I'd like to welcome you, welcome you all
to BSA presents Georgia Me. [Applause] Okay, so a
little background Georgia Me has been awarded several honors
for poetry for just poetry alone, among other things.
She's a peabody recipient. Um, she's been
honored for the Tony award and her show, which
has been a part of first season's HBO Def Jam
poetry session won televisions and coveted Emmy award. She
was also awarded the Savanna Spoken Word Festival award,
Best feature. So please welcome um, join
me in welcoming Georgia Me. Also there's tea and soda.
So please please welcome get everything anything you want,
How you all doing? All right. I am
so happy to be here and we're gonna have a
crunk show. How many of y'all have ever seen
me before raise your hand. Okay. How many
of you have never seen me before raise your hand.
Okay, so I am totally free. I
don't know where you are in your life, but
I thank God everyday that I'm alive. I have
God's will and I live in America because I have
freedom of speech and I can say whatever the fuck
I want to say whenever I want to say it.
Now will be appropriate. Ain't no kids here,
but we all grown. So we good. Right?
Okay, now this first piece I'm gonna do
for y'all it's about my city. I was born
and bred in Atlanta, Georgia. Nobody from Atlanta? And,
my city has a reputation for being uh known for
strip clubs and crunk, but we are so much
more than that. We are the origin of the
civil rights movement. I went to the same high
school as Martin Luther King Jr. and that being the
case, yes, he lived in my neighborhood, and shouted
like with zone one. So um, I just
wrote this poem because I wanted the world to know
about Atlanta. When you are a black girl, black
child in this in America, you don't realize how
blessed you are to be from Atlanta. In Atlanta
we have a black mayor, our sheriff is black,
our police chief is black. We go to
Booker T. Washington high School, Frederick Douglass high school,
Benjamin E. Mays high school for some of y'all
who don't know who those people are, those are
very prominent uh powerful black people. We ride down
Andrew Young boulevard, make a right turn onto Xernona Clayton
Way and head up to Martin Luther King and then
make a left onto Ralph David Abernathy. You understand
me? So it's nigger land. You understand me?
It's just, it's just a beautiful thing to
know that you can do anything. Like on our
career day, you have philosophers and professors and doctors
and lawyers, but there are no white people.
So you're not stifled by the stigma that only white
people succeed. So being from Atlanta I always felt
there was there wasn't anything I couldn't, I could
do. I mean like if I wanted to go
to the moon, I felt like I could. You
feel me? Martin Luther King was enough! You understand
me? Like shouting like when brothers be like, "the man
holding me down, the man holding me down." Look, like
you the man. I don't understand what
you're talking about. You're holding yourself back? That's
what you're doing? So this poem right here,
is called The Promised Land. If Brooklyn, ain't nobody
from Brooklyn? What? Hold on. Wait a minute.
I'm sorry. Wait a minute. I done been
to Scotland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
When I say Brooklyn, somebody always say something. I'm from Manhattan. That's
That's Good. No, you know, New York rep New York.
You know what I'm saying? So I just
I'm just used to a book book or something,
you know when I say that. Okay, if Brooklyn,
is the heart of America, Atlanta gots
to be the sole. Were are you from?
Gots to be the south. No doubt. You
can tell by the flow of my mouth. My
southern twang, distinguished disposition, superior manners in earth
intuition. The feeling of home whenever in my presence,
for I reek of the essence of Atlanta.
My whole life was right off Martin Luther King.
My whole life. I sang We Shall Overcome.
I knew I was one, one of those who would
go down fighting most likely through my writing and speaking
continuously seeking truth, letting my folks beware but never
afraid. Cause destiny is laid knowing all you can
give is showing others how to live. I learned
that from King. Such a simple thing. Living
with no fear. I was fed that right here
shit, how the hell I'm gonna be scared? My
grandmother's grandmother was a slave. Rape and rear current resignation,
no one could save her, stop her from
engraving survivor on the road she paved. Four generations later,
I stand unscathed. Called me brave, but
it just runs through my veins. The pain and
the triumph of Camille Bell. I remember the killings
in the A. T. L. There was
blaming this kid named Wayne but we ATL's would
claimed to the klan for most of those slain. Stone
Mountain where the Ku Klux was created. Now invaded
with the flow Nubians and Mexican natives where other kids
stay jaded. We stay elated off the excellence of
Monica Kaufman on channel two. You never know how
she's gonna have her do. I saw her one
year. This would all been festival. You know
the famous avenue where Ebony's about? The church is
located. Never been in real hard to get through
A. T. L. We love Dr. King
the king family, Another issue. And who knew
a city that feels like a neighborhood to host the
olympic games. I'll tell you who, Maynard Jackson and
Andrew Young. They did the damn thing. See
being from here, I knew I could do whatever
I wanted long because I had a plan C.
Being from here. I knew I could do whatever
I wanted long because I know I am. See
being from here. I knew I could do whatever
I want. As long as my mission. I
understand. I thank God I'm from the promised land
A. T. L. Thank you give y'all
a little history lesson. How many y'all ever heard
of Atlanta's missing and murdered Children. Four people In
the summer of 1980. 25 black kids turned up
missing. Some were found. And when they were
found of course they were murdered And to this day
is still a mystery because they can't account for the
kids that got killed after wayne Williams went to jail
. So obviously he didn't do it. But no
, they had to put it on somebody. How
many y'all ever heard of a uh an ingredient or
I want to say in an ingredient it's a part
of our D. N. A. It's black
people. Especially black men, it's called Interferon.
Look that up. Y'all need to take notes while
I'm up here. I'm just letting you know.
I'll put you on. That's what I do.
You know what I'm saying? I can't help it
. I'm just a nerd. So everything african principles
is what each one teach one. Do not post
the whole information for yourself that defeats the purpose.
So like I said I'm a nerd right? Yeah
but I don't look at it as a bad thing
. I look at it. It's like a great
thing like that. Many people can't bullshit me.
You know what saying they think they can talk to
me about something and I know what you're talking about
. You better make sure you know what you're talking
about for you come holler at me and being from
the hood. You know, people always put limitations
on you. They think you have less intellect,
less breeding less character. But as a child of
God, I'm limitless. I'm not defined by what
you think. But what I know, I don't
give a damn what you think Most people I am
only marginally intelligent. I'm not saying you in here
. You know what I'm saying? You all are
learning. I just hope that you use your education
and not just be full of education. That's what
I find a lot of educated fools got 7° and
stupid as fun. But anyway, so this poem
right here I wrote because my ex boyfriend said I
was too ghetto for him. No, but you
know what I'm saying? I like I like I
talk like this sometimes I get krump and stuff and
I got shot. You know like my my Westside
come up at me, you know, But you
know I got the five second rule. You all
know the five second rule is see he country.
You know what it is? Five seconds you dropped
some food. You got five seconds, pick it
up kissing up the guard, understand me? I'm
not missing my snack. Hello And and really you
know as black people and that's my white friends in
here. We've been uh, we've all been Hoodwinked
, you know this right here, all that stuff
we do. That's language and cosa it's a south
African dialect and it's absolutely beautiful. Some things we
do innately people, we don't even know where it
comes from. Like the dances then the ancestors,
y'all know, beefing it up, y'all beefing up
up here. They never busted the shiver. You're
saying that that that, that, that, that
train, y'all don't know nothing about that. That's
all that is lean with it. Rock with it
. That's the usher rock. That's how that is
the usher rock y'all Ushers don't do that in the
church or maybe that's just black churches. See what
I'm saying? I was just beginning it boy,
they got a whole drill team, you understand.
