Tony medina poet biography

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The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Accept Deny View preferences Save preferences View preferences. They have a lot to say and no one really listens to our youth. I wanted to create characters and stories and poems that communicated to them…and from their point of view.

TM: Like DeShawn, I was raised by my grandmother, grew up in the projects in my case in the Bronx in a household of cousins, uncles and aunts. So, some aspects are from what I know personally while, of course, the bulk of the narrative is invented. I wanted to give voice to an aspect of our society that usually is not heard from in a beautiful and positive way.

Did you approach the publisher with the project, or did they approach you? I felt that a biography in verse—in poetry—would be the best way to celebrate the life of a po et. It was important that the poems be in the present tense as if Langston who had long passed away were speaking directly to young people in the here and now. So, it really became a labor of love and an exciting book to work on.

Not to mention the dynamic artwork R. Gregory Christie created. Talk about this book, and the significance that it has for you. TM: I think that Love to Langston proved to be so popular, it was clear that biographies were what children, teens, parents, teachers and media specialists were interested in. So, it was a no-brainer. But once I did the research and got the voice down particularly in the opening poem , I was off and running.

TM: Bob Marley is important because of his life story which was rife with struggle, a story that showed how he overcame so many obstacles to become a champion of his people in Jamaica—and humanity in general— through his voice and vision and his music. Bob grew up poor; was of so-called mixed parentage his mother was Black and father white ; struggled with identity problems; was as a young boy acknowledged as a visionary and seer with special powers; fell in love with music; formed a band with other poor and talented teens; spent his entire life dedicated to music; revolutionized Reggae music and Rastafari beliefs; and risked his life in the service of truth and justice and the defense of the poor.

He did all of this in the short span of thirty-six years. What is it that you like best about collaborating with them? They are a publishing house that allows writers and artists of color to get their voices and visions out to a global audience. They take risks with regard to subject matter that may normally go ignored. They also try to keep books in print for as long as possible.

BBS: If you had to identify a common theme or thread in your work, what would it be? TM: I think all of my work is political. Their stories are not only triumphant and inspirational, but are relatable to many of our children and youth, particularly those who are raised by a single-mom or grandmother. Yet you still make time to focus on books for the young.

Tony medina poet biography

TM: The rewards are many. I get to reach, influence and inspire young people. They fall in love with b ooks and reading through—hopefully— one of my books. They treat you like a rock star when you come to visit them in schools and at book signings. So do teachers and librarians media specialists. They truly appreciate writers and artists and the books that we create.

I get to visit schools and other institutions and engage the children and teens. I get to basically inspire someone the way I was inspired to become a writer , through literature. Can you tell us about it—the organization itself, and what your affiliation with it means to you? TM: Behind the Book is a New York City-based, non-profit literacy organization that places books in the hands of children and teenagers, mainly in under-represented areas.

They have a wide scope in parts of Brooklyn and Harlem, as well as other parts of the city. They also send out authors and illustrators to these places—particularly ones that the youth can relate to, in terms of having similar backgrounds etc. We have a good relationship and they seem to admire how the young readers take to my workshops and my books.

Usually, the children will get the books in advance free, of course. Then the author or illustrator will meet with them to conduct a reading, discussion and workshop. We give them an assignment, then come back a week later for a follow-up visit and book signing. It is very rewarding. The kids are always amped and fun to work with. The best classes are when the teachers and media specialists are really passionate about the books, poetry, and getting their students excited about creative writing and forms of expression.

The organization raises funds to be able to purchase the books and get the authors in the schools. But they are not just limited to books. Behind the Book also has field trips and other exciting programming—all to stimulate and educate our youth. Today we not only have TV kids, but internet kids, texting kids, video gaming kids…. TM: I do think that many of our kids are gong to be lulled away from literature and influenced by technology.

But I have hope that there are always going to be children and youth that will be fascinated by stories.