Headline: Voices to give artworks visual life Forum: Art to Art Palette (Journal)                                Edition: May 2011

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW -  http://anotherview.tv/post/Young-Authors.aspx

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aresilientyou/2011/02/07/right-rewarding-relationships

Pictured left to right: Nathan Richardson, Host Tim Kelley, Nancy Kinzinger, and Debbie Hill

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHOW: http://suffolkva.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=500

HEADLINE:  Poetry, Prose & Pizza Open Mic Event Oct 15     FORUM:  The Chesapeake Examiner   EDITION: October 10, 2010  AUTHOR:  Easter Dodds

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE:  http://www.examiner.com/poetry-in-chesapeake/poetry-prose-and-pizza-open-mic-event-october-15

HEADLINE: Hampton Roads Writer's Festival - A Success   FORUM:  Hampton Roads.com   EDITION:  September 26, 2010 AUTHOR:  Phylis Johnson, Poet/Author/Freelance Writer 

CLICK HEAR TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW -  http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/community/thrs-studio-audience-9-15-10

Headline:  Poets Nathan Richardson and Genoalogist Drusilla Pair - Talk Finding Your Roots        Fourm: Another View - PBS /WHRO TV Channel 15 Edition: August 16, 2010 Host: Barbara Hamm-Lee

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW -  http://www.anotherview.tv/post/Genealogy.aspx

HEADLINE: Richardson goes International  FORUM: The Suffolk News Herald  EDITION: Saturday, August 14th, 2010   AUTHOR: Tracey Agnew

Click here to read about Nathan's Performance in Tornoto, Canada!

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2010/08/14/richardson-goes-international/

Click here to read about Nathan's participation in this event!!!

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/aug/13/supporting-healthy-lifestyles/

Click here to read about Poet Author Nathan M. Richardson's participation in this event!!!

http://aahgsnews.wordpress.com/

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW -   http://www.anotherview.tv/videoplayer.aspx?file=119.mp4

 http://www.examiner.com/x-14609-Richmond-Books-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Poet-Nathan-Richardson-discusses-poetry-performance-and-publishing

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Headline:  Nathan's interview on Book Talk & Familiy Matters with host Anjuelle Floyd

The show based in California showcases author's of all genre's. Nathan talks about poetry and spoken word.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN !!!    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anjuellefloyd/2009/02/28/book-talk-family-matters

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Headline: Events at PDCCC Help Celebrate Black History Month, Forum:  Tidewater News Dot Com

E-News magazine  EDITION:  January 14th 2009 Writer: Kira Christenhusz

Click Here to Read -

http://www.tidewaternews.com/news/2009/feb/06/events-pdccc-help-celebrate-black-history-month/

 

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN !!!-  to Nathan's interview on The Renee Bobb Show based in Richmond, VA

Nathan & Renee diecuss a wide range of topics including self publishing and Nathan's participation in her upcoming writer's conference.

  

 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thereneebobbshow/2008/02/13/meet-a-published-poet-with-passion-nathan-richardson

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Headline:  The Voice of the Seven Cities   -   Forum:  Portfolio Weekly  - Published: January 15, 2008

Click here to read Nathan's poem - "T is for Tapia" 

 http://portfolioweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&

id=50B6D93ED8D348E98457AFC2BF87A37B

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Headline: 3 from Suffolk among ALLI Award Nominees Forum: The Suffolk News Herald Edition: Sunday, October 1, 2006 Author: Lauren Wicks; Staff Writer

From the mastermind behind the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center, to one of Suffolk’s most decorated poets, to a visual arts outlet on Main Street, this year the city has been the recipient to some of the regions highest praise. They are nominees for this year’s ALLI Awards.

Held annually at different locations throughout Hampton Roads, the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads ALLI Awards recognize businesses, professional and volunteer individuals, who have made outstanding contributions to the regions arts and culture industry. All ALLI Award recipients are selected by a panel of judges drawn from the municipal arts commissions throughout the region.

Suffolk’s Betsy Brothers and Nathan Richardson are nominated in the individual category. Brothers is credited for creating the idea of taking the emptied and closed down Suffolk High School and turning it into a cultural Arts center. Richardson is nominated for his years of work with the Suffolk Museum and Arts League and his continued advocacy for poetry. Other individual nominees include Jim Abicht, who founded Smithfield Music and volunteer time to further the organization; Kyra Cook, who is a founding member of the Historic Triangle Art Marketing Task Force and member of several boards and commissions; Thomas A. Felton a volunteer who has provided many years of volunteer services to numerous arts organizations and the Virginia Beach Arts Humanities Commission; Baron and Ellin Gordon whose years of interest in folk art evolved into a vast collection that will be part of a bequest to the new gallery at Old Dominion University; Michael and Juliet Kirby for providing pivotal leadership to This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg in education and expanded programs.

