Synopsis
This is a book of poetry and short stories on a wide range of topics directly from the voices of our future. These are the poems of the 8th grade graduating class of Westland Middle School. The topics range from war and fast food to technology and divorce. This is a must read for anyone attempting to grasp what is on the hearts and minds of the next generation!
About the Author
Omékongo Dibinga is an activist, educator, spoken word artist, and Founder & CEO of Free Your Mind Publishing and is currently a PhD student in International Education Policy at The University of Maryland. He received his MA from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and BSFS from Georgetown University. He has also studied at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Morehouse College, and the University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Sénégal. A first generation Congolese-American who was described by Nikki Giovanni as “outstanding, exciting, and new while being very old”, Omékongo writes and performs poetry in English, French and Swahili, and has occasionally used Wolof in his writings. He has released 2 spoken word CDs. The first CD, “A Young Black Man's Anthem: Love, Afrika and Revolution Revisited,” won the 2003 Cambridge Poetry Award for “Best CD”. His second CD, “Signs of the Time,” was released in June 2003. He has featured/lectured nationwide in universities and poetry venues from Harvard to Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit. Internationally, he has performed in South Africa, England, Congo-Kinshasa, Tanzania, France, Cuba, and Canada. His work has appeared on TV and radio from BET to Voice of America in over 30 countries. He has shared the stage with many poetry greats such as Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Dennis Brutus, The Last Poets, and Askia Touré. He has also shared the stage with hip-hop personalities such as Outkast, Wyclef Jean, Reverend Run, Benjamin Chavis, Free, and Cousin Jeff. Omékongo was a member of the 2001 & 2003 Lizard Lounge Slam Team and is a member of the Blackout Arts Collective and Black Scribe Society. He also served on the board of the OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center. His work has been adapted for curricula in primary, secondary, and university institutions across the country. He has released a trilingual book of poetry and DVD, From the Limbs of My Poetree, which has received praise from Essence Magazine, Nikki Giovanni, and The Washington Times. A dedicated activist for over 20 years, Omékongo plans to develop programs that focus on bridge building between young Africans throughout the Diaspora and helping to improve cultural understanding among all races. For more information, please visit www.omekongo.com.
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