So a lot of things that we allow people to
put on us, they don't know where it comes
from, but you need to know where it comes
from and you need not be defined by that this
piece right here is called ghetto Bella Bella as in
beautiful in french, you know because I'm international and
ship. Uh huh I wrote it because I am
so grateful to be from the hood. I'm so
grateful to God that I was raised on the west
side of Atlanta because it prepared me for the world
. I never believed that I was less. I
thought I was prepared for anything. So this piece
is ghetto bell, I'm gonna sing a little bit
now. I don't know what's going on. Like
just I just started all this. I don't know
what this is, but I don't really sing.
I just sing for the Lord because he don't care
how it sounds. You know, y'all care about
pitching. No, I ain't just scott. You
understand me Cause I'm a ghetto bell straight from night
85. I have my business. Well fuck you
pay me. I try so I cannot fail,
fail. No, my*** said I was a
little too ghetto said my slum nous. I just
couldn't let go. He liked me but his requirements
. I hadn't met though. Then he realized my
mind traveled from vine city to Soweto blessed with little
limitation. Knowing my location had valuable indication of my
elevation. Understanding my relation to blacks, Greeks and
Haitian shows my worldly view though the times I had
been outside the dirty south was less than two.
I'm a ghetto bell. I'm a seeker of heaven
though I have dwelt with those of hell, Love
to sleep with the constant busting of shells awakened by
the blowing train on the rails. I will be
successful though. The world expects for me to fail
. I'm a Georgia, peach o'Grady baby, A
southern belle. I was raised to say yes ma'am
, respect my elders. I know how to eat
at the table. I want you to open my
door, Help with my coat, take my bags
if you're able, God blessed me with the mind
that is somewhat stable. So just because I'm from
the hood doesn't mean you can fill my head with
fables. So you assume my doom because ignorance looms
over together like a cloud of dust from a sonic
boom. But jewels shine bright like the new day
. The jews and lost souls finding our way who
feel like no one's trying to hear what we say
. We're around every corner, the devil's dead,
a slave. We fight. Sometimes. Other times
we run away trying to survive. So we have
somewhere for our heads to lay. Well, unfortunately
, temporarily crime does pay, forgive me father,
we walked these streets every day, we pray.
That's where I come from. That's where my heart
will stay though. The epitome of the stereotype shit
I don't want to display. Yeah, I say
shout out to everyone I know learner, catch it
over here, pop. That adds to the age
of nine, not for cash, just for sure
. And just because I can break it all the
way down. Don't mean I'm a ho I chop
up words when I talk a country ghetto flow,
only speak proper english when speaking to the ceo,
make sure we understand the rolling on my door so
the system is determined to keep a bit of pol
, don't underestimate, I'm not the so called average
negro C. I know it hurts their ego to
see I'm not with someone, believe me to be
a cracked out unemployed criminal who drained society instead before
you stands. The queen one whose mind is serene
, understands my lineage is supreme. When I step
on the scene, I actually bang, Ding ding
, ding, ding ding or set off a globe
waving around, don't think or believe they know that
bitch is the ship where the rock and the snatch
back ponytail, afro puffs. A natural twist.
Could give a good goddamn. If a hater tries
to disk, you hate me cause you ain't me
my ask. You can kiss. I try to
keep a gentle nature. But if I get pissed
your face, I'm a bus with my fists.
I had this right here. So to those that
hiss, I blow a kiss. See I know
through my room, all things come to exist.
You know why? Because I'm a ghetto. Bet
y'all can catch the elves help me out straight from
1980 west side ho Zone one. I handle my
business with fuck you pay me. I try so
I cannot, Oh, I want to keep me
down, but I'm heaven bound. I'm from this
dirty. So I don't suck around. I got
so much game. They call me Georgia me,
I bring the light so my folks can see that
you are not weak, but also strong letting everybody
know what's going on, shout out to my people
baby. Just hold on. If you're feeling me
, come on and sing along on because I'm a
ghetto. Just try y'all just catch it straight from
that Blackbeard V. Tech V. I handle my
business where fuck you pay me. I try so
I cannot fail. Thank y'all y'all. So cute
. She's like, I'm gonna catch all the oils
. I'm gonna catch all the oils. I love
that piece for so many reasons. Don't let anyone
define who you are, no matter what your race
is, no matter what your sex is, no
matter what your economic situation is, you are not
defined by one aspect of who you are. That's
a time. That's a moment. And don't allow
anyone to do that to you. You know?
Dream killers. They are rampant and it's your fault
. If you let them kill your dream, that's
their job. Damn God damn grandfather. They dream
their job is to kill yours. So you must
be aware of that. I tell my friends all
the time, your wealth is in your relationships.
So if you got miserable people around, you need
to run, you need to be like, this
ain't on you for my safety, for my self
preservation, for me to exist. We can't be
friends, feed him with a long handed spoon as
my grandma would say, you can't sit at my
table, you can eat around the corner. I
learned from jesus. I ain't gonna let Judah sit
beside me funk that he was jesus. He knew
all. I'm just his little sister. I don't
know all the ship he knew. So I'm like
, I'm gonna learn, jesus ain't gonna let Judah
sit beside me. That's what it is. I'm
not as good as him now. If you and
my crew and you betrayed me. Mhm. I
am God's child and there shall be a wrath upon
you. So this next piece I'm gonna do.
It was the first piece. Um Did, it's
not the first piece I ever did, but first
, no problem. I'm talking ain't no big deal
. Hand yourself you straight? Okay cool. Um
My friends, I worked at a job called gallop
y'all y'all know about the gallup poll According to 70%
of Americans, approve of Obama those polls. I
was the girl on the other end making those calls
which taught me statistics don't mean anything because I was
the one who would go. I'm sorry ma'am.
You're not a demographic fit? You don't make enough
money to do this poll. Oh, I'm sorry
ma'am. You didn't have you don't have enough education
to do this pole because we asked those questions before
we even start to ask the questions, we asked
, what's your race? What's your gender? What
level of high school, What level of education did
you go to? How much money is it?
25 to 35. 35 to 45. 45 to
55. This is what we have? Oh I'm
sorry. Are you republican or democrat. Oh I'm
sorry. You know what I'm saying? Like this
is what we did. That's what I was like
why the, has the ship failed? If we
can just count people out, it's because the people
who pay for the pole want the result that they
want. So I know that, but I love
gallup because it showed me a whole bunch. It
showed me um, well, Which is winning others
over. You have to win these folks over to
have them do a 14 minute survey. You know
what I'm saying? Like that's what you got to
do. But it also put me in a place
to be around some very powerful, amazing college people
. This was when I was in college and it
wasn't just my college was students from all over Atlanta
and they were, everybody was going after their dreams
and one of my friends perfect bit. Her name
is Alicia. She is, she speaks chinese and
spanish. She went to Spellman her hair down here
and it's hers. She's like a size nothing.
She's and she's cool. You know what I'm saying
? Like you could be at least lane, but
you know what I'm saying? She's just perfect.
But anyway and I'm glad God put in my life
. She said Tamika, that's my real name.
She was like, you need to go read that
poem because I read it to my coworkers. You
know what I'm saying? You do that kind of
thing. I'm like, girl, you got to
say this ship and find nobody? And I'm having
me judging me. She was like, no,
I'm telling you, you need to say this.
