Suzi Q. Smith

Suzi Q. Smith is an American poet, spoken word artist and activist. She began writing poetry in her elementary years and by high school was participating in poetry readings and poetry slams. She began her career as an activist working with civil rights organizations, and continued working as a community organizer and artist performing throughout the United States. Currently, she writes, performs, and leads workshops throughout the United States.

Poetry

In 2006, she worked with community activist Ashara Ekundayo and poets Ken Arkind and Panama Soweto to launch Slam Nuba, which quickly became one of the nation's most highly ranked poetry slams.[1]

In 2007, she collaborated with Belgian group Psy'Aviah on their single 'Moments', which was a finalist in the BBC's 'Next Big Thing' Contest [2] and was later released on their [Alfa Matrix] debut, 'Entertainment Industries'. The video was released and received 3 million views in 3 months, and was subsequently banned from youtube.com due to their claim that the content was 'explicit'. The video's ban received attention in the national press in Belgium,[3] including Het Laatste Nieuws, De Morgen, and Gazet Van Antwerpen.

In 2008, she released a spoken word album entitled Picks, Pistols, and Prayers, featuring the title track dedicated to Huey P. Newton. In 2011, she released her second spoken word album entitled "Re-Mixed", a collaborative music project featuring the work of several producers from around the world, most notably Henry Harding. Her third spoken word album, "Black Hole Mouth" was released in January 2013.

Currently, Smith resides in Denver, CO with her daughter. She performs poetry and music throughout the U.S. in addition to leading workshops in learning environments that range from schools to detention centers.

Organizations

• Flobots.org, 2011 – present

• Denver Minor Disturbance Youth Poetry Slam, 2010 – present

• Art from Ashes, 2008 – present

• Poetry Slam, Inc. 2006 – present

• The Children's Hospital, 2009 – 2012

• Pan African Arts Society, 2006 – 2009

• Denver Center for Crime Victims, 2003 – 2005

• Proactive 4 A Change HIV/AIDS Awareness Conference, 2001

• Denver Martin Luther King, Jr. “Marade” March and Parade, 1998-2000

• Urban League of Metropolitan Denver, 1997 – 2000

Titles

• Champion, Team Competition, Southwest Shootout 2012

• Finalist, Individual Competition, Southwest Shootout 2011

• Semi–Finalist, National Poetry Slam 2011 and 2012

• Champion, Silver Tongue Champion, Verse/Converse Festival 2011 and 2012

• Finalist, Women of the World Poetry Slam 2011

• Co-Coach, Denver Minor Disturbance Poetry Slam 2011 – present

• Founding Slammaster – Slam Nuba – 2006

• City Champion, Women of the World Poetry Slam Competition, 2010

• Finalist, Pablo Neruda Poetry Festival Barrio Slam, 2009 and 2011

• Coach, Slam Nuba Denver Team, 2009

• Poetry Editor, Denver Syntax, 2006–2007

Periodicals

• The Peralta Press (Alehouse Press)

• In Our Own Words (Burning Bush Publications)

• Events Quarterly (www.eventsquarterly.com)

• Word is Bond (Unblind Communications)

• The Los Angeles Journal (www.losangelesjournal.com)

• Denver Syntax (www.denversyntax.com)

• Concelebratory Shoehorn Review (http://www.cshoe.blogspot.com/)

• The Pedestal Magazine (http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/)

• Malpais Review (http://malpaisreview.com/)

Anthologies

• World of Women Poetry Anthology (Poetry Slam, Inc.)

• His Rib: Anthology of Women (Penmanship Books)

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Otte, Jeff (2011-02-15). "MasterMinds: Slam Nuba". Westword. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Side-Line http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=39031_0_2_0_C. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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