Gloria's Cafe (1992) Part 1

This is where I found my voice 29th and Girard. Right between the Ghetto and The so called Brewery town of Philadelphia. On one side of Girard you had houses worth $29,000 to $40,000 and on the other side you had houses worth $200,000 to $400,000.

The tale of two societies in a 4 block radius. Nestled one half block down was Gloria's Cafe a small yet intimate bar. The owner Gerald Harold is a progressive thinking community activist who owned the bar. He also was a lover of Jazz and fashioned himself a Jazz singer who held his own with the best of them.

His passion and his love for the community lead him to open his space for local poets and performers. A tall 6 foot 3 inch dark skinned brother by the name of Anwar El hosted his poetry series every Sunday on the Third Floor of the building.

While passing the second floor you could smell the special Teriyaki Chicken and fries Gerald loved to cook for the patrons. But once you came to the Third Floor you heard Jazz and rhythmic words flowing to congas and flutes.

The likes of Kevin "The Blind Poet' was on the stage yelling " When all revolutionary are round up, If they come for me in the night, They'll come for your Black Ass in the Morning." The crowd came to their feet with a standing round of applause leaving me to say wow!!!

The place was on fire, I never experience black people in such a small place bringing so much energy. Soon after, a tall brown skinned slim female with long thin plats came to the stage. She was explaining to us about her relationship and stated that a man was in trouble if he was placed in a poem.

The name of the poem was "So I'm a Bitch"? and the sister name is Kimmika Williams,
This poem was crazy! This sister gave the history of how women stood up, cried, died, and comforted us even in our darkest moments as men and still held us up when we couldn't do it for ourselves.

This changed many men perspective about calling any woman a Bitch. By the time she left the stage men were holding their women and telling her they would never use the word Bitch again.

The host Amwar came back to the stage to introduce another one of his favorite poets Runett Nia Ebo. She called herself the roach lady because her most like poems was "God what you make those roaches for"? Her poem had everyone in stitches, it was comical but true poem of how some of us had to live with these roaches.

Well that night was look into my destiny. I meet all the poets that night with great respect. I asked them how they go started and how could I get to their level.

All of them pointed to one man in the back fashioning paper, card stock and staples into books. These were books for sale by the authors who had just performed.
This made me even more excited because they all was published, something I had dreamed of all my young life.

when I was in the 8th grade my English teacher gave a creative writing assignment and I wrote my first official poem entitled " A Dream." This poem got me a B- in her class and that was the day I knew I wanted to be a writer and most of all a Poet.

The man in the bck introduced himself as Dr. Maurice Henderson, The Executive Producer of the National Black Authors Tour. He was kind of smug when I asked him to tell me how could I get to know more about his group?

He replied that I had to take classes and what made me think my poetry was good enough to make his touring group? My reply to him was that my poetry was good and he needs me in his group.

Maurice smiled and said I hold work shops on Wednesdays and Saturdays in South Philly make it there and we will talk.

The Greatest Poem Ever Written

Time has a way of making you weary,
Making you think of happier times,
especially when times are gray day after day. Take time in life to enjoy the little things
such as smiles, family, a hug, love, and hope
Change your scope on possibilities for greatness
rests in your mind and spirit. open up your mind and you can hear it. God is talking to you.
War is destructive to more than just man
it destroys our spirits the hope of what we can become
as a race of human beings. Hug your child and shape their moral compass toward humanity and away from insanity. For those who forget who they are will be destined to fall. This poem is for the believers of life, the believers of faith, the believers of family
the believers of greatness, This poem is to help you find the greatness in you and create the greatness in others to write and excite a great written poem.

By James Edward Johnson Jr.
aka (Osayimwese Nadir Karume)

The meaning of Speaking EZ

Pain has its way of coming down on you hard some times. Speaking EZ N2 the Blu describes speaking easy through turmoil into calmness. I would say that my life have been good yet I had times of pain, heartache and despair.

I believe that you can not get through pain unless you write it out, shout it out, cry it out, or work it out in your heart and release it.

My method was to write out my feelings and fears in this CD so my fans can get a closer look into my mind and heart.

The Songs Bitter and Chaotic deals with the pain of a relationship but brings it from a male perspective.

Brown Sugar Brown celebrates a womens softness, smell, taste, and very essences. It demonstrates my love for our women.

Wiped Away speaks to the pain and dispair of Katrina Victims. Long gone from the pages of news papers and televison screens they still suffer from the lack of help and support of this government.

Wondrful Woman: Is a tribute to Marjorie Johnson who is my grandmother. A wonderful spirited woman held her family up through the worst of times. A historian in her own right which made me the poet that I am.

In a time of major dispair and uncertainty Speaking EZ through written expression and listening may make life a little easier.

To purchase a copy of Speak EZ N2 The Blu go to www.poeticventures.com or download it to your MP3 players from Itunes, Walmart, CDbay.com or download it to your Verizon phone from VCast

Allow me to introduce myself

Poetry Is the one act I perform that gives me a since of freedom. To write your thoughts down on a piece of paper, a napkin, or in your hand and watch these words manifest into a play, a song, or a book is one of the most beautiful feelings on earth.

I would like to say it is better than sex but I would be embellishing greatly.
But I do feel the feeling of joy to create is like no other feeling.

I authored my first book of poetry in 1993 "The Reflection Of A Black Man Mind"
This book displayed the thoughts of my early years as a writer. My mind was very political and either wanted to know answers to problems or wanted to create them.

In 1998 I recorded my first CD entitled "Revolutionary Thoughts." This freshman project help cement my place on the Philadelphia poetry scene. Although I ran a poetry series a "Gloria's Cafe" on 29th and Girard this project allowed many more people to hear me other than locally.

In 2008 I released my Sophmore CD entitled "Speak EZ N2 The Blu" which is a emotional and more insightful look into my personal pain, love, and experiences.
All can be picked up at www.poeticventures.com or CDbaby.com

I am look forward to share thoughts, Ideas, and experiences with you.