Also nominated are Sharon Owen for efforts in managing the Gallery of York Hall; Winthrop A. Short Jr., a long and dedicated board member of the Virginia Symphony; Cpt George F. Watkins, president and successful fund-raising on behalf of the Virginia Children’s Museum Foundation in Portsmouth. In the category of outstanding businesses, the Shooting Star Gallery is nominated for its role in revitalizing downtown Suffolk though the visual arts. The gallery is competing against architecture company, Hanbury Evans Wright Vlatts & Company and probono media creators, Metro Productions.

We’re probably one of the smallest one on the list, but we made it, said Brenda Wright, owner of the Shooting Star” It is an absolutely fantastic way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Any art gallery that lasts 10 years is a great accomplishment,” This years ALLI Awards are made possible by generous support from Northrop Grumman, WHRO public broadcasting and several individuals. The ALLI Awards ceremony is open to the public. Nominees and winners will be honored at a program and reception at the new Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. At 4 p. m. on Sun, Nov 5.

Those interested in attending may make reservations by contacting the Cultural Alliance at 757-889-9479 or visit the organizations website www.culutralli.org. Admission to the 2006 ALLI Awards is $45.

Suffolk poet and author of “Likeness of Being” is making several appearances around the state this month. He recently read at the second annual Heritage Festival at Barrett’s Landing Park in Franklin. On Sat, Sept 16 he will perform at the 2006 Earthdance Peace Festival at the LOA Campgrounds on General Booth Blvd in Virginia Beach. On Sept. 17 he will be the master of ceremony at the 18th Annual Staunton African Heritage Festival at Gypsy Hill Park and on Sept 26, he reads for the Golden Rejects Writers Group at Tidewater Community Colleges, Chesapeake Campus.

Poet-Author-Story-teller Nathan M. Richardson will appear at the 18th Annual Staunton African American Heritage Festival. The two day festival attracts African-American art, food and entertainment from all over the mid-Atlantic Untied States to Gypsy Hill Park in downtown Staunton, Virginia.

Nathan is the author of the award winning collection of poetry “Likeness of Being”. As a veteran of radio, television and stage performances all over the country, Nathan will serve as Master of Ceremony for an excellent line-up of entertainment at the festival on Sunday, September17th. He is renowned for his unusual combination of gifts in memory, vocabulary and wit and brings the written word fro the page to the stage in the grand tradition of our most famous African American storytellers.

He has read with such noted authors and actors as Nikki Giovanni and Melba Moore and his poetry has been adapted to music and theater. A native of Suffolk Virginia, Nathan’s poetry has it roots in rural Virginia and has been greatly influence by jazz and gospel music.

To learn more about this rising literary star, log in at www.scpublishing.com. For more information about the 18th Annual African-American Heritage Festival contact LaLuara Wayland at 540-886-0520 or Thelma Newman at 540-886-3040.

Iris’ Art Studio in Poquoson will host author Nathan M. Richardson at its monthly, Last Saturday program, set from 3-5 p. on July 29. Richardson who has been called a “renaissance man whose work speaks to us all, is an award winning poet whose works have been published on the book “Likeness of Being”.

Likeness has gained national literary acclaim and it along with the CD which accompanies the book, have been nominated as the 2005 Book of the Year by the National Underground Spoken Word/Poetry Awards. The work also received the 2006 literary award from the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association during the 23rd Annual Hampton Road AFR’AM Festival.

One of the book’s best know poems “Weapons of Mass Destruction” has already found its way to the stage. Old Dominion’s Governors School for the Arts will be performing WMD as part of a play titled “Walking with Walker”. The play which has a cameo appearance from Nikki Giovanni will open at the Attucks Theater in Norfolk in February 2007 before tour Virginia.

Another work from Likeness of Being - Aggie Pride has been adopted ay the Aggies of North Carolina A & T University as the anthem of pride poem during graduation week at the University. Richardson performed the poem before more than 800 students at their 2006 Graduates Breakfast and will return for repeat performances in the future.

Richardson is the co-host along-side poet and author Synnika Lofton at one of the longest running poetry open mics in Hampton Roads, the Java Junction Coffee shop.

Iris’ Studio is located at 402 Wythe Creek Road in Poquoson. The Last Saturday program is free and open to the public. For more information call 757-868-4205.

The Southeastern Virginia Arts Association maintains its forward momentum following the 2006 AFR’AM festival, with a very successful Floating Docks Art and Photography exhibit. This marks the third year that Kay Collins has organized the juried exhibit which showcases the talents of artist and photographers. The Floating Docks Exhibit opened on Friday, July 7th at the Hunter Hogan Gallery at Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School on Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach. It continues through Saturday, July 29th . The gallery is open 8 a.m. until 4 p. m. Monday through Friday.

