when i got to studio w today at about 2:35pm to set up for the slam, the people running the place had no clue what i was talking about or why i was there. they did not know about the slam that we had been promoting with their name (perhaps that means we need better … Continue reading saturday slam mixup, with magic results
Author: JBT
Born in Washington, DC and raised in Crofton, Maryland, Jonathan B. Tucker (JBT) is a writer, performer, educator, DJ, and dreamer passionate about poetry, youth empowerment, racial and social justice, and finding purpose through service to others. He has received numerous awards and artist fellowships, and has performed and taught at schools, libraries, detention centers, museums, and conferences around the world. His poems have appeared in Howard University’s Amistad Journal alongside the late Amiri Baraka (Howard University, 2011), in Etan Thomas’s anthology Voices of the Future (Haymarket Books, 2012), in two self-published chapbooks (jonathan b. tucker, 2010; and i got the matches, 2012), and on the stages of the Kennedy Center and the South African State Theatre. JBT represented DC at the National Poetry Slam in 2009 and 2010, and has helped coordinate and coach the DC Youth Slam Team with Split This Rock since 2011.
My Angle on Pimpin’
Check out this hot new video of my poem Pimpin' on Park Triangle's new series The Angle. Jonathan B. Tucker: Pimpin' from Park Triangle Productions on Vimeo.
when youth bloom, we bloom
on friday i co-hosted a very successful youth open mic at bloombars, featuring the sensational twelve-year-old rockstar ella. there were supportive teens and adults there to cheer on the twenty-or-so young people who signed up to perform. most of them did poetry of some sort. six-year-old alycia sang the "i love you" song from barney … Continue reading when youth bloom, we bloom
making headlines
tonight's event at busboys and poets with the national gallery of art was much fun. we recreated the electric headlines of andy warhol's day with dc artists mixing together topical subjects of today like troy davis and the death penalty, palestine and dc statehood, and corporate greed and the occupy movement. i performed alongside christylez … Continue reading making headlines
shout out to Trinity Univ. for Speakin’ It Real
i had the privilege and the pleasure of facilitating a writing and performance workshop with students at Trinity University here in Washington, DC a couple weeks prior to their open mic event, Speakin' It Real. i came back to the campus in Northeast DC last Tuesday night for the open mic, as a special invited … Continue reading shout out to Trinity Univ. for Speakin’ It Real
2011 slam season coming to close
as i prepare for the 2012 slam season, i'm looking back on the 2011 season and all we've done. just found these pictures from our trip to new york city. our friend and local poet in the DC/MD area, Chris August, just won the 2011 Individual World Poetry Slam. we could not be more happy … Continue reading 2011 slam season coming to close
Col. Ann Wright said i’m awesome
it meant a whole lot to me today when Col. Ann Wright said, prior to my performance at october2011.org in Freedom Plaza, that i was awesome. she was talking to one of the stage managers right before both of us were scheduled to go on. Ralph Nader was speaking and we were waiting backstage with … Continue reading Col. Ann Wright said i’m awesome
Rest in Peace Rev. Shuttlesworth and Mr. Jobs
today two remarkable and legendary figures passed away. i have the feeling that many more people know of steve jobs than rev. fred shuttlesworth. both of these men helped to greatly shape our society. i am not sure why it upsets me that not more people know of shuttlesworth's contributions, but it does. here is … Continue reading Rest in Peace Rev. Shuttlesworth and Mr. Jobs
beltway poetry slam recap
after work today i rode over to the fridge to meet my students on the dc youth slam team. we've got a show coming up soon so we were finalizing our poems. here is what our next group piece looks like in it's initial stages. like a baby being born, this is the sonogram or … Continue reading beltway poetry slam recap
chillin in The Fridge with iWPS qualifying poets
join me at The Fridge, Tuesday August 30, 2011 for the next Beltway Poetry Slam download flier here.
new hosting gig
starting in the midsummer heat of dc's july, i will be the new host of the tuesday open mic at busboys and poets on 14th & v st every 4th tuesday of the month. so tuesday july 26th i start, and will be bringing daniel jose custodio to feature. he is real cool. check him … Continue reading new hosting gig
DC Youth Slam Team – Spittin Truth
Spittin' Truth from Karina Stenquist on Vimeo.
ready for summer?
gotta get writing and practicing. there are lots of great shows coming up this summer. i really hope you make it out to dc to see me and my students tearing it up sometime. the dc youth slam team are some really fun and inspirational poets. see photo. we're hosting a FREE poetry workshop on … Continue reading ready for summer?
why you should wait
i know you wanna go coz all day you gotta wait gotta wait for the train and then wait at the gate wait for the show and wait to have fun and then wait until you can go wait for a bus wait to use cuss words when it's okay wait to play major leagues … Continue reading why you should wait
west virginia hills
this week i have been teaching performance poetry in rural west virginia. specifically north central west virginia in doddridge county. i've been staying with the teacher who brought me out here, and can honestly say that i have never seen a house or community further back in the woods. the gravel road that leads to … Continue reading west virginia hills
i want a real love
i want a real love i don't want a halmark, disney, fairytale love i don't want a flowers and chocolate and let's lie to each other just to make it work love don't want your make-up, hair, nails and heels plastic love or your i'm so real i'm unreal, get used to it love NO … Continue reading i want a real love
Many Climaxes Coming
On the occasion of my father's retirement from 37 years of service to the Prince George's County Public Schools, I delivered this poem. from beard to bald, pre-K to 6 i swear, there is a time i remember when my dad had hair brown like mine a poet might say he sacrificed it for the … Continue reading Many Climaxes Coming
start with a joke
everybody likes a joke. even a bad one. the attempt alone is enough to sometimes win over an audience. they know that you know that they want to laugh and have fun, and even if you aren't making them laugh, at least you're trying. this is JBT's random unsolicited advice. thanks for joining us.
