| A Poetic Tribute to “Ten Who Stood Tall” |
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| Entertainment Archive | |||
| By Larry Saxton - WI Staff Writer | |||
| Thursday, November 26, 2009 | |||
 Poet Sylvia Dianne “Lady Di” Beverly recites one of poems at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library Black Studies Center on Nov. 17.
Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah On Nov., 17, The Martin Luther King Memorial Library’s Black Studies Center presented Champions, Heroes and Icons: Ten Who Stood Tall. This poetry gala celebrated and welcomed the public to the newly renovated Black Studies Center and to pay tribute to the ten individuals whose photographs were chosen to adorn the Center’s stacks. The ten were chosen for their contributions to the arts, history, social justice, and literature, not only in America but throughout the world. Joy “Sistah Joy” Mathews Alford was one of five local poets who recited her original poems written specifically for the event. Mathews, founder of Collective Voices, has been writing poetry for more than twenty years, and was the mistress of ceremonies. “I’ve been working with these poets on various projects over the years. We, as local artists, have a vested interest in the arts community here in the Nation’s Capital; we want it truly to shine,” said Mathews. “With events such as this we have history literally talking to your spirit; it’s wonderful.” Mathew’s poems, “No Revolving Doors” paid tribute to Rosa Parks, and “Spiritual Sunrise” to Martin Luther King, Jr. The other poets were Jeffrey “Big Homey” Banks whose original poems “The Duke” paid tribute to Duke Ellington, and “Order in the Court” to Thurgood Marshall; Sylvia Diane “Ladi Di” Beverly’s poems, “Harmonic Justice” to Marian Anderson and “Let Freedom Ring” to Langston Hughes; DaRon Clark’s poems, “Professor Woodson” to Carter G. Woodson and “Mr. Robinson” to Jackie Robinson; Andre “Brenardo” Taylor’s poems, “Malcolm X – The Next Chapter” to Malcolm X and “Robeson” to Paul Robeson.  Danielle Naji-Allah along with her two daughters, Nyah, 8, left, and Aliyah 5, (foreground) enjoy the poetry program at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library Black Studies Center on Tue., Nov. 17. Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah Monique Brown, 12, a seventh grade student at Hardy Middle School was one of several young people in the audience. “Ladi Di is my mentor, and I know some of the others poets. Their work is very inspirational to me, especially when they talk about the past leaders,” said Brown. “It shows me what I can do to change the world.” “The Black Studies Center is a very special place,” said Pamela Stovall, associate director for MLK Library. “The library has been focusing upgrading the collections and upgrading the space. We have brought three new data bases around African American studies, because it is of interest to our community. This event is a highlight of the kind of events we would like to have in this room.”  Khalid. Poetry descended on the Martin Luther King Memorial Library Black Studies Center on Nov. 17. Poet Jeffrey “Big Homey” Banks shows emotion reciting a poem honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah Khalid. Poetry descended on the Martin Luther King Memorial Library Black Studies Center on Nov. 17. Poet Jeffrey “Big Homey” Banks shows emotion reciting a poem honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
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