You need to do this at the poetry spot now
being from the hood. I have no idea where
the poetry spot is. But you know when you're
in college, there are things that are available to
you that the rest of the city just don't know
about. So she told me about this club named
Mecca. I went there shaking paper in my hand
just about to lose it. And um, did
the poem after I finished the poem, Sister came
up to me standing ovation would not and I was
overwhelmed. They're getting on my nerves. Um,
she said, I'll put some clothes on when I
go to the club and I'm looking at her like
what the hell is she talking about? And she
said, I put some clothes on when I go
to the club because of your poem. And it
was at that point that I knew I had the
power to affect people positively or negatively and I could
really move them to do what I wanted in the
world. My poetry is my weapon and my wealth
. So this problem right here is called sister to
sister. Now some of you might feel indicted,
don't feel indicted. You too can walk away from
horde. Um, it's just a temporary place.
You don't have to stay there. You don't have
to stay there. This poem is called sister to
sister. Okay, why must you show your ass
? Why not have some class? Do you want
to be lusted after or respected? And you wonder
why real*** reject you? Do you ever wonder
what a sister be thinking? What she in the
club shaking her as drinking, drinking and shaking to
her ask is fucked up. But then she stuck
when she looked up on a*** that just don't
care. He wants to cut up and pull out
that hair. She wears a blonde, we'd teased
about four ft style and a fan. Got it
done by a***. She claiming her man.
But if she got a man while she in the
club letting*** molest her. She thinks that she's
love is not love is lust, but she wants
that attention. She needs it from men I never
knew her daddy had to mention. That's a clue
to why Real***. She never knew. Well
, her lovely self death. No telling for a
man what she'll do. She'll shake, she'll smile
, She'll lie. She'll fuck, she'll drop,
she'll lick, she'll swallow. She'll suck*** can
see this by her demeanor. He shows her some
interest so she's eager. He's not concerned about how
to please her. He'll use her even though her
resources are meager damn schemer. But when you look
and act like a whole, you'll get pimped you
being played for a fool of sucker or simply letting
these fake*** blow you up like a blimp.
He never wants you for his queen. Just attempt
now take that$60 to the pink fox and get
your, we've crimped you don't realize and it's right
before your blue eyes, how you have been brainwashed
, even hypnotized by tv, video picture show and
other hoes to be similar to the devils who ain't
even on your level, trivial things aren't way like
gold. My sister, the true jewel is your
soul. But you said it busting your as to
get a shirt by BB Some cloth with four letters
across your kitty just to impress people who aren't a
good character, paying$140 for an outfit when you
only got 200. That's a factor. Your priorities
are all wrong. But it won't be long before
you wake up. I hope you will like this
because you can't cope with being yourself 24 hours a
day To be you means to be different. Too
big of a price to pay. Well, think
about the cost of freezing your assets off in the
cold in line, waiting an hour and a half
to get in that club 559 with a skirt right
below your butt cheeks, sister, shake their head
brothers holler freak. If you ain't cutting, I
ain't speaking, he ain't speaking unless you're freaking,
he'll hook up with you next weekend to sit and
chat and spit some game you like him and figure
, hey, he's not a lame so you suck
him and don't know his full name when he doesn't
call you back. You feel ashamed. I've been
there my sister, I feel your pain sister.
The sister look at her, she's out there like
that looks really cool. What are they doing in
there? Come on in, come during the show
, come enjoy the show. Alright, eat your
food, eat your food. She's like, what
is that? That looks neat now. Some of
y'all, I know some of y'all like how does
she know my life? I remember being in college
getting dressed up to go to class. That's freshman
year bullshit though by sophomore year, you should be
over that. If you're still dressing up to go
to class, there's a problem. And there's someone
who just like to dress, you know what I'm
saying? Like they got, they get up an
hour early to put the makeup on and the whole
nine power to you, you are gonna be a
trophy wife, know that you're putting the work in
. I'd rather own the trophy store me personally.
You know what I'm saying? Like I want to
be no trophies, trophies going on the shelf and
I forgot about don't be an acquisition ladies because what
happened to acquisitions they get traded, you do the
choosing don't just get plucked like no flour, that's
some bullsh it, that's 50 years ago. We're
not doing that. Make sure that they're honorable and
that you, if you're gonna lay down ladies,
make sure that you're doing it. Not that you're
trying to please him. Trying to be approved.
Don't want to lose him. Please bump all that
. There's plenty of dick on this planet. I
understand that he ain't the only one. He ain't
the last one. And I'm telling you take it
from me. It gets better. You're like,
he's the best guy I ever met. 20 more
*** better than him. So yeah, I'm just
saying. So this next piece as you all can
see now that speech I just heard was the piece
that got me on def poetry. I've never done
that piece on there. Poetry. Never live your
life with regret. I do what I want to
do within the confines of the law to, to
a certain degree. It's gonna be legal song.
But anyway, excuse me. But um, when
I got chosen for def poetry, I didn't even
know I was being submitted for def poetry. I
didn't know, um, I met a brother trying
to find out how to do poetry outside my city
three years later, he calls me and says,
you're still doing poetry at this time. I'm captain
of the Atlanta team. We headed to Seattle for
the nationals. I said, yeah, I'm really
doing it now. He said, send me a
tape. You got some other people that's good.
So I sent my whole slam team in. We
didn't because that poetry was like the gooch. You
know what I'm saying? You didn't really know when
it was gonna happen if it really existed or whatnot
. You know, we're just like whatever we've been
hearing about this ship forever. And um Out of
3900 tapes with several people on the tapes I got
chosen. Out of 3900 was like 40 people got
chosen. So sister, the sister, what you
all just heard is what they was excited about.
They were like, she'd admitted Jackson and poetry and
I was like who the is Millie Jackson? I
don't know who that was. You know what I'm
saying? But then I learned I was like okay
that's a compliment but I'm not doing that. And
I was like what are you doing? I said
I want to do this. And I was like
, well that's not what we picked. I said
but you don't like it. And I remember when
Russell came in he had some old tofu grass looking
ship he was eating, I was like that sh
it looked nasty. And he was sitting over to
the side and you know when Russell Simmons come into
the building after he worked for him, he don't
have this effect on you no more. But when
he first sees his brother like I've seen him on
tv my whole, you know what I'm saying?
He's just like oh my God. So I went
on stage, it's a sound check and I did
it and they loved it. And from that point
on I was like, I'm never gonna deny myself
or regret live life with regret. I don't want
to second guess if this is what my heart tells
me to do, this is what I'm gonna do
. So this piece right here I wrote um as
you see, I've been over£200 since I was
10. Like I went straight from looking like a
little girl to a school teacher. Do you understand
me? Like it just was bad. Like people
thought I was a substitute and shipped like it's just
not right. You know what I'm saying? And
there ain't no cute clothes when you're that big.
So I walk around with blazers, you understand me
? My Mama wrong my momma wrong. She was
like, that's how we can find the future.
You know what I'm saying? So, but I
was never the big girl that was like, oh
what was me? Don't, nobody asked me,
you know that girl, I don't know them big
bitches. That's not big. That's asthma. That's
bronchitis. You understand me? That's not big because
I know little girls that run out of breath,
You understand me don't think because you're skinning you in
shape. I know you can't make it to the
end of the block. I know. So um
Mhm This piece came from just me being in this
in this vessel and dealing with people's ignorance is and
their and their judgements of me and the cruelty that
I've endured, but how I never allowed it to
define me and I'm so grateful to God. Um
this piece started because I've always always work in the
community if you can people all the talk, you
know, all the liberal guilt, all the edges
when you get your college degree and like what can
I do for my people volunteer volunteer mentor, do
something, don't complain and not be a part of
the solution. Don't waste your degree. Just on
a job, share your knowledge. Okay. Just
had to say that cause most of y'all motherfucker's graduated
. Don't never think about doing that for nobody else
. So, I just have to say that.