The opening ceremony included music by Tom Parker and poetry from Nathan M. Richardson author of the book “Likeness of Being.” The music and poetry were related to the theme of the exhibit, Floating Docks. The winners by category are as follows; Adult Painting: 1st Place, Lorraine Turner, 2nd place James Owens, 3rtd place Canee Parker, Adult Photography: 1st place Ernest Lowery, 2nd place Kay Collins, 3rd place Canee Parker, Guest Artist included Robert Davis and Donna Smith.

The pride of this years exhibit were entries from art students at Norfolk State University. Winners in the student category were 1st place Jeremy Carrington, 2nd place Tavis Barnes and 3rd place Hector Stallins.

SEVAA is striving to increase its students membership and is committed to promoting the artistic talent of youth throughout Virginia. If you have a student who shows talent in music, theater, arts, literature or dance please contact the southeastern Virginia Arts Association at www.sevaa.org.

Suffolk author Nathan M. Richardson was one of the six men and women from Hampton Roads area honored during the 2006 AFR’AM Festival. Each year AFR’AM begins with a literary arts and awards gala. The southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA) uses the event to recognize outstanding individual accomplishments and community service. The keynote speaker for this year’s gala was Patrick Bass, book editor for Essence magazine.

Richardson has recently appeared at Critteden Middle School in Newport News, the Sankofa Festival at Constants Wharf Park, The Ted Constance Center at Old Dominion University and Corondo Middle school in Norfolk. He is the author of Likeness of Being.” For more information about Richardson and his work visit www.scpublishing.com

This month’s Voice Box column features a local poet, spoken word performer Nathan Richardson. Nathan and I spent a Sunday morning together playing some basketball and conducting this interview.

Nathan is 44 years old and was born and raised in Suffol. He recently released a combo CD and book package called “Likeness of Being” The contains 52 poems and the CD has 17 poems from the book. It follows his first release “Nathan Live at Langley”. He is the founder of Spiritual Concepts Publishing company. You may have seen him at one of the many venues where he’s read his works, including the Juneteenth Festival, The Suffolk Museum’s Visual to Verbal exhibit, AFR’AM 2004, Build a Dream Project for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to be built in Washington D.C. and Artists for a cure for AIDS Benefit just to name a few.

Bowers: What hot you into spoken word and writing poetry? Richardson: I grew up with storytellers and it seemed a natural extension of the art form.

Bowers: What is the goal of Spiritual Concepts Publishing you founded and how did it become reality? Richardson: The mission statement is “to break down the racial and religious borders of society through unique messages of God’s unconditional love”. It all started 10 years ago as a way to put structure to my ideas. Originally it was a daily schedule. I am now living by it, not necessarily for business purposes, but more for legacy and longevity. The real goal is to connect people with resources, perspectives and tools.

Bowers: Nathan, what is your personal life philosophy? Richardson: Generosity, free spirit, free heart.

Bowers: What is poetry real power and appeal. Richardson: Writing poetry is the secret weapon and the basic foundation for speech, thought and music. Usually it never takes center stage. It is a reflective medium which helps maintain focus on our concepts.

Bowers: What are your life goals? Richardson: To continue interpreting points of view that will cause people to see themselves and others with better understanding and to keep questioning our world and the exsisting issues we face.

Bowers: What shaped you to do this creative work? Richardson: My background as a country boy, followed by 23 year of military and my training in martial arts.

Bowers: What has been your biggest obstacle? Richardson: I’ve been lucky. I haven’t had too many, other than two divorces, the things I brought on myself and the trouble in understanding myself. Really it has been more about how I could make an impact as a reporter on life.

Bowers: What are your dreams? Richardson: For the book to become recognized as a better way for us to understand each other.

Bowers: Do you have a favorite signature poem: Richardson: Two of my favorites in this book are “View from the Black Forest” and “Devine Retribution” It also seems I am recognized most for the “Weapon’s of Mass Destruction” piece.

Bowers: How log have you been writing creatively and what was your starting point. Richardson: I’ve been writing for 25 years. It really began when I move away from home. That awakening coincided with my independence.

Bowers: As your look across our world, what major issue commands your attention. Richardson: People tend to think there’s only one type of person fighting for on thing. Life teaches us that there are more allies from different camps than one might suspect. I look for the middle ground of people’s viewpoints and ideologies where we can all have a meeting of the minds.

Bowers: How can and where can poets and poetry make an impact? Richardson: By framing issues and concerns through questions, but also by trying to provide possible solutions and answers.

While the morning basketball games were our physical workout, the time I spent with Nathan was both a mental and spiritual workout. Having has the privilege of seeing him perform a number of time, I can report he is one of the few mature local spoken word artist who has something profound to say with a delivery that will not let you rest till you have heard him wrap it all together.

He shoots from the hip on and off the stage His game both on and off the court ha no shame. It is robust and he is on top of it. Nathan Richardson is on the life path doing the work using poetry and his writing skills to create verbal blazes which better illuminate the landscape for all of us.

