PERMISSION TO SPEAK

There have been years when I flew an average of twice per week to present poetry and, presumably, touched many souls. Further, between North America and Europe, I have had the great fortune of selling thousands of copies of my various books and spoken word CDs to diverse patrons who appreciate my work. The stories contained in this title make it a different type of vehicle than my previous ones, in that the lessons here are more than a medium for energy exchange with those who dig my vibe. These pages also serve as my own travelogue. This is the book I wanted to read but never found.

These interviews constitute the guide artists like myself have grown to desire; the history we have longed to consume; what many grass roots lovers of unadulterated art have sought but had yet to find. These stories and lessons explain much of where spoken word, jazz, and other inter-related art forms have journeyed from and, by extension, they illuminate the many pathways for where these arts may traverse, where we could take them. Vision beyond conceived measure becomes accessible when we sit at the feet of the seven esteemed elders who have herein granted Permission to Speak.

PREMISE

International spoken word artist Taalam Acey contacted several of the learned elders of his art form for permission to speak with them candidly about their lives and lessons. He traveled to both U.S. coasts and to the South and Midwest to talk with the poets from previous generations that most inspired him. This was a pilgrimage of sorts that led to the timeworn streets of the urban northeast, the sprawl of Los Angeles, the precipitous mountain roads of the Humboldt Redwoods, the desolate abandon of a midwest "ghost town," and the transcendent vibration of New Orleans. The conversations delved into performance and visual arts as well as love and life lessons. We say "When an elder dies a library burns to the ground" due to the magnitude of what our bona fide paragons may show us; the most authentic are capable of midwifing our true essence. Here, we hear from seven of those wise and active elders who are each thankfully still manifesting their ability to unearth the precious gifts within us.

Details

High quality hardcover book, individually shrinkwrapped, 264 pages (includes glossy full color photos),

Mailed out within 2 business days, USPS Priority Mail