So, I'm at the why I'm a counselor.
I just finished swimming eight laps. I just finished
swimming eight laps. Atlanta is hilly. I'm going
up a hill. I just finished winning eight laps
, sumbitch, lean out her car and say lose
weight. Mhm. It's okay. A pussy's thinking
her mama don't like her notice. She can't read
or something. You know what I'm saying? Like
she just got demons. You know what I'm saying
? So, so what's messed up is I go
home. Like I go, I go I go
to my house, I called my best friend a
mirror and I'm crying she has somebody move, y'all
want to sit right here because y'all peeping over the
thing like she moved out of the way. So
y'all come sit right there, come on in the
room. Oh, I like them shoes. So
um so I called my best friend a mirror and
I'm like a mirror. I'm crying. And she's
like, what's wrong? What's wrong? And I'm
like, I was at the way and I was
swimming eight laps and I'm not talking about like Just
like this into my one to you feel me.
So really, essentially 16. I'm just saying so
, so like I swear eight laps and she was
like, you swim a lap. So I'm like
, you can't even swim eight laps. And so
she's like, what's wrong? I say this girl
, she, she's leaving out the car and she
said lose weight. That's my best friend, We're
gonna run out of that hole, We're gonna find
that bit. We're gonna send a search party out
for a whole, we don't know do you understand
me? But the problem was I gave her the
power to define me and from that point on,
I've never allowed it, like if you call me
fat first off, that's not an option. I
know what I am. So you are telling me
you want to get bust in the mouth, that's
what you're saying. You can say big, you
can say grand, but you can say to a
skinny person fat and they're gonna crumble. You know
those are fighting words but you're doing that because you
hate yourself so much. You want me to feel
as bad as you do. So this poem right
here, the first poem I did on def poetry
and because I did this poem, I got the
most correspondence emails, letters, phone calls because I
went with my heart and Russell was like, I
like that. I like that. You know that
*** lying. But anyway, he is, Yeah
, I'll tell you all that. But he's great
. I'm so grateful. I learned so much from
Russell Simmons everyday. His knowledge seeps into my head
from back. I couldn't receive it. As young
people, let me tell y'all something right now don't
do what I did. Don't be young and arrogant
. You think you know something because you've got degrees
and you supposedly got together and let you get a
car in the house and you really think you got
it going on. No, constantly learn and be
humble constantly. And even in front of people you
are intimidated by be still listen, shout out to
Russell Simmons lame man. So this problem right here
is called full figured potential. Mm hmm Fat girls
Blues, which I'm going through today. Lord have
mercy on my first time wearing this dress. You
know, it was something the first time you wore
it, right? You don't, you don't know
how you're supposed to go. I ain't figured this
out yet, but I'm, I'm gonna get it
together. Thank you. I love y'all. Thank
you. No. And two young and should get
me locked up. We go. It's my choice
. Whether I win or lose, won't be subject
to your shallow views. God has blessed me with
the good news. Love yourself No more fat girls
! Blues out of money. Looking for a snack
. Yeah. Then I see little Debbie's face on
a pack, smiling, enticing me. Invited me
to have a taste with haste. I raced to
the destruction of my waist as the sugar sets in
. So does it disgust. I feel wishing I
had the power of wheel or hoping someone would kill
this gluttonous monster which rules my eyes, which is
bigger than my stomach. So we fill my belly
with pies and cakes, buy products, additives and
other shit. It's hard for me to quit,
sweetheart. Quick hit. My diet includes fried everything
, all kinds of pork. People asking if I
had been visited by the stork. See it looked
as a sin to be fat without Children or a
medical condition. So it leaves the girl fishing looking
for an excuse to stop the abuse I endure every
day in every way. The ridicule and personal shame
, unwanted attention and fame from the group of young
men who holler big drawers. Big trouble as I
passed by, I start to cry. The wind
drives my eye, but nothing can heal the scar
left on my esteem, praying this ordeal is a
dream better at a nightmare, for it's too hard
to bear this constant scale as my reality. A
complete disregard for humanity. Not seeing as humane more
like insane or having no self control. She can't
even pass up a jelly roll, not seen as
beautiful. Look at the folds and gut the sale
like thighs and out of shape, but not seen
is strong. She can't go long. She'll be
down before the end of the song. My personal
demons are hard by themselves, comparisons the pigs,
elephants and whales. You might look at me and
see lazy and weak given no second thoughts that before
you an angel may speak. You can't see the
beauty besides the pretty face. You can't see the
walk from my heart which provides a safe place or
home where not only Love Rome's for myself and others
, where the light has not been shown. See
, I realized that more than a body I have
a spirit in mind which through divine knowledge told me
it's about time for me to love who I am
and decline those devils who try to steal my joy
. I'm conquering my phones like the battle of Troy
and with the same spirit, I make the world
here. It's love who you are, be the
best, that you can be, your spirit will
soar, the whole world will see your strength,
your beauty and your heart. The ignorance of others
won't pierce like a dart that dogs who worship aesthetic
little pathetic life, no substance, no feeling self
inflicted strife. If they can't see the beauty of
my soul. I know I'm beautiful in the eyes
that God beholds now. See I know at times
I may get knocked down or even doubt my ability
but I look in the mirror and say I'm wonderful
with humility. Now we're supposed to respect everyone with
different choices, beliefs and Hughes but who gives a
damn about a fat girl's blues? Thank you.
Yeah, go to my website Georgia. Meet the
poet. Check out some other stuff. Thank you
all for stopping by because they weren't even playing.
They just stopped for me. They're just walking through
like let's sit down for a minute. So um
oh let me get out of the business out of
the way. Was that twitter Georgia me facebook Tamika
Georgia, me harper. Not Tamika harper Georgia me
it's full. So Tamika Georgia me harper if you
wanna be my friend on facebook that's my other page
. But my phone number is 678 82. Game
one. Gang G. A. M. E
. Is there enough numbers. What my cards say
? Hold on. Yeah that's it. 67882 game
one. Yeah I'm not saying I'm now you can
call me anytime after the view that means noon and
on. Don't be calling me while Whoopi Ammon.
I don't do that And I'm up till after Wendy
Williams on B. ET So you can get me
at 1:00. I am a minister. Seriously.
This gift is not just about writing and getting up
before people and speaking, that's great. I've been
doing that my whole life. I could be a
toastmaster and do that. You know what I'm saying
? But with my poetry, I have a direct
result that I want. I want people to be
free. I want to not be defined by where
they're from or allow people to pigeonhole them. I
want women to respect themselves and know that the respect
comes from you first. I don't care about Nicki
Minaj. You know why? I think she's a
dope emcee. She chose her path. But I
don't think that objectifying yourself as a woman is something
that we all should do. But horses have made
, I mean, come on now horses are necessary
. I'm just saying horns make you feel good about
yourself, don't they? I'm just saying, I
feel good about myself every time I see a hoe
, I swear to God, I feel virtuous like
the households of Atlanta. I swear them bitches made
me feel great. Do you understand me? Because
you can have, I don't care all the households
of Beverly Hills, Orange County, New Jersey because
they have so much and feel so bad about themselves
and you ain't got sh it and you can walk
around and be happy. I feel good. I'm
just saying they can barely pronounce, loop it on
first off, you stupid, you stupid don because
your assets buying shoes for some red paint, use
a stupid, but I'm just saying, and there
are, there are custom shoemakers and like be real
G about like, if you're gonna get, you're
gonna pay five stacks for some shoes, get them
custom yours, like nobody else in the world can
have them. That's some dope ship, but it
has something that everybody else got just to say you're
doing it. That's lame as hell. So,
I look at them in the housewife with, there's
no, not, they ain't housewives, they just
hose, hip hop, the love and hip hop
, hoes my esteemed must be through the roof.
