Talented Detroiters celebrate Poetry/Spoken Word Month

Category: Community Published on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:05 Written by Debra T. Walker

Detroit is known for its multitude of talented performers.  April is Poetry / Spoken Word Month, and the city will be celebrating in a big way, with two great events, showcasing some of the area’s greatest poets and spoken word artists.  There is something to satisfy the souls of all ages and interests.  The talent is broad and the popular former “Café Mahogany” host, Joel “Fluent” Greene, will host both events.

Saturday, April 21, 8 p.m. at Jazz Café Detroit, ILLPLAYBILL, Detroit’s new hip hop theater group, will present “A Man Can Change (AMCC) Part #3: “DEDICATION -- The Words, Music, Art, and Stories of 7 Men.”   The evening will be hosted by Fluent and will feature some of our city’s finiest poets.  If you attended AMCC previously, or heard the buzz, you know what’s up. 

Come open and leave uplifted, as men from Detroit’s tremendous art community show you what dedication is all about. The night will include a live band, $5 drink specials, a full menu of delicious food, raffles for ILL gift bags, and some of the best poetry you’ve ever heard. Artwork will also be on display and available for purchase, along with vendors selling jewelry, clothing and more. 

In addition to Fluent, the lineup will include Mike Will, Caesar, Ju Hall, Alex White, Black, and Shaka Senghor.

The theme of Part #3 of AMCC is Dedication.  ILLPLAYBILL is dedicated to doing what we love, however we want. . . . What are you dedicated to? 

Saturday, April 21, at Jazz Café Detroit, 350 Madison, downtown Detroit’s Music Hall.

Tickets are only $10 and available at the door.  EARLY ARRIVAL is strongly recommended. Doors open at 8 pm. Show starts PROMPTLY at 9 pm. 

Sunday, April 29^, at Detroit’s Historic Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Fluent will again host a Poetry/Spoken Word Celebration.  Headlining this event will be Detroit’s own internationally renowned poet laureate, Naomi Long Madgett.  She most recently received the latest Kresge Foundation Eminent Artist Award and is the first female to do so.  She has published ten poetry books, and will be on hand to sell and sign her work following the program.  

This show will also include poets from the nationally acclaimed InsideOut Literary Arts Project whose anthologies will be available for purchase.  Students from the Poetry Café of Friends School in Detroit will also participate.  

Your columnist and local spoken word artist, Debra Walker, will perform as well.  There is no admission charge for this event.  Donations will be accepted to support Hartford’s Hunger Task Force.   

This exciting afternoon will be from 4 to  6 p.m. at Hartford, 18700 James Couzens (just South of W. Seven Mile).  Plenty of free secured parking.  For questions or further information, please contact Debra Walker at (313) 758-1648.

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. It was recently expanded to include the art of spoken word.

Poem in Your Pocket Day: Join the thousands of individuals across the country, and carry a poem in your pocket on April 26, 2012.

“Poetry is more than a rhyme

It’s a rhythm of the soul

Experience its pulsating beat

Feel it touch your heart

Poetry is more than a rhyme

It’s a rhythm of the soul.”

For inquiries about the AMCC Event at the Jazz Café, contact Joel Greene at (313) 828-0369.

Debra T. Walker is a native Detroiter, entrepreneur and artist. She may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .