In September, Philadelphia celebrates the 90th birthday of legendary poet, professor, and activist Sonia Sanchez—“The City of Brotherly Love’s” first poet laureate. She turned 90 on Sept. 9.
One of the leading figures in the Black Arts Movement, “Mama” Sonia Sanchez, as she is affectionately known, has written over a dozen books of poetry, as well as short stories, critical essays, plays and children’s books, including “The Adventures of Fathead, Smallhead and Squarehead.” Many years ago, “Mama” Sanchez autographed and presented a copy of her children’s book to my daughter Tanya.
Her birthday tribute kicked off Sept. 1 at Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation Art Institute and Gallery, with a marathon reading of selected poems written by Sanchez and read by various individuals.
In addition, there was a special screening of the 2015 documentary “BaddDDD: Sonia Sanchez,” which provides unprecedented access to the renowned poet’s life, work, and mesmerizing performances.
The highlight of the celebration was a poetry reading by the “literary daughters” of Ms. Sanchez. They included acclaimed poets M. Nzadi Keita, Trapeze B. Mayson, Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon and Yolanda Wisher. In addition to sharing Sanchez’s poems, they read original works inspired by her.
During an interview with The Final Call, Wisher, a Philadelphia 2017 Poet Laureate, said the idea for the 90th birthday celebration came from her helping organize various local artists, members of the university community, and the Harriet Tubman Bookshop.
“So, everybody kind of came up with events, including this one (at the Barnes) that they wanted to use and celebrate the whole month of September in celebration of Sonia’s birthday. And so, this is just the kickoff event,” said Wisher.
Also, there is a scheduled dedication on September 24 by Mural Arts Philadelphia. It will feature a “Peace Is A Haiku Song Mural Rededication” with a haiku about peace by Ms. Sanchez.
Trapeze B. Mayson is a local poet, educator and social worker. She started a “call a poem” healing verse phone line where people call to hear an inspiring poem. Mondays in September will feature poems inspired by Sonia Sanchez, read by local artists.
The month-long celebration will conclude on September 26 with “Chat In The Stacks: When Sonia Speaks: A conversation with Sonia Sanchez,” an in-person conversation and reading as part of the Temple Libraries Chat-In-Stacks speakers’ series at The Charles Library at 1900 N. 13th Street, on Temple University’s main campus.
“I’m just one of the new people who’ve been touched by Sister Sonia. She’s been a mentor to me, a guiding light. Somebody whose blueprint as a Black woman poet has guided my steps and I’m just honored to be able to help celebrate her, to give her the flowers that she deserves while she is living,” said Wisher.
Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon is a contributing poet to 39 anthologies, author of 11 books of poetry, and is a professor of Urban Theater and Community Engagement in the Theater Department at the Center for the Performing Arts at Temple University.
She was a presenter at the Barnes Foundation Art Institute and Gallery event and is a member of the committee celebrating and organizing for Ms. Sanchez’s 90th birthday.
Williams-Witherspoon told The Final Call that Sanchez’s career not only involved the Black Arts Movement but also the famed poet registering in 1971 as a member of the Nation of Islam.
“I’ve seen pictures of her with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and she has done poetry about Malcolm X.” In a poem by Ms. Sanchez, “Ima Talken about The Nation Of Islam,” she writes in part:
ima talken about Minister Farrakhan
singen his songs of black unity
about a blk/nation already here
ripenen our minds
till our bodies glow like a thousand red rubies
ima talken about the Nation of Islam
the Honorable Elijah Muhammad
about his season of truth
standen like a city of red hills
in whose name
i bring this poem
in whose name
i give you this prayer
al-Humdulillah
Ms. Sanchez once told an interviewer, when she first saw Minister Malcolm X on television,“He scared me, immediately the family said turn off that television. That man is saying stuff you ain’t supposed to hear,” she said in, “Say Brother; Nation of Islam: A Portrait; Sonia Sanchez on the teachings of the Nation of Islam,” from October 1, 1975.
However, she would later frequent speeches given by Minister Malcolm X outside of the African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem owned by Lewis H. Michaux. Concerning the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Ms. Sanchez said, a lot of information had come through the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
“Many of us, because of other things that had happened in the country at that time, began to go to the various (N.O.I.) temples and sit and listen. And it was because of the sense of support of this Blackness.
Also, at that particular time too, it was the strongest organization in America. And so, many of us who were working very hard, felt an obligation to go, as people were sayin’, to the source of the information that we had become familiar with. So many of us went in, I went into the Nation,” she said during the interview.
Williams-Witherspoon said there is a large committee of people involved in Ms. Sanchez’s birthday celebration. She said, the Temple University “Faculty of Color Committee,” along with many others, including President (Richard) M. Englert and Provost Gregory Mandel.
She said the event on campus is free, but registration is required to attend.
For more information, visit charlesstudy.temple.edu/event/12902627 and for the Healing Verse Poetry Line: Sonia Sanchez Edition call, 1-855-POEMRX2 (855-763-6792).
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