SHAZZAR

      I am an all-around writer, so I write poetry, fiction, plays, inspirational nonfiction and more! Please, sample a few of MY POEMS! I plan on being a great writer like my literary mentors who are Langston Hughes, my main literary role model (the Big Sea had a great influence on our lives), Maya Angelou, my inspiration, James Weldon Johnson, a great man who composed a brilliant career, Sonia Sanchez, she reminds me most of my poetic-self, Nikki Giovanni, a true poetic soul , Pulitzer winner Yusef Komunyakaa, a prolific prized poet, Gordon Parks, a true renaissance man like myself, Mildred D. Taylor, she gave me the hunger to create and the desire to teach through my writing, deft Dorothy West, and was the youngest writer of the Harlem Renaissance, a great period in our history, amazingly wonderful August Wilson, a masterful playwright with powerful words, Sandra Cisneros a wonderful writer who wrote my favorite book to teach, Lorraine Hansberry a dramatic literary star who burned bright, J. California Cooper, a master of the short story, Zora Neale Hurston, a master of poetic fiction, Toni Morrison, winner of the "Nobel Prize in Literature"! Regal Richard Wright, truly a great Black writer, powerful Paul Laurence Dunbar, a pioneer of poetry, Young Adult writer Walter Dean Myers, we share the same creative inspiration to write and express our literary voice, Virginia Hamilton, my first inspiration and the first writer I ever met, and Octavia Butler opened a world of Science Fiction to me! I also admire the great Mark Twain, he was a charismatic writer and a complex character of life! Charles Dickens believed a loving heart is the truest wisdom! My goal is to become a great writer and give honor to those who came before me!

      Reading books allowed me to widen my horizon and see beyond my line of sight through imagination since I was a child. I’ve read countless books of prose, poetry and drama, but these titles stand among the most profound. “The Inspirational Study Bible” by Minister Max Lucado! This book was a catalyst to my spiritual life. I discovered it over dozen years ago in a thrift shop of an auto salvage yard. It was new, but only priced at a couple of dollars. Someone’s trash became my treasure and I read it daily. ”Acts of Faith” by Iyanla Vanzant was a foundation of daily enlightenment through spirituality and culture when I was a young adult no longer a teenager. The Complete Works of Langston Hughes, since I was a child I’ve admired the all-around writing creative talent of Langston Hughes whom I consider my foremost literary role model. The Books of Maya Angelou, besides Langston as a foremost mentor to my own creative talents there is Maya. She once held my hand and prayed for me when I gave her a poem titled "MaYa ANGELou" (My Angel)! I love the complexity and culture of the "Novels of Toni Morrison", a writer truly worthy of the "Nobel Prize in Literature"! I grew up reading the Novels of Mildred D. Taylor, she taught me everyone has a story to tell. I love the theater, so I love the Plays of August Wilson, my all-time favorite is “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”, focus on the future and not be imprisoned by the past. The first play to have an impact upon my life was "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry. My all-time favorite short story is "My Baby" by the dynamic Dorothy West, which is a soulful story of love and loss. Zora Neale Hurston created a cultural treasure with "Their Eyes Were Watching God". The best coming-of-age novel to envelope in the sublimity of nature is the poetic "Gloryland" by Shelton Johnson, which honors the Buffalo Soldiers of Yosemite National Park. Two novels that instilled in me the power of the pen as a young teenager were ”A Choice of Weapons” and “The Learning Tree" by the great Gordon Parks. The Novels of Charles Dickens always teach important lessons about life. ”The Complete Poems” of ethereal Emily Dickinson have always inspired my creativity and imagination. The Novels of Octavia E. Butler immersed me into a world of cultural science fiction. "Fahrenheit 451" by science fiction legend Ray Bradbury is a visionary tale of self-discovery and my favorite fiction novel to teach. My overall favorite book to teach is one that combines fiction, nonfiction, poetry and prose together to create a unique story of hope and finding one’s own voice titled "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros. Another story I love to share with my students comes from the autobiography "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by the amazing Harriet Jacobs; another autobiographical novel that had a powerful effect on the importance of freedom to my life is “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”. W.E.B. Du Bois’s "The Souls of Black Folk" helped lay the foundation for the struggle for Civil Rights Movement. I admire people who can evolve into a better person through their conflicts, so “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” inspires me along with a novel that mirrors Malcolm X’s search for identity titled "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison. "Black Boy" and “Native Son” by Richard Wright explored poverty and race in America. The novel "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd will take you on an emotional journey. ”To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a brave Bildungsroman novel that deals with racial injustice in America. The Writing of Edwidge Danticat will allow you to walk in the shoes of the people of Haiti. “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck is a novel of stark beauty and realism. Last but not least is "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare", the first great writer of Modern English! Reading allows the reader to travel anywhere and experience anything their imagination dares to visualize! To be a great writer one must first be a great reader. I read so I can write; one day I will write The Great American Novel!