My friends say I'm wrong for that, but I'm
like, instead of being mad at, I look
at it like soap operas, how many y'all look
at it, like soap operas, you don't even
know what soap operas are. Yeah, I remember
all my Children and all that stuff that used to
be on. That's how I look at the reality
tv. I read a lot. I know too
much conspiracy ship. How many, y'all ever uh
seen esoteric agenda or zeitgeist. Okay, watch hidden
colors to go online and look up hidden colors.
That's some old oh my God, but see I
walk around with too much like that, so I
need them households because otherwise I would just jump off
a bridge, you know what I'm saying? Like
when you know the truth about America and our system
and our society. Oh my God. So I
need many of them to help me forget just for
a minute. So um, this next piece I'm
gonna do, I heard it's a favorite, a
young lady over here, ladies, I would rather
be and a live ho than a dead good girl
. You're something you're like, I don't ever want
to be a whore that's in my past life.
Last semester, last semester was my whoring days.
I've been going to the chapel this semester. Yeah
. Okay. Oh, now on with the peace
, y'all so silly y'all making me laugh. I
wish this was some Hennessy. But anyway, for
your protection. Yes, I ain't sucking no more
*** without a condom and y'all know, I ain't
gonna stop sucking***, no matter how cute,
how fine. No matter how the conversation blows my
mind, no matter how many whips they roll,
no matter how many bills they fold, no matter
after promises of commitments, no matter the money he
spent on my rent, no matter how dope he
is. No matter I got his kid, no
matter the fake reading ceremony in bed, Funk as
***. No matter if I believe everything he said
, no matter how good it feels to have it
raw and reel, this latex will fit the bill
. No matter if he gets offended. I don't
know if he's been rear ended fledged packing, living
double lives or just experimenting Now. I recognize you
should know the one with whom you lay. That
doesn't discount the times we swayed cause the swoon at
the possibility of a stab to the womb mounting of
the general exchanges of energy cut session, making love
fund buddies, whatever you want it to be.
I still ain't dying over. No dick. I
don't know who a*** been with. You know
, they lie when they say they can tell.
Mhm. I had to do it again. And
though my soul may go to hell for carnal copulation
and unwary cohabitation, I shall not break the first
rule of nature, which is self preservation on this
reserve. There's no game you can shoot. I've
heard all the lines. I won't end up living
proof. I know how to have sex girl.
Obviously not. You're not even prepared to begin.
Well, good. And let me stick their head
in. Not happening. Pre com travel just as
good as a full load. I see myself with
only you girl that's having kids down the road.
Your clavo wants is an annoyance because it seems you
want to get in your way. Stop selling your
wolf tickets. I ain't buying today. Who you
fucking with girl talking about me what you got?
I got some sense and who else? I'm fucking
ain't part of this plot. It's definitely not a
concern to you. If it is. Why are
you so willing to have an unprotected screw futile attempts
at reverse psychology, insulting my intelligence. All designed
to hurt me, but nothing would hurt more than
the announcement of having HIV. I know I was
fucking you wrong. But now there's a new law
. No glove, no love, no hat,
no cats, no banana with a pill, no
monkey. Maybe a feel. I understand this conflict
, but safe sex shouldn't be a question. Remiss
of race, orientation class braun or behavior. There
is no detection. It's not about trusting anyone.
It's about me honoring my reflection. Don't just strap
up for me, but for your own protection.
Thank you. Thank you. Like, Hey,
y'all get these cards right here. You have been
here a long time. So y'all take cards.
Take some cards with you. Go check out my
site. Tell your friends and stuff spread the world
. Youtube baby. You've been here since the beginning
. So you get a card too. For y'all
leave up out of here. Thank you. So
, um, I don't know how much time I
got. I could just talk for days. Y'all
know me well tonight. No, she don't talk
to me on the phone. She didn't expect all
that. We're having life conversations and ship. Um
, how much more time I got you mean?
Okay, not until 8:15. Okay. Okay.
Okay. I just need to know. I just
don't want, I don't want to do you know
what I'm saying that overstayed my welcome. That's very
in southern. I am very Southern. Okay,
so this next piece I'm gonna do for y'all ha
It's rather racy trying to decide if I'm gonna do
it in front of these babies. Okay, now
, now, now this is the thing, see
y'all babies though, so y'all gonna be bashful because
this is real. Okay, now this this is
a group piece that I do with them. Some
of the ladies of Adam's rib, Adam's rib is
an all female collective. I have uh when you're
in this poetry game and women, when you get
in this game, most places you go, it's
gonna be usually less women. And so a lot
of times women compete, but I want to impart
upon everybody in here, ladies pussy ain't got no
face waste of race. It just feels good.
So you ain't got no reason to be competing with
nobody. Never fight or argue or have dissension with
any woman over a man, you lame as hell
off gate, you will bust a bit off back
because he can make his decision as to who he
want to be with. That ain't for you to
be up there fighting no female over that. That's
just unacceptable ratchet nous at its highest. So this
piece right here is an empowerment peace and like I
said, I do it with these young ladies and
Adam's rib. What is that noise girl? You
know I hear that noise. You act like,
who is that was that, jesus? What was
that she was listening to. It's all good.
She listened in the future and ship I? D
Love and affection. Uh, Adam's rib. Adam's
rib is an all female collective of some of the
best female poets in the country because when you are
a female in this game the same and particularly the
man try to pit you against each other, they
say stuff like you the best girl or you the
best out of all the girls***. Then I
beat you in every slam this year. I think
I'm better than all you guys to some best period
***. What the is wrong that I, you
know, I have to bring myself back, you
know, so Adams read was formed and I,
and I've always been a girl's girl and a guy's
girl. I've never had problems with women. Um
, I still have the same friends from first grade
, every friend I've ever had, still my friend
. Every time I make a friend there still here
, I'm just like, my mom was like,
you have too many friends and I'm like, I
don't, I don't want them all, you know
what I'm saying? But it just happened, they
just keep, they just say so, but Adam's
rib consists of sunny patterson. If you notice people
raise your hands, sunny patterson. Go look up
emerald green Teresa, the songbird. Tasha jones,
Scorpio blues ruckus out of Denver, dana Gilmore?
I know y'all college has got no dana Gilmore.
Damn, I'm putting these beaches on. They need
to pay me um, um, Israelite from Brooklyn
and queens. Sheba, Y'all ain't never heard of
Queen Sheba. Of course it's Virginia. That's her
home. So anyway, we come together, we
do shows, we, we help each other out
and it's all because I have this, this theory
, miserable bitches hate bad bitches unite. Well,
beautiful because Tasha would kill me. She don't never
use the B word. She's like you around here
like that, which made Matthew over the corner one
beautiful. Like every time you come out your mouth
, why she gotta be a bitch's Georgia because she's
a bitched Tasha. She's a bit, she's like
, no, she just misunderstood funk that, that
ratchet ho is something So um, this piece right
here is done with me, Teresa Emerald and ruckus
and Tasha had a verse but she dropped out because
she just ain't used to doing around three poetry.