To contact him call 757-535-1505 or go to www.scpublishing.com

Afr’Am kicked off with a literary arts and awards gala at Waterside Marriott on May 26. Entitled “The Griot: Keepers of the Culture”. College professor and historian, Dr Cassandra Newby-Alexander and media and public relations veteran, Glen Mason were recognized as Pioneer Honorees. Community honorees were The New Journal & Guide Publisher, Brenda Andrews-Brooks, Dr Lafrancis Rodgers-Rose, founder and CEO of the International Black Women’s Congress, George Welch founder of the elf-Improvement Cultural Center and Book Store. The Literary Honoree was author-poet Nathan Richardson. The keynote address was given by Patrick Bass, and author and book editor for Essence Magazine.

On Saturday May 27, the Festival kicked off with a parade which included a dance troupe doing African dance and a children’s band from Portsmouth, the Toni Bridgeport Angels Band.

A new feature this year was the presence of the Black Boaters Assoc. of Hampton Roads which tied up at Town point pier for the weekend. Most of the groups members sail out of Bennett’s Creek Marina in Portsmouth. A primary goal is to introduce young Black kids to boating, showing its not just a past time for whites.

Entertainment during the weekend included national acts Klymaxx, all female r&b band famous for “Meeting in the Ladies Room” and local acts like the Norfolk Temptations and Second Chance. Along with ethnic food vendors, the annual marketplace offers fest goers ample selections of ethnic and cultural items.

Some 200,000 people visited the Norfolk waterfronts Town Point Park for the 23rd festival that is held annually during the Memorial Day Weekend. Blue skies and low humidity were priceless additions.

A scheduled poetry slam becomes an opportunity for two poets to share the message pf faith with teens.

Saturday evening at Crittenden Middle School was suppose to be three rounds of verbal competition. The scuffed hardwood stage was suppose to be the platform for performance wordplay. It was suppose to be a poetry slam for teens hosted by the Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center. Instead it was more of a relay between an old-school and a new school poet.

Nathan Richardson and Taheem Jamaal took turns on the mike, with lines about nearly everything. Romantic love; “You out me in a place where your morning breath is all I want to breathe” The innocence of youth: “Growing up before your time ain’t all its crack up to be/She’s the age every girl thinks she wants to be.” The power of words: My minds my 9/My pens my Mac 10".

The subjects changed, but the reason both poets get on stage is the same. They want to speak a message of faith and of God’s love. “That’s how you’re gonna reach youth these days, is through poetry, “Richardson - old school - said to the 10 people peppered into the first couple of rows in the school auditorium. There were other conflicting events that kept a couple fo groups of teens from attending and transportation was limited. Still Richardson and Jamaal has a chance to talk to a couple of kids who were there watching them perform.

“Its not really about the poetry . Its about bring a message.” Richardson said - “Finding your gift. If you can wrap yourself around what God has given you, you’re gonna be happy.” He wants to encourage them to find something they love and are good at, whether that be any thing from poetry to medicine, and use that to live.

Its fine for people to tell them to have an education to fall back on. At the same time, he wants kids to know that if they’re fortunate enough to recognize their gift early on, their education should revolve around developing that talent.

For Jamaal, poetry is a vehicle to start changes and to get God’s message to others. His view is that a lot of religious writers are poets. Sometimes people can get defensive and feel like they’re being judged when people want to start talking to them about God. When its in a poem, its less threatening.

“Poetry is more open and people are more receptive to that because it’s personal, from the poet as opposed to listening to a priest or a minster”, he said. “That’s important for the younger generation. Jamaal said his focus is on counteracting what they’re seeing on television or hearing in the music. Someone has to show them that there are other ways to express themselves, to live their lives.

This is one way that opens a door for him to connect with and relate to them. “A lot of times, spoken word and poetry is that bridge and that mediator” he said. Even d that bridge leads to the handful of people who made it Saturday night, its still an opportunity he and Richardson gladly took advantage of.

Suffolk - Writing about art is like dancing about opera . It’s one art form spurring another. That’s certainly the case with the new show at the Suffolk Museum, which invited several dozen local artist earlier this year to make work that riffs on the letter “T” or the idea of tea. A week before the show opened, local poets were each given one of the images - either through e-mail or in person - and allowed several days to connect and produce.

In the gallery, each artwork hangs next to the poem it inspired. The deadline was fairly tight. For the most part, the short time frame appears to have caused the work to flow from the artists and writers with a spontaneity that can trump a more studied approach. On the whole, works are expressive and compelling.

For at least two of the artist -writer sets, the work swept in tropical issues in a cathartic way. Sandy Lupton’s wall hanging “For Taylor” consists of long strips of patterned fabric resembling a patchwork swatch. Attached to the surface is a sequined, stuffed heart bearing an image of Jesus. Cutout hands are beneath the heart, as if to say, “You are in Jesus” hands.” The work is a memorial to her recently deceased nephew.

