Recognized by Poetry Slam Inc as a “Legend of the South,” Amoja Sumler (author of “Fables, Foibles, & Other ‘Merican Sins”) is a nationally celebrated poet, essayist and one of the preeminent emerging voices of leftist intersectional social advocacy. A Watering Hole graduate fellow and 2020 MFA recipient, Amoja’s work throughout the Arkansas poetry scene was a legendary seed. From his essay’s discussing the role of law enforcement to the value of capitalism he is best known for fusing the art of the intellectual into the familiar. Amoja has headlined poetry festivals such as the Austin International Poetry Festival, the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival, Write NOLA in New Orleans and Rock the Republic in Texas. As a resident artist of several southern Arts in Education rosters, Amoja lectures at schools and literary nonprofits, while teaching creative pedagogy and keynoting at social advocacy conferences like Long Beach Indie Film Pedagogy Conference and Furious Flower, throughout the nation. His poetry appears in the Pierian Literary Journal, Muddy Ford Press, Swimming With Elephants, FreezeRay Poetry, and the Antigonish Review as well as other journals.
Random Thoughts of Reign
LoveReigns
Random Thoughts of Reign is the head music of writer, poet, author, emcee and curator, Taryn “LoveReigns “ Wharwood. It is the audacity of tough conversation inspired by Conversations with James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. The conversations were introspective, thought provoking and heart warming in that it truly touched my soul to hear and watch the volley of brilliance and passion. The openness and vulnerability of “my generation” and “your generation” proclamations paved way to one thought: I have met many brilliant souls. I want to talk to them.