She was like, I just don't feel comfortable.
And then she had sent all her poetry to her
pastor, which are you gonna send some ships like
this to your pastor like that. Yes, she
did. So, um, I'm gonna say it
and you all are gonna repeat. Okay, now
I'm gonna say it twice myself. So y'all can
catch on to what it is. Okay, Some
of y'all might have seen this on youtube. It's
under that section. That ain't what it's called.
It's called Ride. Reid me me me. I
want to ride your face. I want to ride
your face. I want to ride your face.
I want it from the back. I want it
from the back. I want to hear my name
. I want to hear my name cause there ain't
no Shane. My fucking gang almost caught one almost
. He coming in. Oh, you're looking at
a we went from giving it up to taking it
from my own ego. No, not ho more
like conqueror. I'm the one fondling. You never
had a woman with so much aggression. I'm pressing
. I desire your strength. Your hold, Truth
be told. Lifetime made would be great. But
I just want to fuck you. The smile got
me off gate match with dimples a bit. You
could sleep in and then and then and then had
the nerve to walk in dragging like you packing I
believe because your slacks ain't slacking behind. Not lacking
fact is a woman knows whether or not if a
man can make her hot. Don't worry about finding
my spot. I'll make a map. Become a
surveyor. I'm pervading for the perfect osteria, prominent
protruding penis. Partner got the meanest the meaning like
you like yourself. At least. I hope you
do know you're worthy of this gift. This prize
. This trophy. Just some men's point of view
. You think you fucking me now. Sharky.
I'm fucking you. I let you believe mission achieved
. Not trying to deceive. I just need to
relieve myself from some of the stress, a distraction
from the daily trials and you happen to be the
best candidate to catch my eye in a while.
So don't call file. You just didn't run this
play. Don't get mad that you ran this way
. I summoned you over from across the room licking
my lips. I know what you assume. So
. You persuaded me to go gaze at the moon
populated by the ancestors ruling Orishas. I'd be all
your right now we're not soon bullshit like wind.
I start gentle like the breeze kissing on your neck
. I feel the buckling of your knees staying strong
baby. I haven't even ruffled the trees, sucking
on the loads of your ear, your hands find
their way to my rear, I push you back
, grab your belt, caught off guard, You
look for help under siege, but you don't mind
the capture Jacking your dick with my jaw, feels
like the rapture after the eruption you fall over your
body. I begin to crawl. I struggle your
pride for a monument to ride as I catch my
stride, your eyes and mouth open wide fucking me
, You moan inside confusing all over your face.
You grabbed my waist to slow my pace. I
didn't know a big girl could be this flexible.
Yes, this pussy is impeccable, feels so good
. The taste is delectable. Betcha this pussy is
edible, trying to turn the tables. You flipped
me on my back, spread my legs and begin
licking my cat. You think you're in control?
I knew you would do that. Most male egos
can't withstand the thought of a woman having the upper
hand though in this deal. No one loses.
So why be concerned with who chooses? We both
reached the climax both with a kool Aid smile.
Then I thought of that pass up in the air
time for doggy style. You get all riled up
and raring to go. Another indicator as to who's
running the show me men talk themselves out of the
postseason. They talk up on you think it's your
game. You better thank the patron. The gray
goose canvas create absolute Hennessy kush. Perc drove whatever
it takes or allows me to call you baby and
boo. You think you fund me? No shorty
? I fucked you. I want to ride your
face. I want to ride your face. I
wanted from the back. I want it from the
back. I want to hear my name. I
want to hear my name cause there ain't no shame
in my fucking game. I now I like to
a lot of time for questions. Mhm Let's see
what time it is. Oh yeah, Well we
got enough time for me to answer a couple questions
. Anybody got any questions, comments, concerns,
period about anything. They don't, I'm born and
bred Atlanta Georgia 80 s. Are you hip and
ship anybody else? Don't be bashful as free as
I've been up here. Uh Are you serious?
I'm southern and you southern to, you know,
a southern woman. Don't tell their age. You
are beautiful. No, I'm 37 years old.
I have a 13 year old son. His name
is wisdom, Wisdom and Sheila harper king. And
when he was four years old, he said,
mom, don't call me wisdom. Don't call me
, I don't wanna be called wisdom no more.
And I was just devastated. This*** told me
called him the greatest At four at four. This
is the kind of Ego idea where he's 13 now
. So he just oh my God. And he
wears size 12 shoe. That's true. four dimples
and shipped like. Mhm. I've been telling my
son since five hoes. Ain't ship. Do you
understand me? So, but that's my plight to
raise wisdom. Any questions, comments concerns about,
you know, I was on broadway. That's true
. I'm sorry, wait a minute. I want
to bring up this brother to do some poetry.
He drove me up here And if y'all ever in
the Richmond area. So you better say something cause
you know, I just keep on going um in
the Richmond area. He is a staple. He
had several might. So y'all you know, go
check him out on facebook um twitter him and his
partner. They put shows on in Richmond and maybe
they'll be able to put one on up here.
Put your hands together for choose the poet. How
you doing? Yeah. Uh that's funny. But
this is one of my item. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. So we was blessed
. I happen to be friends with one of her
dear friends. So that's how the universe works.
We got to talk and she said I can bring
Georgia down with Que 5 6. Okay. Just
like but she's definitely been oppressing to me. So
I'm Michelle before. It's like I walked this road
before but I'm not sure. But some would say
I should be c'est divorces in my head and I
know it sounds crazy but it's it's like they gave
me a key in. Now I see now I
see the future of me the weed But lesson after
lesson I'm reminded that I'm still incomplete like that decoration
and independently took those souls away from me. See
with the it was the screams that woke me in
. Now I see now I see dispute me the
we walking over the standards of the 3/5 love once
in a visible wall but not tall enough to hide
the great secret to show why I be a spark
in the eyes of a toes and fuel. Yes
. One million strong men and women voices and harmonies
saying now I see now we're gonna see dispute beyond
the gates bars and fences. The count towns and
miss visit this place to change you if you let
it a new birth of deception is mounted on the
backs of the broken. I guess some things should
be spoken, regurgitating their lives that made these true
self evident. The time is systematic. The desire
for a real change is lacking in the valley where
the dry bones where they drop bones, they sleep
, john holden stay sleep. Now I see now
I see huge through the eyes of the ancient They
have painted the will that they thought so. My
mentor. Yes. Evolution, evolution is what I've
been through and I'm honored to give thanks because now
I see, I see future hold up. Why
should I be ashamed about love by existence? It's
true prophecy. See, my life, it hasn't
been that much. The true and dangerous species before
martin Luther king's dream. It was a nightmare.
Not on Helm Street, but on Richmond Street.
See we was the 100 before America's most wanted.
You wanted, you could get it just twitter,
you're thanking the senior homes, drink abusive drinking,
leave your mind is wicked. 100 years of tension
has changed. My range of emotions like the ocean
where means of died just for a ride of others
. A noble sacrifice for their rights. Just to
be free experience. You know what I mean?
I guess not because you have lost your backbone in
your house, has never been your homeland or mother
after. Please help us because we have lost that
way. Is it me or is my mind going
crazy with the band being talent in the mind to
make my mind confused by the way we lose.
