Brother A.J. Bryson is a fiery performer that commands
attention as soon as he hits the stage. I got a chance to catch
up with him to ask him a few questions about living a poet's life.
Miles - This is my mandatory start up question. What does
poetry mean to you?
A.J. - Poetry means Healing: Many are scarred by life's
circumstances. Poetry allows individuals to heal themselves
and possibly help to heal others who wear the same scars. In
addition poetry is one of the 5 forms of natural medicinal activity
including music, laughter, prayer and love.
Poetry means Enlightenment: A form of education of sorts,
poetry is used to educate others on issue they might not desire
to even learn about. Similar to hip hop, Poets are somewhat
cultural educators and newscasters; reporting on the issues
facing the community. They introduce and dissect such issues,
then offer solutions as to how to eradicate or at least tolerate
issues that could be the difference between life or death.
Lastly Poetry means Empowerment: In the past poetry has
been utilized to psychologically empower individuals to pull
strength from within coupled with faith and fight which allows
them to face the times ahead. Communities have been inspired
and strengthened by mainly 3 types of individuals, prophets,
preachers and lastly..the poets.
Miles - I have seen you perform and the first word that comes to
my mind is powerful. How would you describe your style of
writing and performing?
A.J. - If i can summarize my style of writing in 3 words it Faith
Fight & Freedom. The efforts of my writing are to encourage
the reader to utilize the power of God (faith), Utilize the power,
talents & strength within themselves (fight), and utilize the
strength in alliances, which can lead to freedom.
My style of performing is jolting yet entertaining, candid;
educational and empowering. I try to deliver my words free from
gratuitous poetic voice tones, drawn out stances, or the
presentation of sex appeal. My poetry isn't sexy in the least. If
sexy sultry and spontaneous is what you are looking for on the
mic..I may not be the chosen one. But if you crave brutal
honestly, a hopefully message, a cultural, personal and
community charge, with a laugh or two in between; then I feel I
can deliver.
Miles - With President Obama riding the message of change, do
you feel poets have a responsibility to bring about change in
our community? And how would we go about doing that?
A.J. - In all honesty, I feel many Poets have been doing what
President Obama encouraged the nation to do long before his
historic victory for the White House. Many poets that I have
performed with have always been about bringing Charge
Change & Choice to our communities. They have always
spoken words of empowerment, faith, education,
entrepreneurship artistic appreciation. They have continuously
spoken about the crumbling of the force fed alluring yet
destructive imagery and messages that we see in the modern
day media.
It didn't take President Obama's victory to inspire poets to take
the reigns of cultural & community distribution of knowledge.
Poets have always been about making tomorrow better that
yesterday.
Miles - I need you to set the scene for us on this one. Describe
what it felt like to do poetry in public for the very first time?
Where did you perform and what motivated you do it?
A.J. - I was inspired by a young lady that I became close with
and much of what I felt for her i couldn't say it to her face so i
wrote this 3 page single spaced poem called You Left with a
Piece of Me. A friend of mine had a brunch /open mic gathering
called pancakes & poetry.
I read the piece and it went over incredibly well.
I was scared as a Black Panther at a Klan rally. But the
audience was very welcoming and receptive. After that I started
to attend this open mic spot called Rituals w/ some heavy hitters
such as Reggie Gibson, Kent Foreman, and Oscar Robertson
Jr.
I saw some of the most powerful poets doing their thing and I
finally worked up the nerve to do a piece. I read a poem called
Revelations of Change. The crowd went wild. When I came
back the following week..I was asked to do the same poem a
second time. At that point I said to myself "If I keep coming back
I'm going to need more material"(lol). And I just began writing
about everything from fear, faith, friends, fame, freedom and
funerals.
But lastly I'd say my motivation still lies with my mission to heal
myself and to help others heal.
Miles - Let me throw a few names out here at you.....Nikki
Giovanni, The Last Poets, Maya Angelo. I think most of us
would agree that these are all great poets, yes? And they have
inspired millions. Are there any poets today that inspire you?
A.J. - Most definitely, to name a few Talaam Acey, Ursula
Rucker, Kweisi Gharreau, MUMS, Triple Black, Malik Yusef,
Brenda Mathews, Ahmen Ra, J-Ivy,Oron of Still Black Sea, as
well as some poetry groups such as Poetree and EarCandy of
course.
Miles - Tell me what you feel poets like yourself would have to
do to in order to reach that level of the greats, literary wise?
A.J. -
1) Pray.
2) Continue to write, attempt to expand our works beyond the
local realm. Also, we can always do something additional to our
performances such as:
public speaking, book writing, workshop development, internet
exposure, CD's DVD's, educational programs, participation in
major conferences and expos, any other venture or vehicle that
gives our poetry another avenue to be seen.
3) Lastly try to connect with some high profile & influential
individuals who can be sold on the art form and support it whole
heartedly.
Miles - Well brother, you have defiantly been an inspiration to
me and a good friend. Keep setting fire to the stage.
