YVONNE BROWN
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Today's Feature: G

4/18/2013

32 Comments

 

National Poetry Month Celebration

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Bio:  George Yamazawa Jr. is a second generation Japanese-American poet/emcee from Durham, NC. Raised in a Buddhist household while learning the nature of the Bible Belt, “G” quickly understood how to embrace his differences and take pride in his culture. Heavily influenced by hip hop, G first began writing rhymes at 12 years old but never considered himself a writer until he found poetry. But in 2007, G was expelled from his high school and sent to an alternative school. During that time of uncertainty and depression, he discovered the power of spoken word and used it as a positive outlet for his creativity. Since then, he has become one of the founding members of the Sacrificial Poets, the premier youth poetry organization in NC, and dedicates his time cultivating the young voices in his community. In 2010, G performed at the Sundance Film Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, and Nuyorican Poets Café. At only 22 years old he is a National Poetry Slam finalist, Kollaboration DC Winner, Ontario International Poetry Slam finalist, two-time Individual World Poetry Slam finalist, and a two-time Southern Fried Champion. He currently resides in Washington, D.C. working as a teaching artist in high schools and an aftercare teacher with elementary students. 

Accolades

§  2013 Kundiman Fellow

§  Ranked 2nd at 2012 Ontario International Poetry Slam

§  2012 Kollaboration National Audience Choice Award

§  2012 Kollaboration DC Winner

§  Ranked 9th at 2012 Individual World Poetry Slam

§  2011 Ill List Champion

§  2011 Southern Fried Individual Champion

§  Ranked 5th at the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam

§  Ranked 3rd at 2010 National Poetry Slam with Bull City Slam Team

§  2010 Southern Fried Team Champions

§  Performed at Sundance Film Festival and Bonnaroo Music Festival

§  Member of ’09,’10,’11 national and regional adult Bull City Slam Team




The Interview

Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry? 
From my family, my history, what I want my future to be like, and my surroundings. 

What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry? 
Never doubt yourself. Not just for poetry, but for anything. Courage is underrated these days! 

What is an interesting fact about you?
I don't like sushi. Like, at all. I also think "Ode to Joy" is the greatest composition/song/organization of sound ever. 

Where are you from/Where do you live?
I'm from Durham, NC and now reside in Washington, DC. 

Who is your favorite poet? 
There's too many to name. I've been working as an elementary after school teacher for the past year so I'm actually falling back in love with Dr. Suess. 



Upcoming Events:  
Hosting at Bus Boys and Poets 5th & K location on second Wednesdays of the month.
Louder Than A Bomb DMV is May 4th and 5th at GWU

"Shout Out to Bull City"

Contact:       www.gyamazawa.com
www.facebook.com/g.yamazawa           Twitter: @gyamazawa

32 Comments
Rob link
4/17/2013 11:57:24 pm

Never doubt yourself. Not just for poetry, but for anything. Courage is underrated these days! Words to live by!!

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Tiffany Hampton
4/18/2013 12:12:31 am

Fellow Durhamite!!! Cool, and he is awesome :)

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Julie Wilson link
4/18/2013 12:40:06 am

Never underestimate your self. You are worth it. I loved this one.

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Betsy Charlesworth link
4/18/2013 01:01:57 am

What a great article and I love his poetry, witty and funny but makes his point.

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Dov Shapira link
4/18/2013 01:06:15 am

Japanese hate it when you call then Chinese.
Great video, very smart guy

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Jana link
4/18/2013 01:40:05 am

..an emperor among poets ! love his ponytail too

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Meli link
4/18/2013 03:54:49 am

Quite accomplished for such a young man.

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Veronica
4/18/2013 04:44:54 am

he sure turned things around and is even giving back. truly an inspiration and talented!

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Bradley Finnearty link
4/18/2013 06:11:50 am

This is great, I love the way ignorance and other things are dealt with using poetry and stories. Great.

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Loretta
4/18/2013 06:21:02 am

Such a wonderful thing you are doing promoting poets!

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Fred link
4/18/2013 07:19:43 am

Thanks! I'm starting to get it!