Don't be surprised. It's time to fly to the
greatness of our ancestors. I hope you hear me
. Maybe future is yours to mold by any means
. No, I cried tears late at night.
Thinking of having your tub despite there's something that sounds
right. Yeah. To your autonomy. No,
I focus the home. Yes. You see Eve
She was the independent one. But the dependent.
OkCupid and drawing strength from the balcony of the day
dropping and thinking of it. Now picking up the
thinking of the heathen child is just not my mother
africa the richest of the ritual walk called natural switch
for resolution because now for revolution in the streets,
society and the suites whatever happened to words like family
humility. Yeah, I guess it's non existent together
. Thinking being black. It's all about the paul
. Right. When the did it. Yes,
I'm finished with you. Thanks rosa Parks at this
stage. The bomb and the four little girls set
the race Malcolm X did in my name. Don't
be ashamed if the light came from the dark.
Doesn't it make the dark the essence of the truth
that the light manifests economics was the reason then.
And the reason. Just look around. Mhm Yeah
. Yeah. Was the streets that maybe facebook I'm
gonna tell y'all something. The poetry world has a
very diverse group of people. You know, that's
the killer right there. I want you to know
that right now. You know what I'm saying?
That***, I don't know if you're killing that
. But no, seriously? Like real talk people
think that everybody in the poetry world that, you
know, it's all, you know, love peace
and hair grease and I shake and all that.
A lot of people do porches, porches so they
don't know, murder people. They don't walk around
here just, you know, like, I know
I just be slapping people are burning back then the
head of state when he's just walking through the airport
. There's so many people, I want to do
that too. I just swear to God, that's
the best thing in the world. I love that
thing. So, y'all gonna know more about this
poetry where if you all like me and some of
the names I gave you, look these people up
let them know. Tell other people about the poets
that you like because our art form has not been
defined. That's why everybody think they can do it
and everybody not good at it. And you need
to understand that there's a difference between professional and aspiring
. Do you understand me***? You just got
here. You already vocal. I mean, it's
all good. You know what I'm saying? But
you could have been here for the show. But
some other part How many, y'all ever heard of
Black Ice? Um some other people, y'all want
, y'all to look at this brother, his name
is will the real one. He's no longer with
us, but he's one of the best to ever
do it. He was murdered outside his poetry spot
in Miami. This is real. One of my
friends. This ain't no game. Like we live
our lives doing this. Like when you're a spoken
word artist, it's not just sometimes at night you
sit and write, you wake up doing this.
If you're not writing, you're working to find a
way to work or you'll find a way to diversify
as George and me. I have lady Girl productions
where we put on productions. Um, I brought
, I've produced a show of Saul Williams coming to
Atlanta. I've done passion and poetry at center stage
. I've done several, several shows, but I
also have a tv show that I just wrapped in
december. It'll be every, every week on Youtube
signal 23 starting um, in May, I didn't
tell y'all, but I have my own day.
Like really my city gave me my own day.
So May four is Tamika Georgia, ME, Harper
Day and we, you know what you do when
you get a date, you don't know what the
hell to do, you know? So I was
like, we're gonna read pray and turn up.
So, um, what happened was, we decided
to have a fair called Tamika Fair and it went
from a two day fair to a three day festival
to afford a festival to an eight day festival to
, it almost killed me last year. We back
down to five this year. And this is the
fifth year and we're honoring um, escape. We
was honoring candy, but now we're honoring the whole
group that you took too long to call back.
Okay. So we're honoring Escape and we're honoring Goodie
mob and we're honoring this um, this man named
Freddie Hendrix. He has a school and he's taught
so many Atlanta youth acting, singing and dancing,
Y'all know d woods from danity Kane. She wanted
his um, students. Mika means you ever heard
of her? She, she ain't all that.
But anyway, she ain't shot. Like I'm so
unimpressed. But, but Robbie, if y'all get
a chance, go on Youtube and see this brother
named rob B R A H B. I when
I say he prints on 1000 I am not joking
like Erica when she comes to Atlanta, she has
him open for her. Do you understand? That's
how good he is. He is so amazing.
He's one of his students. So we want to
honor my favorite teacher last year. MS linda smith
every year we honor an educator or a teacher or
someone who makes a difference to the community. And
um, it's the Tamika festival. So if y'all
can't come this year because y'all probably got finals or
whatnot. But this year's april 30th through May 4th
next year, it's the last, it's usually the
last day of the last two days of april the
first week of May. And when I tell you
it is five days of not just poetry because we
ain't just gonna do poetry. Now. I've got
friends that sing. We've got people like Killer mike
, Rodney, Perry O. D. Odell,
uh algebra blessed. Um, So many Malika.
There's so many different artists over 60 artists over five
days. Um we have all female showcase, all
male showcase. Uh town hall workshops. What's the
dopest thing about this year? This is our 5th
year and the first young lady who received the hood
scholarship. I was telling some of the people how
everything is an acronym for me. The hood scholarship
is my scholarship and it stands for hope. Overcoming
obvious destruction. The first recipient graduates this year.
Not only is she graduated with a 3.8. So
I was just saying that right quick. But we're
also premiering her movie that she wrote and directed called
accepted on college homelessness. She bad. I love
her. She's like my daughter. Uh but everybody
become my daughter. Once you get a scholarship,
I gotta make sure you graduated, I just can't
be giving out money and you don't do sh it
, you know what I'm saying? So uh so
um in this year's recipient, she don't even know
. It was always surprised. Nobody ever knows who's
gonna get it, I'm sorry. Um, nobody
ever knows who's gonna get in this year. The
young lady, I know she's gonna be so surprised
, but she was spitting poetry in my front yard
at the second year, the Tameka festival and she
don't even know she's getting a scholarship this year.
Once she got accepted to Howard, I was like
, that's it. She's getting the money. So
it comes out of my pocket. So if you
want to donate to the Tameka festival, you can
go to Georgia, meet a poet.com and make
a donation. 10 cent. I don't turn down
nothing. So, um, but yeah, that's
the tomato festival. Make plans like, oh,
it's not gonna stop. It's just like the essence
festival essence festival in july Tameka festival, First week
of May, you know what I'm saying? So
just think about that and you're making plans on your
, you know, whatever you're gonna do, I'm
telling you have a good time. And the tickets
are very reasonable because I want the community to come
. Everything is in the community. So any questions
comments before I get out of here concerns about anything
at all. Yes, ma'am. Get my card
and I'll tell you everywhere you need to go cause
some always popping in Atlanta every weekend. Huh?
Um, that's just one aspect that's just like the
last thing if you don't find nothing else to do
. You got, we got, yeah, we
got 50 strip clubs. Yeah, we do.
