on my next trip here. Possibly my next trip when the weather is warmer – I got caught in the snow in Boston and haven’t recovered. The audience was small, warm and genuine – offering wonderful questions and stories – and now I’m part of the Charles L. Blockson collection too with my signed book!
After the reading, Larry zoomed us down to the World Café Live to hear Artist in residence of U Penn AMIRI BARAKA– standing room only. I asked the young guy at the desk if we could still go in : Continue reading