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About

Brief Bio

​Nathan M. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian. He is the author of four collections of poetry and teaches a variety of workshops for emerging writers and spoken word artists. Nathan is now in the 10th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour - a living history performance that captures completely the physical, spiritual and intellectual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Nathan is a Chautauqua Scholar with living history performances at The White House Visitors Center, American Studies Programs at Christopher Newport University,  Founding Forward at Valley Forge, PA and other universities across the country. The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour is a feature on American Cruise Lines (Small Ship Historic Cruises). Mr. Richardson has film credits with the National Park Service and Alabama Public Television. You can learn more about Nathan Richardson and his work at www.scpublishing.com  

 

Short Bio - 

Nathan M. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian.  His poetry collections  include  Likeness of Being, Twenty-one Imaginary T-shirts and The 7 Last Poems of an Unarmed Citizen. Books featuring Nathan's success include; You Can Do That (Amazing People with Amazing Jobs) by David Messick and You Don't Want Success (Demolishing Fears & Excuses) by Miko Marsh.  Nathan teaches a variety of workshops for emerging writers and is the creator and host of the Poetry, Prose & Pizza Open Mic series.  He is a  former coach and current ambassador-at-large for the Hampton Roads Youth Poets, a division of the youth empowerment organization - Teens with a Purpose.

 

Nathan is now in his 10th year of  The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour; a living history performance which captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This living history series has been seen nationally and internationally and is a feature of the Chautauqua Institute. Nathan has film credits with the National Park  Service and Alabama Public Television. His rendition of the speech "Frederick Douglass Honors the Unknown Loyal Dead" was nominated for "Best Short Film" at the 2022 I WILL TELL INTERNATION FILM FESTIVAL. A short list of Nathan's affiliations include the Suffolk Arts League, the Poetry Society of Virginia, Young Audiences of Virginia, 1st Amendment / 1st Vote, and Virginians for Reconciliation and the Association of African American Museums.

 

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Long Bio -

 

A current resident and native of Suffolk, Virginia and 22 year retired veteran of the United States Army, Nathan M. Richardson is an accomplished performance poet and published author. His published collections are Likeness of Being,  Twenty-one Imaginary T-shirts and The 7 Last Poems of an Unarmed Citizen.  His work has been widely re-published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers such as the Channel Marker, The Cupola, Coastal Virginia Magazine and The Washington Post Nathan has been a featured author at the following writers conferences/festivals; the James River Writers Festival, the Christopher Newport University Writers Conference, the PDCCC Literary Festival, the NSU William Carroll Literary Festival and the Hampton Roads Writers Writers Conference

 

For the past 20 years Nathan has been the organizer and host of the Poetry, Prose & Pizza Open Mic Series.  These quarterly open mics are syndicated in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Prince George, Virginia. Nathan teaches a variety of workshops for emerging writers.  Three of his most popular workshops are  "Artistic Verses" - an ekphrastic poetry workshop,  "Drop the Mic" - a poetry/storytelling workshop for middle and high school students and "Words Beyond Walls" - a poetry workshop for youth in juvenile detention centers.

 

Nathan has more than 30 years of youth activism mainly as a mentor and poetry coach with the youth empowerment organization - Teens with a Purpose (TWP). TWP is a peer led organization in which teens use their creative gifts in poetry, rap, music, dance and theater to influence their peers throughout the community. With Nathan's leadership, the Hampton Roads Youth Poetry Slam Team (a division of TWP) has competed nationally and internationally. The 2012 HRYP Slam team placed 2nd amongst 43 teams at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival and 3rd amongst 24 teams in 2021. 

Nationally, Nathan's poetry has been commissioned to accent major art exhibits at the Delaware Museum of Art, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum, and the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA.   His most successful poetry residency to date was as creative writing instructor for the Camp Rise Summer Arts Program at the Attucks Theater in Norfolk, Virginia, which was awarded the 2012 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award from The White House. 

Nathan's historic portrayal of writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass began in 2015. After being encouraged by acclaimed storyteller Shelia Arnold to find and interpret a historic character, Nathan first settled on Douglass because of his similar appearance. He soon realized his kinship with Frederick Douglass as a self-taught writer/poet, orator/storyteller and activist/abolitionist. After years of research and more than 300 performances for national and international audiences, Nathan still finds the shoes of Douglass a loose fit.  

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Nathan is a life-member of The Poetry Society of Virginia and serves as the Public Relations Chair. He is a longtime member of The Suffolk Art League. Most recently he was invited to join the board of directors for 1st Amendment / 1st Vote  based in Auburn, NY. 1stA/1stV is a non-profit organization that supports the aspirations of young women and encourages their civic engagement through community activism and politics. Other organizations which show his membership and active participation are Virginians for Reconciliation and the Association of African American Museums.

NATHAN'S MAJOR PROJECTS FOR 2024-2025:  

 

FREDERICK DOUGLASS VISITS IRELAND  - a living history performance in celebration of 175 years since Douglass first visited Ireland 

 

ARTISTIC VERSES - a residency teaching  Ekphrastic Poetry in collaboration with the Suffolk High Schools and Newport News High Schools. Virginia 

VOICES FROM THE WOMBS OF WISDOM - a collection of poems written and dedicated the voice and wisdom of the woman. 

BECOMING DOUGLASS - a memoir of Nathan's journey in the portrayal of Frederick Douglass

 

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