Going to See My Mother (an Excerpt)

By IBé ● 2013

My son doesn’t care or understand what is going on. Besides, Daddy has been saying bye-bye ever since he was born. Bye-bye at the babysitter’s; bye-bye, Daddy is going to work, Daddy is going to a meeting, Daddy is going to an open mic, Daddy is going to a friend’s, bye-bye, bye-bye. This is just another one of those. My daughter, on the other hand, is nine and fast approaching teen. She understands this “bye-bye” is not see you in a couple of hours, or when you wake up in the morning. So she starts to cry. But tears come to her easily. Just like her mother. I don’t like tears. Just like my mother. They make me uncomfortable. Maybe because I don’t know the right words to say to stop them from falling. Maybe I’ve grown too cynical and practical—tears don’t make it feel better, so why bother. “C’mon, stop that,” I say to her. “I will be back soon.”

Poetry, Happiness and Memory: Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Joyce Sutphen

2013

Poetry, happiness and memory emerged as the dominant themes at lunch on March 20th with Minnesota Poet Laureate Joyce Sutphen at the Humanities Center in St. Paul, part of the Lunch and Learn series. Sutphen’s talk was playfully labeled with alternative titles: “Got Poetry?,” Poetry in Your Pocket,” “Poetry Out Loud,” and “Poetry for Lunch.” In the end, these were really just chapters in a free-ranging discussion that touched on why it’s important to get poetry, to understand it and keep it close at  hand, like a poem in your pocket, something you can remember and recite.

April 25, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Marcus Kar

2013

Marcus started playing music at the age of 12 in a Lutheran church choir beside his loving mother Victoria. He is currently the percussionist in the award winning Xavier Marquis band. He was previously the bassist and vocalist in the bands We Are Awesome, Ron Band, and Dolphins of Tomorrow. Born Marcus Glay Kar in Liberian West Africa and raised in South Minneapolis, Marcus grew up with a wide range of music exposure, developing a great wide appreciation of music. Some of his influences include (but not limited to) Roky Erickson, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and of course, Prince.

April 18, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Marie Chanté

2013

Chicago native Marie Chanté learned early on that stories are powerful and whether heard or unheard, everyone has one. As a child, her voice was sometimes hushed, but she knew writing would save her life. As an adult she stands on the stronger side of vulnerability and shares her joy of storytelling with all who will listen, through Spoken Word Poetry. She now lives in the Twin Cities with her three sons.

April 11, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Mic 101

2013

MIC101, also known as MICONE represents the Golden Era of Hip-Hop. Growing up in the heart of Chicago during the 1980s, he was immersed in all of the elements of the then emerging and awakening hip-hop Culture. MIC101 toured with DJ Kool Herc and Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers. MICONE expanded his experience through academics, pursuing a BA in History and Statistics from the University of Minnesota—Morris. MICONE embodies the spirit of the hip-hop culture’s diversity as he tells his unique “from the streets to college” story through music and other forms of art.

April 4, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Kyra Calvert and Writing Workshop

2013

Kyra Calvert: brown girl human, writer, and art historian. Accolades to mention, yet never worth mentioning. Recognition comes from a fictional god who is the spirit-child of Toni Morrison and Prince. Brown girl believes in real God, too. Known for never-ending wordplay and crooked faces. Respected for metaphors that come out in spit bubbles that resemble purple rain.

March 28, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Mayo

2013

Born and raised in Englewood, Ca. Mayo Gardner, 22, began writing poetry at 9 years of age before moving to the Twin Cities. Tired of having emotions such as loss and grief built up inside, Mayo took to poetry as a means for a positive outlet. Seeing his talent early, a homegirl of Mayo's asked him to promise her that he would take his writing seriously. You can say he's holding up his end of the bargain.

A Civilized People

2013

I take a seat at a corner table facing the window. A blustery spring day. The mutter of cars and buses as they pull up to the stop sign. Western Avenue, once the city limit back when little farms lay between St. Paul and the milling city of Minneapolis.

March 27th, 2013: Sha Cage presents “The Blacker The Berry” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

2013

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the sixth in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota's capital city. This long-anticipated reading by 25+ of some of the most prolific women of color in the Twin Cities is curated by Shá Cage. Cage has traveled widely to areas such as Canada, England, Africa, New York, Bosnia, France, and more, teaching and performing her work that largely centers around topics of identity, class, cultural celebration, and home. Cage has invited the women to speak around a shared theme, "The Blacker the Berry." Expect laughter, deep thought, community engagement, knee-slapping, and finger-snapping.

March 21, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with K.Raydio (Krysta Rayford)

2013

Krysta Rayford a.k.a. K.Raydio was born in Evanston, Illinois, and moved to Minneapolis in grade school. Her mother was a singer and guitarist and her father was the son of a blues musician. Rayford graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2010 with a degree in Communication Arts. Shortly thereafter Rayford attended an Erykah Badu/Janelle Monae concert in Chicago, which inspired her to overcome her longtime stage fright and pursue her passion for music.