Word artists challenging the status-quo
BY JENNIFER MACBAIN-STEPHENS
Sharing the same space with Lady Gaga and J Lo, 2021 brought poets to the front stage when poet Amanda Gorman read her poem The Hill We Climb at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. There’s more ways to get in touch with poetry today more than ever. It’s not just about what you were forced to read in school. Whether it’s performing spoken word on stage or looking for these poets on amazon or local book shops, these creative wordsmiths are here to stay.
Chen Chen
Born in China but raised in Massachusetts, Chen Chen’s collection “When I Grow Up I Want to be a List of Further Possibilities” was longlisted for the 2017 National Book Award. After attending sunny Texas Tech, Chen moved back to Brooklyn, where he can be found walking his pug “Mr. Rupert Giles,” with his partner, Jeff. He likes to talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and finds inspiration writing on buses. Always a fan of long titles, his next book, Your Emergency Contact has Experienced an Emergency, will be coming out soon! Read more at www.chenchenwrites.com
Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman, slaying it in a yellow coat by Prada and jewelry from Oprah Winfrey, read a new poem that she wrote in response to the riots at the Capitol. Her work focuses on issues of feminism, race, and oppression. From an article in Glamour, Gorman said, “Seeing the ways that I as a young black woman can inspire people is something I want to continue in politics. I don’t want to just speak words. I want to turn them into realities and actions.” Find more about this young superstar here: www.theamandagorman.com Gorman, who has a twin sister, says she wants to run for President in 2036.
Angelique Zobitz
Born to a “dope ass teen mom word nerd punk rock singer in the early 80’s” (her words), Zobitz’ recent poetry collection Love Letters to the Revolution, dives into ideas about Black womanhood and girlhood and everything in between. Zobitz calls her daughter “The Revolution” and her partner “The Silver Fox.” Nominated for many awards and published all over the internet, read more about this fierce artist here: www.angeliquezobitz.com
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey
His mom thinks he should be an actor and if you watch Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey’s videos on his website (www.thenegroartist.com) you might agree. An electric performer and spoken word artist, Rainey’s book, “Look, Black Boy,” became Amazon’s #1 release in African American Poetry. In 2020 Rainey was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in the Iowa City, Iowa / Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. When he isn’t performing, he is giving back: Teaching spoken word to high school students and hosting local events. Check out the videos on his website and maybe you’ll even give performing a try, you’ll be so inspired.
Ellen Huang
If you think horror and poetry don’t mix, think again. A publisher of plays and poetry, a lover of fairy tales, swimming in oceans, wearing capes, and spirituality, find Huang’s work at some of these places: South Broadway Ghost Society, Awkward Mermaid, and Ink & Nebula. She is currently working on a poetry collection about fairy tales and a horror anthology. She misses movies, during these pandemic times. Huang’s poems are funny and sad at the same time. Find out more at: www.worrydollsandfloatinglights.wordpress.com
Jennifer MacBain-Stephens is a writer who lives in Iowa City, Iowa with her children and works at a science journal. She grew up in the Midwest and went to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied three subjects: Drama, English, and Journalism. She has also lived in California, D.C., London, and New York, for various periods. Jennifer is the author of fifteen poetry chapbooks and four full length poetry collections (“Your Best Asset is a White Lace Dress” Yellow Chair Press (2016) “The Messenger is Already Dead,” Stalking Horse Press (2017,) “We’re Going to Need a Higher Fence,” (Lit Fest Press,) and The Vitamix and the Murder of Crows, (Apocalypse Party Press.) She is also the author of a few non-fiction books from a long time ago when she used to work as a fact checker at Rosen Publishing and Scholastic Inc. in New York City and she’d see Ric Ocasek on the subway. She also makes collages, likes to take photographs, and hosts the monthly poetry reading series Today You are Perfect, sponsored by Iowa City Poetry.