      I love music, especially GOSPEL (Gospel Flava)! Let's give honor to Negro Spirituals that started it all! Serene Karen Clark-Sheard from The Clark Sisters is one of the closest things to hearing an angel sing and my favorite soloist! Gospel ingénue Kierra Kiki Sheard is continuing The Clark Sisters legacy! Dynamic Dorinda Clark-Cole is the anointed evangelist of The Clark Sisters! Faithful Kirk Franklin is a hero to gospel music! Terrific Tye Tribbett gives God the glory through his music ministry! Radiantly beautiful Radmilla Cody brings culture & spirituality to music as a Black Native American! Dynamic Deitrick Haddon and Voices of Unity (listen) a young minister and choir that takes gospel to a new level. Speech (Arrested Development) is a founder of spiritual hip hop! TENNESSEE by Arrested Development is my all-time favorite rap song! Gospel Hip Hop's all-time best is John Coltrane who created the greatest jazz album of all-time "A Love Supreme), a magnum opus to God who is Love, K-Drama will get you fit to run the race for Christ! Lyrically blessed Tems her music takes me back to my ancestral Nigerian roots! Futuristic Janelle Monáe takes music into a new realm. Nigerian siren Nneka brings Africa to the world. Lecrae spreads the Gospel to reach the people on the streets! Kendrick Lamar the greatest of all-time? Magnificent Solange whose music is more soulful than her big sister! Kinetic Kelsey Lu who makes music that mesmerizes! Jazzy Jonathan Butler is a true worshiper of the Lord! Lovely Lizz Wright, is truly a breath of fresh air to the world of music! Euphoric Esperanza Spalding is a beautiful siren who gives hope to the jazz realm. Sublime Emeli Sandé sings from the soul. The great John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" is an amazing album and spiritual journey! The Benjamin Gate are my favorites in Christian Rock! Marvelous Nicole C. Mullen sings about how our REDEEMER (video) lives! Sublime Santigold is simply surreal! Group 1 Crew is musically diverse, lyrically relevant, and culturally engaged for Christ! L'essentiel Liz McComb brings majesty to gospel music! Divine DeLeon Richards, one of my first gospel music loves! Spiritual Minded KRS-ONE, Hip Hop's Teacher turns Preacher! The Queen of Gospel music Mahalia Jackson is truly the greatest gospel singer ever! Pastor Shirley Caesar is one of the greatest gospel singers of all-time! Crystal Lewis has been one of my favorite singers since high school! Minister Marvin Sapp sings about God's grace & mercy! Check out some cool Gospel Rap & Hip Hop at Rapzilla, Christian Hip Hop worldwide! For some British flava check out U.K. Gospel! Get ready and let's go to Gospel City! Want to hear some gospel music that'll touch your soul? Visit Nuthin But Gospel Music & Ministry Connection!

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"AMEN"

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