Writers were not told the stories behind the artworks, but the poem accompanying Lupton’s piece, “The Soldier” by Barry Koplen, reads in part: “Carry me close as a song slowly fading/as a quiet train/t the sweet/bye an bye.” Lynne Sward’s fiber sculpture “Tuesday the Twenty-Fourth” sits on a pedestal like a tiny castle turret with cross-shaped windows. The piece pertains to the recent death of her son and contains scrawled over T words - terrible, trauma, tragedy. The related poem, “T is for Tapia” by Nathan Richardson is about the daily roll call of war dead; “Today the Wheel of fortune betrayed me”

Other , lighter entries include Donna Drozda’s amusing paean to spring , “In the Morning...Turkey Trot”, paired with Men Maaa Aim Ra’s exquisite Equinox poem: “we stroll in a stream of singing fragrances/that invite us to forget winter’s worries/with matrix delight.”

Also, Aspen Hochhalter’s mixed media rendering a female figure on the thinnest paper imaginable is well matched in delicacy and nuance, by Robert Authur’s poem”Packet Seeds”: At first/one doesn’t notice/The after image, the blurs/The hesitant blossoms.”

The city museum ‘s staff, along with the Suffolk Art League, developed the show as a way to augment its current Virginia Museum of Fine Arts touring exhibition, “Singular Moment: The Japanese Tea Ceremony.”

The group show exhibit is the centerpiece of the Suffolk Museum’s and Suffolk Art League’s third annual Literary Festival, which also will feature a family day and open Mic. night May 20.

The Smart Set Club honored 13 citizens during its annual Scholarship Banquet on Sunday at Temple Beth El on Bridge Road. The banquet has served as the club’s major fund-raising activity doe several years in order that it may award scholarships to deserving students from high schools in the area.

Solos were rendered by Gail Hinton-Copeland and Marshe’ Duunaway, and a dance was performed by Mary Evertt. Fannie Bowers provided music for the evening and Maide Cick served as mistress of ceremonies. A Memorial page was dedicated to the memory of member Theresa Jones Williams, who passed away on September 27 2005.

Those honored were Cynthia Davis-Barrett, Gail Valentine-Bess, Mary B. Bess, Mary E. Hill, Dr Melvin O. Marriner, Mamie Martin-Ross, Spencer Mayfield Jr., Clarissa E. McAdoo, John E. Mitchell Jr., Annette Montgomery, Nathan M. Richardson, Bishop Clarence V. Russell III, and Leon Williams. Gloria Colbert introduced honorees to the audience and Catherine Randolph presented each with appreciation plaques.

Cynthia Barrett is a retired major who entered the United States Air Force in 1978 and served her country her country for 20 years. Upon retirement she carried on her mentoring of the young as an adjunct clinical instructor from Hampton University’s Nursing Program.

Gail Bess works as a tech prep specialist for the Suffolk School District, where she is an administrator of career and technical education programs and serves as an instructional specialist.

Mary Bess is a School Social Service Worker for Suffolk Public Schools. As a School Social Worker, she supervised programs for the Virginia Beach Department of Social Services as well as managed agricultural programs in Senegal, West Africa and the Central African Republic.

Hill is an entrepreneur and the founder and director of the Suffolk African American Cultural Society. She is with the Department of Historic Resources. She was instrumental in former Gov. John Warner dedicating a highway marker located in Hobson to recognize Virginia’s African-American oyster men.

Marriner is the senior pastor of Grove Baptist Church in Portsmouth. He also serves as chairman of the Portsmouth Ethics Commission and is the chaplain for the Portsmouth Fire Department.

Ross retired from the Suffolk School District after 35 years as a reading specialist and has been a substitute teacher in the school system for 50 years. She also taught for the Tidewater Regional jail.

Mayfield retired from Nansemond River High school in 2000 as a teacher and basketball coach. He was nominated by coaching peers for the Virginia Coach of the Year and National Coach of the year in 1995.

McAddo is the executive director of the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Currently, she is an appointed member of the Hampton Roads Workforce development Board.

Mitchell selected law enforcement as a second career after retiring from the Navy. Most of the time was spent with the sheriff’s department in Suffolk. He is a certified police officer and an instructor and a field-training officer.

Montgomery has been employed with Norfolk State University since 1986 and is currently the assistant archivist of the Harrison B. Wilson Archives. In 2003 she was chosen for Who’s Who Among African-Americans.

Richardson is a poet, storyteller, author of the book “Likeness of Being” and founder of Spiritual Concepts Publishing. His poetry has appeared in publications such as the Discover Suffolk Magazine 2005 and the Skipping Stones Anthologies 2004 and 2005.

Russell serves with Faith in Action Ministries International and is heavily involved in the marketing and outreach of this international television ministry.