You like strip club. They got good food in
the strip club. I don't care about no bitches
you know so you know you get like 20 wings
for$5 where you gonna get that at you know
what I'm saying? So that's my reason but there's
so much to do. So you call me get
my card and I'll tell you what's popping. And
it's always something popping with poetry. And if you
don't wanna do poetry wanna do concerts. Always somebody
coming through. It's always something to do. Period
. That's my city. You know we just had
to find a form. It's always crump. Yes
. When did you start right At eight years old
Where? No I was at a camp for poor
kids. You know how you had but I don't
know if y'all know about this because they don't cut
out all the programs in Atlanta in Atlanta. We
got a, what is it called? I can't
think of what it's called but it's um summer some
accounts And all the different parks and recreation and you
pay$8 a week. And they teach all the
little ghetto kids seriously. And I thank God every
day I learned how to tap. I know jazz
. Uh I can do a split. Like I
learned everything. You got$20. I do a
split right now. I swear my hand. I
just ain't gonna be doing no split just for recreation
but you've got$20. I will drop so fast
my inner a just come out like that, you
know. But um, and so my, my
drama teacher gave me Nikki Giovanni, y'all, how
many, y'all don't tell Miss Giovanni class. None
of y'all. So um, well she's my idol
. She's the reason why I write and I was
giving ego tripping And when I read ego tripping,
it was over with, I was born in the
congo. I walked to the photo crescent and built
the Sphinx. I designed a pyramid so tough that
a star that only glows every 100,000 years falls into
the center giving divine perfect light. I am bad
. I was like, like I was eight years
old and everything just went off on me. I'm
like, this is fantastic. of course my work
was nowhere near hers at eight years old, but
That's what started it. And then I really started
writing, writing. I was 11. I've always
been a speaker. And you know, when I
was younger I was like, God, I want
to be Maher Luther King Barbara Jordan's tupac and mary
J blige all together and I think I accomplished that
. I just gotta get me a trainer so that
I could be like mary, you know, mary
muscular and shit any other questions, comments, concerns
. Yes ma'am. I went to Atlanta Metropolitan College
and now I am enrolling in ST leo's university online
to go ahead and get my last little couple of
credits because right, right, while I was in
college is when my poetry popped off, right.
When I was in college was like, hmm,
am I gonna finish this or am I gonna hit
this road? And that's what happened. And then
russell limb came and it was just over with,
I was on the road from that point on.
Yes sir. No, I wrote better than my
professors. They told me that. They told me
that. So, you know, the junior college
, I guess I should write Yes, ma'am.
Does it take actually like makeup on? I look
, I right by the desperation or inspiration. Um
, inspiration is gonna be one sitting. That means
it had to come out, desperation is something I
want to write on so bad and I got to
keep pushing it, gotta keep pushing it. So
sometimes a piece, you can start a piece and
then not finish it a year later. You know
what I'm saying? But um, usually two hours
, about two hours when you keep you ain't got
no interruptions, you know, and it's rare.
Only time I really get the writers when I'm on
the road in the hotel room because I can't write
at home, my mama, I'm sister, I
mean me, I'm neighbor, I'm, you know
what I'm saying. I'm mentor, I'm Georgia.
So if everybody, every part you can think of
them being in my house stayed at my house or
come by my house. Any poll, every poll
of elders, the every favorite poet you got from
salt the ice to sue hair been to my house
. Yeah. That's why I need a reality show
. Because the world don't know about these amazing people
in poetry. They don't know that how you can
make a living, how you can make a difference
during your poetry. But you've got to be righteous
. You can't make no, you cannot make money
in poetry. If you're unrighteous, you can't.
You got to be right. Your word has to
fit your character. That's the only way. I
just thank God every day that I treat people how
I want to be treated. And then I tell
you this all the time, I don't really want
people to treat me how they want to be treated
because I don't know if you love yourself or not
and a lot of folks hate themselves so you hate
yourself. I don't want you doing nothing with me
. You know what I'm saying? So, but
I've been, I've credit pretty great karma. That's
why I tell people all the time as a poet
, you get paid in ways that man can't see
the fact that you know, y'all heard that poem
ghetto bell. When I say from vine city to
Soweto, my mind travels from city to Soweto,
um, poets always ask each other what you got
going on, what's doing what you're doing what you're
doing and I would just always say I'm going to
Africa and they'd be like, when I'm like,
I don't know, you know what I'm saying,
but I'm claiming it, you know, I'm going
to Africa. So then I felt like I was
getting on God nerves so I quit saying that.
And right then two months later I get a call
from South Africa to come do a festival one in
Johannesburg one in Cape Town. So I'm gonna be
there for like two weeks, a little over two
weeks were not right? So I go to Johannesburg
, every black person in here, get your as
out of this country, just let you know,
I don't care where you go, but go Africa's
first if you can, but just get out of
the country cause I mean you are loved everywhere.
It's like this skin right here is the*** pass
, I'm telling you in London and Scotland and Australia
people just gonna come up to you. Black americans
. You know what, I'm just gonna come up
to you because they can tell by your white tennis
shoes that you're not from there. They feel like
they know you from somewhere. Then you talk,
I'm from the south, they would go black american
south martin Luther king cast, that's, that's how
they would do me. So anyway, I'm in
Africa and I'm doing, I'm one day I'm at
a village, uh teaching another day I'm at a
school another day. I'm doing tv. So then
the show comes, I'm doing the show and I
go from vine city to Soweto and the crowd just
goes crazy and it threw me because that ain't never
happened. But it was right then in that moment
I realized you wrote yourself here, you were just
in Soweto today teaching. So know that in writing
you write your truth, you write your dreams like
everything like I don't just write to I write to
heal myself but I hope that it heals you.
I write to give myself hope but I hope that
it gives you hope. You know what I'm saying
and that's what your writing can do. That's what
your word can do. Poetry is so powerful.
There's so many, there's so many amazing artists out
here that use their gift for good. So if
you got to give use it to serve God's Children
, you're gonna get paid, get your card.
See please ma'am and I'll be home next weekend too
. Alright, I'll take you around if you want
me to. Okay, well that's down the street
from my house. Yeah, I live on the
west side. Just call me all right, you're
welcome. So um I'm an ambassador, you know
you know how we are suffering. So um I
recognized then that I could do whatever I want in
my writing and it would would come to fruition,
you know what I'm saying for me to write from
buying city to Soweto and be right there in Soweto
prophecy, your word is prophecy. People always think
christ as a person, christ is the spirit of
prophecy, jesus was the person you are christ if
you believe it, if you believe it, I'm
jesus little sister, I know that I don't know
if you know but you better now or Muhammad little
sister or buddha little sister, I'm the son.
Little sister. If you don't believe in the most
high, you know what I'm saying? Do you
believe in good? Do you know right from wrong
? That's all I care about. I don't care
about none of that cause that ain't for me I
got my relationship, you get yours just be a
good person, let your calm and create your world
. People don't just be about money because that ain't
ship that is not nothing in a few years when
we are sitting right here on the metro cards or
using the Amero, how many, y'all know what
the Amero is. None of y'all don't know what
the Amero is. The Amero is the new currency
that's coming. So that Canada Mexico and the United
States all have the same currency. Oh yeah,
so them dollars and she don't mean nothing new?
T mm hmm value each other value skill value.
Talent I'm telling you because when the revolution comes,
I'm looking for the*** that can do some electricity
. You know what I'm saying because the hood is
gonna be lit up now, I'm telling you,
we're gonna still have lights. But yeah, any
other questions comments before I leave up out of here
, I'm going, I love you all so much
. Love each other, be blessed. I do
have these CDS and DVds for sale now that DVD
is um, all of my appearances on def poetry
jam and my favorite appearance on the mo'nique show.
Now I bootleg myself because Russell get$200,000 residual checks
a week. I don't get none of that.
So get all of Georgia me right here in your
hands. They tan questions. I ain't got no
credit card swipe on me. I had a square
, I had a square. The A. T
. M right there. I will sit right here
and wait on you. I sure will. Alright
then he came in late. I'm gonna buy first
. That's what's up. That's how you do