- Playing
- The Fire This Time
- From
- Christopher Sprinkle
Moving spoken word poem from Los Angeles-based poet Imani Tolliver, giving light to her vivid memories of living through the 1991 LA Uprising as an African American woman.
Imani Tolliver is a poet from Los Angeles. She studied English and African American Studies at Howard University. She is a co-host at Anaisi Writer’s Workshop at the World Stage in Leimert Park. Currently she works for the Salvation Army, serving high-risk youth in Hollywood. Her recent publications are Burn Rush the Nova Page; A Global Anthology of New Black Literature, Def Poetry Jam, and Beyond the Frontier.
More from Christopher Sprinkle
The Essence of Dick Cheney's RNC Speech
(02:03)
From: Christopher Sprinkle
Dick Cheney's RNC speech squeezed down to its true essence.
Dancing On Hurt Feet
(03:55)
From: Christopher Sprinkle
Beautiful spoken-word poem by renowned artist Jaha Zainabu.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Moving spoken word poem from Los Angeles-based poet Imani Tolliver, giving light to her vivid memories of living through the 1991 LA Uprising as an African American woman. Imani Tolliver is a poet from Los Angeles. She studied English and African American Studies at Howard University. She is a co-host at Anaisi Writer’s Workshop at the World Stage in Leimert Park. Currently she works for the Salvation Army, serving high-risk youth in Hollywood. Her recent publications are Burn Rush the Nova Page; A Global Anthology of New Black Literature, Def Poetry Jam, and Beyond the Frontier.
2 Comments
|
Review of The Fire This TimeIt starts with the really good image of a young black girl saying boo to a car full of white people. It’s the kind of lyrical moment that is so easy to apprehend on the radio. It’s the kind of thing that gives you hope for the difficult proposition of getting poetry to work over the airwaves. In general, I think poetry for the radio works best when there’s more of a conversational quality to it, and less gravitas. With “The Fire This Time,” the smaller, human moments pull you in, and that’s most welcome. |
Broadcast History
KPFK Los Angeles' "The Morning Show" 2003
KPFA Berkeley and KPFT Houston's "Flashpoints" 2003
Deborah Astley
Posted on March 27, 2005 at 06:41 AM | Permalink
Review of The Fire This Time
"There is a scream that occurs when you are left out of something." This is just one line from Imani Tolliver's poem, "The Fire This Time." Christopher Sprinkle has backed Tolliver's powerful, personal words with compelling music that takes the listener back to the time of the 1991 LA riots. As one who only read about and watched and listened to the news reports about the riots, this poem drew me in and I got to hear about that time from someone who was there and experienced it. Poetry can say things in a way that other forms of communication cannot and Ms. Tolliver uses her words well. This is an excellent, thought-provoking piece. It would work well during National Poetry Month; it would work well at any time of the year. It should have an audience.