William is employed at Northrop Grumman in Newport News and received a plague of appreciation from his employment for excellent performance setting an example for others on the Qualification Examination for Radiation Workers.

Members of the Smart Set Club are Susie Bennett, Fannie Bowers, Maude Click, Gloria Colbert, Olivia C. Crawley, Edith Edmonds, Gail Hinton-Copeland, Mabel Lassiter, Evelyn F. Lebetter, Catherine Randolph, Dolores Rawles, Beatrice Reeves, Barbara J. Turner and Emma Williams.

TUESDAY

* TCC Performance - “Nathan Live” at noon at Tidewater Community College, Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center, 340 Granby St. Norfolk. Call 822-1251

Presentation featuring Nathan M. Richardson, the poet storyteller and author of “Likeness of Being” A reception follows event. Free to the public.

FRIDAY

* NSU History Program - The 23rd annual African-American History Month program, Images in Black Voices” will be at 11 a.m. in the Godwin Student Center Ballroom at Norfolk State University. Call 823-8373 or visit www.nsu.edu.

*Note Column included author’s photo with additional information!

YORK - A wide range of groups and speakers will come together this weekend to discuss the past, present and future of African Americans in the area.

The fourth annual Black History Celebration begins this Friday at 4 p.m. with a tribute to all York County African-American soldiers who have died during different wars. Then a series of speakers will address different aspects of the African-American experience including Brenda Andrews, publisher of the New Journal & Guide, a weekly newspaper in Norfolk, and retired military Col Earl Johnson of Hampton, who will give a perspective on black history.

At 2 p.m. Saturday local author and poet Nathan M. Richardson will speak and read excerpts from his book “Likeness of Being” and Russell Hopson, Tarika Blizzard and Juan Green will perform spoken word poetry.

Sherman Hill, chairman of the Black History Celebration Committee said he hopes people leave the celebration with a better understanding of African-American involvement in the Yorktown area. “I hope events educate people about African-Americans have made to York County” he said. Specifically Hill wants people to be aware that as late as the 1950's and 1960's, African-Americans had a thriving community within the limits of historic Yorktown.

He explained that many of the structures like churches and old homes were demolished in the 1970's when the National Park Service bought parcels on Goosley Road and Serenity Road prior to the bicentennial celebration in 1976. “We are trying to make people aware that African Americans did live within the town,” Hill said. “Hopefully in the future we can coordinate with the county to put up markers so people can visually see that African-Americans live n these areas.”

Tarika Blizzard, who will perform spoken word poetry and discuss the Black Diaspora and the blending if African, European and Native American cultures, hopes the event will encourage people to want to learn more about black history. “We will tell the wholly American stories of those of African decedents and those who helped lay the foundation of this democratic republic,” Blizzard said. “I hope that people leave dissatisfied that they are encouraged to learn more, do research and to have real dialogue with their elders before its too late.” Juan Green hopes to inspires young people to get involved in their community. “This is a valued opportunity for the youths to realize that they are a part of a rich people, history and culture.” he said.

In addition to speakers, the celebration will include visual displays and musical performances. All of the Black History Celebration events will be held at York Hall, 301 Main St. In Yorktown. Admission is free and open to the public.

The poems and photography of Nathan M. Richardson, a Suffolk native, are part of his “Likeness of Being” exhibit at the Nauticus museum in Norfolk, second floor gallery, through Feb 11. Richardson includes reflections of his life growing up in Suffolk. The exhibit is sponsored by the Artistic American Veterans of America.

Reprint of the poem; “In the Presence of Absence”

Drawing from his experiences of growing up in a rural community, Nathan W. Richardson said his poems reflect the culture and lifestyles of his native Suffolk.

In “Sunday Welcome” Richardson writes, “To woods that hide the old field mouse,/and as I pass the farmers house/ his lives stock resting, his trackers idle/ his pickup gone, his horses bridle hangs in the barn/and in the steeple the church bell rings/to call the people who’s parents walked and children drove/the country mile to Piney Grove.”

Richardson who served 22 years in the Army, said writing poetry has been a long-time endeavor. “It’s been a childhood dream to publish a book of poetry,” said Richardson a 1978 graduate from Forest Glen High School. He likes to read in front of an audience. Also know as spoken word poetry, it allows him to add expressions and use body language while reading the poems, said Richasrdon a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.

Richardson 43, host a poetry reading session Wednesday nights at the Java Junction Coffee Shop in Chesapeake. He also participated in the Poetry Lounge Tour that visited Longwood Univeristy last month. Richardson red selections from his book, The Incredible Likeness of Being during a special program last week at East End Baptist Church. The book which will be published by Spiritual Concepts Publishing in March, is a collection of his poems from the past 23 years.

On Tuesday, he gave a reading at Duke University. Writing poetry, Richardson said, is about breaking down the racial and religious boarders of society through unique messages of God’s unconditional love.”

“We all are one and do encourage you all to come/who left your farms and cities and drove/the country mile to Piney Grove.”Richardson writes.

