Vrondria Billups, Christina Long, Poet Sonia Sanchez & Richard Trojanski Sonia Sanchez
Poet, teacher, activist Sonia Sanchez (at right), with students (l to r) Vrondria Billups, Christina Long and Richard Trojanski.

Award-winning poet Sonia Sanchez at JCU
The Office of Multicultural Affairs last night sponsored "An Evening with Sonia Sanchez, featuring poet" in celebration of National Women's History Month, providing insight into a woman considered among the strongest voices in black nationalism, a pioneering black feminist who fostered "a revolution within a revolution."

Author of 14 books, she has won numerous awards, including the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Humanities, the Women International League for Peace and Freedom Award, and the Poet Society's 2001 Robert Frost Medal.

Earlier in the day it was Sonia Sanchez, teacher, having lunch with a group of JCU students, two of whom read their own poetry to her. "I'm very impressed with you," she said. "And I would encourage you to keep writing." (Indeed, she had the students, Vondria Billups and Christina Long, each read their work at her evening lecture.) "When you first do it (write poetry), hold it awhile, and be thankful," she advised them. "And then go and read it again and work with it some more." Read other poets, too, she advised. "The challenge for the young poet today is, 'how do I write about love, when EVERYONE has written about love?' You must put words next to each other so they appear 'new.' Juxtapose words. Make people believe they've never heard that before ... The language grows. It keeps growing and gets larger and larger. Your duty is to keep expanding it."
Click here to select audio segments of the presentation. (Click here to download free RealPlayer software in order to hear the presentations.)
Sonia Sanchez's presentation consisted of readings from several of her works, as well as other remarks.  To hear each segment, click on the image of the speakers at left.  A word of caution:  In part of her work, the poet deals with harsh realities of life.  Some listeners may find certain content and language offensive.
"Just Don't Never Give Up on Love." (13:57) Selected love poems (9:20)
"Ballad After the Spanish." (2:51) Commencement address, Temple University, 1998. (7:03)
"Sweet Honey in the Rock." (5:26) "The Blues." (9:56)
On teaching, on Malcolm X, and other thoughts.  (5:29) "Middle Passage." (9:59)
"Does Your House Have Lions?" (12:58) Return to Menu of Audio Segments