2008 Woodie Awards
Esteem Lyricist Drops Knowledge on Life, Love and Poetry
Seth E. Davis
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Arts & Culture
Jessica Care Moore's poems and rhythms tickled the ears of those that attended the 23rd Great Debate on April 4. The well-known poet made a stop to campus on the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. death. More than 100 listened to Moore has she shared her national acclaimed poetry.
The Meter interview Moore and found out her perspective on life as a poet.
Seth Davis: Why TSU? What are your ties with TSU?
Jessica Care Moore I've performed here several times over the decade. I've been invited to The Great Debate by Professor El-Hadid more than once. TSU also produced one of my plays (Revolutions in The Ladies Room). The students put it on and did thei did their rendition of it. It was powerful for me just to watch them recreate my work. So I love TSU. I feel honorary.
SD: How do you think students can relate to your work?
JCM: I think people can relate to my work. I'm a woman, so women usually relate to my work. I came up with work class folks growing into my nationalism. I connect to my people. It's not hard for me to connect with people because I am a person and that's what poets are supposed to do. I don't try to write poetry that is in outer space because it doesn't speak to some something because it doesn't speak to something. (Poetry) is supposed to serve some type of purpose.
SD: What inspire you as a woman as well as writer and poet?
JCM: People. You write poems and you don't know whether people are going to them. So you write in hopes that it will move another person. There's an exchange. I enjoy writing books but live performance is really important for what I do and if I didn't do that and feel love back then I wouldn't be as inspired to do what I do. I'm a writer no matter what. People can clap or not clap, start hating, or not like it anymore.
SD:Who are your favorite authors?
JCM: Ntozake Shange is my favorite poet of all time. Sonya Sanchez is one of my favorite (poets) of all time. Sonya on a more personal level, she's one of my mentors. I like the last poets, T.S. Elliot, and Robert Frost. I've read all the White boys. I enjoy poetry from all types of folks. Women are my favorite because women writers in particular, we really put our heart on our sleeve and tell all our business. I love Lucille Clifton also.
SD:What would you tell a student who is trying to be a writer?
JCM: To read because they don't read. That's why they suck. You can tell when people don't read because they have really mediocre metaphors. If you want to be a good poet you have to read everything, memoirs, science fictions, newspapers. You have to be a part of the world in a hands on way and not just thinking you're just an amazing writer. People really get caught up thinking their some hot shit and someone else wrote it. It's just like if you want to be a MC, you have to know who Afrika Bambatta or Chuck D is.
SD:Where do see yourself in the future?
JCM: I want to write as many as many books as I can. I want to write a memoir and a novel before its all over. Walter Mosely told me I need to write a novel, so I'll write a novel one-day. I hope that I will still have an opportunity to be a writer and never have to punch a clock ever in my life. If I can do that, I'm blessed. I want to write for more film. The sky is the limit.
The Meter interview Moore and found out her perspective on life as a poet.
Seth Davis: Why TSU? What are your ties with TSU?
Jessica Care Moore I've performed here several times over the decade. I've been invited to The Great Debate by Professor El-Hadid more than once. TSU also produced one of my plays (Revolutions in The Ladies Room). The students put it on and did thei did their rendition of it. It was powerful for me just to watch them recreate my work. So I love TSU. I feel honorary.
SD: How do you think students can relate to your work?
JCM: I think people can relate to my work. I'm a woman, so women usually relate to my work. I came up with work class folks growing into my nationalism. I connect to my people. It's not hard for me to connect with people because I am a person and that's what poets are supposed to do. I don't try to write poetry that is in outer space because it doesn't speak to some something because it doesn't speak to something. (Poetry) is supposed to serve some type of purpose.
SD: What inspire you as a woman as well as writer and poet?
JCM: People. You write poems and you don't know whether people are going to them. So you write in hopes that it will move another person. There's an exchange. I enjoy writing books but live performance is really important for what I do and if I didn't do that and feel love back then I wouldn't be as inspired to do what I do. I'm a writer no matter what. People can clap or not clap, start hating, or not like it anymore.
SD:Who are your favorite authors?
JCM: Ntozake Shange is my favorite poet of all time. Sonya Sanchez is one of my favorite (poets) of all time. Sonya on a more personal level, she's one of my mentors. I like the last poets, T.S. Elliot, and Robert Frost. I've read all the White boys. I enjoy poetry from all types of folks. Women are my favorite because women writers in particular, we really put our heart on our sleeve and tell all our business. I love Lucille Clifton also.
SD:What would you tell a student who is trying to be a writer?
JCM: To read because they don't read. That's why they suck. You can tell when people don't read because they have really mediocre metaphors. If you want to be a good poet you have to read everything, memoirs, science fictions, newspapers. You have to be a part of the world in a hands on way and not just thinking you're just an amazing writer. People really get caught up thinking their some hot shit and someone else wrote it. It's just like if you want to be a MC, you have to know who Afrika Bambatta or Chuck D is.
SD:Where do see yourself in the future?
JCM: I want to write as many as many books as I can. I want to write a memoir and a novel before its all over. Walter Mosely told me I need to write a novel, so I'll write a novel one-day. I hope that I will still have an opportunity to be a writer and never have to punch a clock ever in my life. If I can do that, I'm blessed. I want to write for more film. The sky is the limit.
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