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Laurie Hagedorn link
4/18/2013 08:39:50 am

Moving poetry. I feel bad this poet has been offended by some American's inability to know which country a person originates from from the shape of his or her eyes. I wonder if he could tell which country I come from?

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Tammie Rampley link
4/18/2013 09:44:58 am

Great job.. Such passion for spoken word. True gift...

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Tina Ashburn link
4/18/2013 01:19:27 pm

I love your poetry. Thanks again for sharing.

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Todd link
4/18/2013 03:40:34 pm

Great Job... Thanks!!

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George L
4/20/2013 09:15:28 am

Interesting person is "G", my name is George by the way, Asian, but Chinese and Vietnamese instead. I loved how he was able to turn his life around even though negative things happened to him.

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Growin' N Luvin' the BIZ! w.Norma Doiron link
4/20/2013 10:34:40 am

Learning a lot about poetry from you... thanks! :)

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Franklin
4/21/2013 10:00:08 am

You have taught me so much! Im thankful that i read your poetry because its truly inspirational.

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Jose
4/28/2013 08:19:38 am

It's always inspirational to see young people use their creativity not only to benefit themselves, but to make art that others can enjoy and identify with.

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Mario
4/28/2013 11:47:27 am

George is a great performer, and I can connect to him on so many levels. The way he described his culture and the way he embraced it was truly something that many people don't do so I was really impressed by that.

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Hyon
4/29/2013 09:27:10 am

I really like the emotion as well as the humor in his poetry.

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Paola
4/29/2013 10:44:27 am

I, personally, found that George Yamazawa Jr. haves an interesting story when he tells his poetry. I feel as though it is a natural feeling to stand up to the crowd and speak the mind of a life he had seen or heard. It makes me understand better and understand the feelings he may get with the typical stereotypes that people always wanted to believe. There is sometimes no way around to what people have to see and believe, yet such a mind is hard to change its own habits.

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Ganiu
4/29/2013 12:28:09 pm

Your story spoken through poetry impacts me and let's me know how sadly hurt you were to see your father go. Using your native tongue and accepting yourself for who you are makes you an inspiration to young artists out there.

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Blanca
4/29/2013 02:00:50 pm

His performance was really good. I stood mesmerized looking at the screen... clinging to the words he said.... Truly talented. I'm glad this talent didn't go to waste.

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Jazmine A.
4/30/2013 01:13:52 pm

G. seemed really relatable and down to earth. He brought his personality onto the stage with him which i really enjoyed

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Francisco S
5/1/2013 01:05:33 pm

Wow! This dude is awesome. At the beginning of the video, I liked how he brought humor to the stage. Then later, he shared the story about his dad, which was very emotional. I loved this!

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Ian H
5/2/2013 05:30:33 am

This is one of my favorite poems on the blog! He came out giving the audience something to boost their energy, a good laugh. Then closed it with a poem about him and his father's relationship. It was full of emotion and I loved it.

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Kylie Holliday
5/2/2013 07:09:16 am

Your words are so inspiring.

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Rochelle Parry
5/2/2013 11:38:40 am

This is probably my favorite..it is hard to put how I feel about this into words. I just loved it so much the way he is so funny and full of life than he hits you with is deep and intense story it just takes you back or a second

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Thomas-Velez
5/3/2013 12:15:41 am

I feel your pain man. I use to hate my dad, in my mind he was never their but he was always working. Then when i will see him he would never say anything positive. I use to hate, no i still hate it. Now i know that he does it because he doesnt want me to waste my life on dumb things like he did.

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Evan Flores link
5/10/2013 08:35:32 am

I watched this poem 3 times. Having a foreign father I can completely relate to everything G is saying in this poem. See my father is in the military also so although they show tough love it make you into a better man in the long run. You have to understand that most people don't have a father to try to set them straight and mold them in a respectable man. So I'm also grateful for everything my father has done for me. Even though it got hard sometimes it was ultimately for the better. Never take a lesson for a punishment.

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Shawntel Collins
5/13/2013 02:44:57 pm

I think the poem about his father was very powerful, Children do not always understand why parents do the things they do and we always claim its unfair. It isn't until we grow up that we realize the effectiveness of their ways

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