You can check out Brother Bryson @
www.myspace.com/mrwalkinvictory
attention as soon as he hits the stage. I got a chance to catch
up with him to ask him a few questions about living a poet's life.
Miles - This is my mandatory start up question. What does
poetry mean to you?
A.J. - Poetry means Healing: Many are scarred by life's
circumstances. Poetry allows individuals to heal themselves
and possibly help to heal others who wear the same scars. In
addition poetry is one of the 5 forms of natural medicinal activity
including music, laughter, prayer and love.
Poetry means Enlightenment: A form of education of sorts,
poetry is used to educate others on issue they might not desire
to even learn about. Similar to hip hop, Poets are somewhat
cultural educators and newscasters; reporting on the issues
facing the community. They introduce and dissect such issues,
then offer solutions as to how to eradicate or at least tolerate
issues that could be the difference between life or death.
Lastly Poetry means Empowerment: In the past poetry has
been utilized to psychologically empower individuals to pull
strength from within coupled with faith and fight which allows
them to face the times ahead. Communities have been inspired
and strengthened by mainly 3 types of individuals, prophets,
preachers and lastly..the poets.
Miles - I have seen you perform and the first word that comes to
my mind is powerful. How would you describe your style of
writing and performing?
A.J. - If i can summarize my style of writing in 3 words it Faith
Fight & Freedom. The efforts of my writing are to encourage
the reader to utilize the power of God (faith), Utilize the power,
talents & strength within themselves (fight), and utilize the
strength in alliances, which can lead to freedom.
My style of performing is jolting yet entertaining, candid;
educational and empowering. I try to deliver my words free from
gratuitous poetic voice tones, drawn out stances, or the
presentation of sex appeal. My poetry isn't sexy in the least. If
sexy sultry and spontaneous is what you are looking for on the
mic..I may not be the chosen one. But if you crave brutal
honestly, a hopefully message, a cultural, personal and
community charge, with a laugh or two in between; then I feel I
can deliver.
Miles - With President Obama riding the message of change, do
you feel poets have a responsibility to bring about change in
our community? And how would we go about doing that?
A.J. - In all honesty, I feel many Poets have been doing what
President Obama encouraged the nation to do long before his
historic victory for the White House. Many poets that I have
performed with have always been about bringing Charge
Change & Choice to our communities. They have always
spoken words of empowerment, faith, education,
entrepreneurship artistic appreciation. They have continuously
spoken about the crumbling of the force fed alluring yet
destructive imagery and messages that we see in the modern
day media.
It didn't take President Obama's victory to inspire poets to take
the reigns of cultural & community distribution of knowledge.
Poets have always been about making tomorrow better that
yesterday.
Miles - I need you to set the scene for us on this one. Describe
what it felt like to do poetry in public for the very first time?
Where did you perform and what motivated you do it?
A.J. - I was inspired by a young lady that I became close with
and much of what I felt for her i couldn't say it to her face so i
wrote this 3 page single spaced poem called You Left with a
Piece of Me. A friend of mine had a brunch /open mic gathering
called pancakes & poetry.
I read the piece and it went over incredibly well.
I was scared as a Black Panther at a Klan rally. But the
audience was very welcoming and receptive. After that I started
to attend this open mic spot called Rituals w/ some heavy hitters
such as Reggie Gibson, Kent Foreman, and Oscar Robertson
Jr.
I saw some of the most powerful poets doing their thing and I
finally worked up the nerve to do a piece. I read a poem called
Revelations of Change. The crowd went wild. When I came
back the following week..I was asked to do the same poem a
second time. At that point I said to myself "If I keep coming back
I'm going to need more material"(lol). And I just began writing
about everything from fear, faith, friends, fame, freedom and
funerals.
But lastly I'd say my motivation still lies with my mission to heal
myself and to help others heal.
Miles - Let me throw a few names out here at you.....Nikki
Giovanni, The Last Poets, Maya Angelo. I think most of us
would agree that these are all great poets, yes? And they have
inspired millions. Are there any poets today that inspire you?
A.J. - Most definitely, to name a few Talaam Acey, Ursula
Rucker, Kweisi Gharreau, MUMS, Triple Black, Malik Yusef,
Brenda Mathews, Ahmen Ra, J-Ivy,Oron of Still Black Sea, as
well as some poetry groups such as Poetree and EarCandy of
course.
Miles - Tell me what you feel poets like yourself would have to
do to in order to reach that level of the greats, literary wise?
A.J. -
1) Pray.
2) Continue to write, attempt to expand our works beyond the
local realm. Also, we can always do something additional to our
performances such as:
public speaking, book writing, workshop development, internet
exposure, CD's DVD's, educational programs, participation in
major conferences and expos, any other venture or vehicle that
gives our poetry another avenue to be seen.
3) Lastly try to connect with some high profile & influential
individuals who can be sold on the art form and support it whole
heartedly.
Miles - Well brother, you have defiantly been an inspiration to
me and a good friend. Keep setting fire to the stage.
You can check out Brother Bryson @
www.myspace.com/mrwalkinvictory
| Get your EC WEAR. Shirts now Online! |