Whew! We're here. Now what???? |
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Dear friends, We are here! Now what? Well, first I want to sit in gratitude for the blessings and lessons of 2020. Some of those blessings were amazing - like visiting Jamaica for the first time, and some of the lessons were a punch in the gut - death, mental health, etc. Every minute of 2020 was a moment to listen, learn and grow and I am thankful I was here to do it. It was hard, but there was joy too. Below is a look back at 2020 and some moments that will carry me into 2021. 2020 - I DID THAT! January - Second year of vision boards with the ladies. A lot on that board came to be. Let’s roll that energy into this year’s vision board! (see image below)
- Started a new year as board president of Cave Canem Foundation. So proud of the work the board and staff did to strengthen the organization and continue serving the artistic and professional needs of Black poets. Onward!
February - Visited Maine College virtually for their cultural festival.
- Served as a judge for the Texas Poetry Out Loud finals.
- Facilitated the TORCH Wildfire Reading Series featuring KB.
- My poem “Gender Reveal” was included in the Furious Flower anthology!
March - Read for the Revisiting the Elegy in the Black Lives Matter Era book launch in Austin. Happy to be included in the book and for Dr. Sequoia Manor interviewing me about BPSO.
- Performed with REVEL to create “Witness” an arrangement of classical music and poetry.
- Traveled to Jamaica with Fabian for our anniversary. Good times! (before Covid19 lockdown)
April - Served as a judge for the Balcones Book Prize. Congratulations to Maya Phillips and the finalists!
- Celebrated National Poetry Month by attending some dope poetry events online.
May - Sat still. Reflected. Donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
- Became a plant mommy. My green babies are healthy and thriving!
June July - Paired Lucille Clifton’s poem “won’t you celebrate with me” with instructions for how to wash your hands. “Every day something has tried to kill me and has failed”
- Watched the visual masterpiece that is Black Is King by Beyonce. Already!
August - Featured Artist of the Month for Interfaces
- Started a new school year during uncertain times. We showed up for students and each other in the fall now let’s finish strong in the spring!
September - Celebrated another trip around the sun. Grateful for another year on this journey.
- Performed virtually for the Kentucky Womens Writers Conference’s Wild Women of Poetry Showcase.
- Read and discussed ALL the things with KB, Dr. Sequoia Manor and Kate Kelly for the Library Foundation’s event Poetry as Praise, Protest & Power.
October - Voted early in Texas for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and helped turn Williamson County BLUE!
- Rocked a dope rainbow unicorn bubble suit for Halloween. Fun! (that's me above)
- Interviewed by Stonecoast MFA. Read here!
November - Virtual lecture and reading at McMaster University in Canada. Great students!
- Cooked Thanksgiving dinner and delivered it to my family. Safer apart! Thankful always.
December - Closed out the year reading with incredible poets for Soul Sister Review & Women Writers in Bloom!
In addition to all of this, there were small joys and kindnesses that happened. Above all, carry that with you into 2021 and beyond. If all we have is each other, we are rich! Warmly, Amanda P.S. Wear a mask and lead with love. |
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My 2021 Vision Board - Claim Your Power! |
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Denton Black Film Festival Jan. 27 - 31 PANEL - Being and Justice in Black Poetry: A BreakBeat Poetics Conversation. at the Denton Black Film Festival w/ Faylita Hicks, Amanda Johnston, Maya Marshall, Joy Priest, and María Fernanda Snellings | | |
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LIVE FROM THE DRAYLEN MASON JAN. 29 - 31 The 135-seat music studio is the centerpiece of KMFA’s new facility and is named after Draylen Mason, the talented seventeen-year-old bassist who was a victim of the Austin package bombings in March 2018. We celebrate his life and the impact of art in our community. | | |
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AWP PANEL: For Colored Girls' Fam, Friends, Fans: A Celebration of Ntozake Shange Tamara J. Madison, Amanda Johnston, Remica Bingham-Risher, Gabrielle Lawrence-Cormier, JP Howard - This panel is a tribute to poet, playwright, novelist, Ntozake Shange, and her play, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. | | |
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“What is safe in this burning for survival?” Amanda Johnston turns and turns the question, a high stakes puzzle to unravel, the answers all bound up in love. Tight, spare, minimalist and brimming with mystery, these poems weigh the consequences of every gesture: the opened lock, the raised right hand, the inward reach. “You grip the wheel, knuckles frozen, and press the gas/as clouds drift in and out of your mouth.” With strong resolve, illimitable talent, and a clear reverence for the forebears these poems reach for and find, Amanda Johnston crafts a collection of beauty and daring. Her risks are honest; her voice, vital—I mean absolutely necessary. -Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon | | |
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Want to bring Amanda to your event? Let's connect! Available for online readings, adult and youth workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements. Press Kit | | |
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Cave Canem Foundation is near and dear to my heart. As a fellow and current board member, I know firsthand how Cave Canem supports Black poets with the necessary time, space, and encouragement needed to dream, create, and grow. Thank you for your continued support for this "home for black poetry." | | |
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Get Poetry News & Updates from Amanda Johnston |
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