Hometown: Suffolk Fondest Childhood Memory: The whole experience of growing up in rural Suffolk. What I remember and cherish most was a a little boy, sitting at the feet of my parents, adult relatives and their neighbors as they shared a great tradition of storytelling. That was the thing that most likely transformed me into a poet early in life. Martial Status: Separated: Children: Two girls and one boy, Jade 11, Marlisa 14, Marlon 6. First Job: Cutting grass Pets: None Occupation: Insurance Underwriter Have you experienced something you consider a miracle; Every time I write a poem Favorite night on the town: Reading poetry Favorite Food: Prime Rib Favorite Drink: Cherry Kool Aid mixed with orange juice Favorite movies: “Enter the Dragon” and “Fist of Fury” Favorite TV Show; “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau Ideal vacation: The Bahamas I can’t resist: Any opportunity to read poetry What is the best advice you’ve received and from whom: If nothing else works, hum a little tune before you speak. My pastor told me that. What achievement are you most proud of: My children

Who among us is a poet? More folks than you might think, according to Nathan Richardson, a Suffolk poet/storyteller who seeks “to break down the racial and religious borders of society.”

Richardson grew up on a farm in Buckhorn (between downtown Suffolk and Holland. The rural lifestyle and the positive influence of his family and friends fostered his love for stroytelling. “In the 60's and 70's with n cable TV and other distractions we have today, people often visited neighbors and simply sat around talking, “ Richardson recalls.

THE LIGHT ON JACKSON ROAD Local myths were the subjects of many of those conversations. Richardson remembers, “One story that was told about the western part of Suffolk was the light on Jackson Road.” Supposedly there was this bright ominous light that would appear on Jackson Road at sporadic times of the night. You don’t hear about it much today, but I suppose that an older generation of Suffolkians would remember that story. Such folklore shared at family gatherings captured Richardson’s imagination from an early age. “I was always the type of person who was not really in the main event, but standing on the side , taking mental notes about what everybody was doing.”

LEARNING DISCIPLINE He has been writing poetry since he graduated from Forest Glen High School in 1978. Throughout his high school years, Richardson practiced the physical and mental discipline of the martial arts. “I absolutely poured myself into martial arts, and believe it set the type of inner drive that I have. With discipline my parents gave me and the disciple of the martial arts, the military was a piece of cake,” says Richardson.

Richardson credits his grandmother , Theresa Hollimon, for motivating him in life. She is 82 years old, has 13 children, 40 grandchildren and well over 50 great grandchildren,” Richardson smiles. Most of his family still live in Suffolk, and he has two younger sisters, one in Suffolk and the other in Richmond.

A POET, BUT DON’T KNOW IT What makes a poet? Richardson answers this way: “A larger number of people write on a regular basis in a journal or diary. Once you take that diary and start shoring those thoughts in verse with other people, then that’s the turning point when you start becoming a poet.” One of several outlets is Java Junction, a church-sponsored coffee house in Chesapeake where Richardson hosts 20 or so aspiring poets on Wednesday evenings. They welcome new participants who want to share their poetry in an open forum. He is also an active member of the Chesapeake Bay Poets, a group that publishes the annual Skipping Stones anthology of poems.

MEMORY VERSES When Richardson delivers his message, he does it without notes. This extraordinary ability to draw directly from memory amazes his daughter, Jade. “She says, How do you memorize all of your work?” I say Well, I wrote it. Of course I practice. I tell her she does the same thing when she sings a song that she hears on the radio.”

Nathan Richardson is unpretentious, soft spoken and introspective - hardly the high-strung, quirky, offbeat stereotype one might associate with the title of “poet”. He is a master teacher through spoken word, and his words have an uplifting ring - a ring of truth.

Almost all the chairs and tables in the long, narrow café are taken when the first poet steps to the microphone around 7 p.m. A standing room line of patrons stretches along the orange and red dappled wall leading from the front door.

They come for all kind of reasons. The urge to connect with other writers brought Jennifer Carty, who teaches English at Nansemond River High school and later performed several of her own poems. “When you read at an open-mike,” she says, “you feel that people in the room are in tune with language and the search for the perfect way to say what they are feeling and maybe the kind of poetry you’re writing is getting across to someone.”

As several newcomers step to the counter to order variations on the house beverage, the room fills with more shouts of appreciation as Freas’s friend Nathan Richardson a retired Army veteran takes the microphone. “I’ve got a lot of things on my mind” he says, half squinting at the back of a bookmark holding a poem he wrote several years ago. A friend helped him come up with a better title for it, he says slowing beginning the pace of thought leading into the short poem.

It was originally titled “The Most High Insult” he says against a background of din of a baby cooing and more drinks being whipped. It’s re-titled “Divine Retribution” “I refuse to hate the man who hates me”. He recites in a deep booming voice. “I offer something far more devastating to his ego: pity.” He goes on to describe in several verses the small, quiet victory of someone who overcomes the sting of being wronged.

We read all over Tidewater, he says after returning to his seat beside Freas. “I know people who’ve tried venues at restaurants, but coffee shops are the best. They’ve always been the base camp for poets.”

Nothing beats their intimacy, says Freas. “Poetry needs that because it’s very personal. History backs him up. Parisan cafes of the 1800's were home to leading poets and other cultural rabble-rouses. Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and other poets and writes of the 1950s continued the tradition in San Fransico and New York Coffee shops.

Unlike Freas, Richardson prefers to perform from memory, without notes. “A lot of my poems are really inspirational, as if somebody opened my head and pours it in there.” The two sit and listen as a small stream of other performers take the microphone and unload verses about war and peace, heartaches, heartbreaks and sunsets.

Not all the performances are meant to knit the brows of viewers. A foursome of boys from Nansemond River High School improvises a parody on the soap-opera romancing and guitar playing of movies about Spanish desperados. I guess I’m responsible for that” Joleen Miller, who teaches music and drama at the school, says sheepishly after her charges are done. “They started doing these skits halfway during to give me a hard time. But I’m laid back so I started laughing, its probably something the ought to keep doing.”

Giving local poetic talent a stage for that was one of the reasons that Java’s owners decided to host the weekly readings, says Jones. “There’s a map around here that shows where poets can read in Hampton Roads,” he says. “Before we started this, there was just a big empty place in most of Suffolk. But that’s beginning to change.”

Gregg Libbey absently wipes his hands on his pant legs and reaches for a manila folder on the table beside him. He’s “a little” nervous. Inside the folder are some of the most imitate details of his life, threaded through words that rhyme - or not - and something that in a few minutes will make a room full of people slap the tables at which they sit, gasp and bend over , laughing uproariously in surprised delight.

Libbey doesn’t know that yet. He’s got a tough act to follow he thinks. On the small stage in the center of Café Mondo, Nathan Richardson is signing a capella. His eye are closed. The Churchland restaurant is silent. The gritty clank of hoe and dirt is almost audible in the rhythm of the poets’s song: “Nobody knoowwws... The trouble I’ve seeennn... Nobody knoowwws... The trouble we’ve seeennn..”.

Before him Mary Curro read a woman’s tale of how desperately she needed a cigarette in a “State Hospital” Phyliss Johnson described the humorous misery of being a “too skinny high school majorette. There was talk of squirrel stew - “sorry, its gross,” advised author Dave King - politics, and sex, and racism and farming. There was no dust to choke on at this poetry reading.

It is one of the reasons Libbey is here, and a part of the quickly growing Chesapeake, Portsmouth & Suffolk Poets, soon to be called Chesapeake Bay Poets. The name change reflects the group’s rapidly unfolding expansion to encompass as area stretching from Elizabeth City, N. C. To Williamsburg and the Eastern Shore..

Poetry has the reputation of being stuffy and crusty,” Libbey said, “but it’s really not. It’s about people’s daily lives.”

Nathan M. Richardson who is a writer and publisher. Is also a poet and recently traveled to Longwood University in Farmville for the first of many programs in a tour called the Poetry Lounge College Tour. Richardson was included in the roster along with spoken word performer Queen Sheba from Norfolk, Synnika Lofton from Chesapeake and gospel poet, The Last Apostle from Norfolk. The concert at Longwood was hosted by the Black student Association and helped the campus kick off its celebration of Black History Month.

According to Richardson many of the students who had never been to a spoken word performance commented afterwards that the show definitely exceeded their expectations of what the thought poetry was about. The cast of poets completed their overnight stay at Longwood with a visit to the hospital in Farmville where they visited one of the female students who had planned to attend the concert but had become suddenly ill and was rushed to the emergency room the night before. The young lady is from the Hampton Roads area and was very excited when the group of about 10 students and poets paid her a visit.

The Poetry Lounge College tour will continue throughout the spring and summer months at colleges and universities along the east coast.

On Sunday, Feb 22 he will be in concert at East End Baptist Church with gospel recording artist Shelia Tucker.

For more information about upcoming tour concerts, contact T. Copper, CEO of Another Sure shot Entertainment LLC, at 757-343-5863 or email at www.sureshotevents.com. Poets involved in the tour also have their own separate performance schedules. Richardson may be reached at 757-535-1505 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pete Freas holds a copy of Skipping Stones 2003, which is an anthology of poetry from South Hampton Roads poets. On Saturday, there was a reading at the Suffolk Museum sponsored by the Chesport Poetry group of Chesapeake and Spiritual Concepts Publishing of Suffolk. Below at left Synnika Lofton and Nathan Richardson were among those present at the gathering. For more information contact Nathan M. Richardson at 757-535-1505 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Pete Freas at 757-465-5995 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .