National Poetry Month CelebrationBio: SeKeithia Johnson aka Queen Gyre is the founder of Unleashed Talent Productions; an organization started in high school now operating nine years, utilizing poetry and theater as therapeutic techniques for motivating youth to: “break chains to breakthrough pain via a poetic experience." Upon graduating high school SeKeithia was selected to represent the state of Maryland in, “Youth Speaks: Brave New Voices National Teen Poetry Slam Competition”, a series now featured on HBO; as an adult she became a coach to the new generation of Maryland slam poets entering the competition. In 2009, she was featured in award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio’s TEN9Eight documentary on the NFTE business plan competition which was released in selected movie theaters worldwide and later television networks BET and Centric. SeKeithia began writing poetry at the age of eight, inspired by her mother a published author and poet as well as the reality that youth face trust and rejection issues that prevent them from seeking the help they ultimately need. Sharing with youth that it is okay to talk about the things they deal with enabled SeKeithia to find her purpose. Driven by negative circumstances but inspired through the healing of art fuels the passion that SeKeithia incorporates into Unleashed Talent and it is felt in every performance and moves audiences to seek clarity, understanding as well as peace within their own lives. While in the process of making her business a registered non-profit organization, SeKeithia is mastering her greatest accomplishment yet; raising her daughter whom she affectionately named Lyric. She is currently a year round mentor, data analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a contracted artist for PG Parks and Planning providing workshops, performances and occasionally hosting their monthly teen open mic “Café Groove”. For the past seven years PG Parks and Planning has held a week long overnight camp in the summer, “Expressions: Talk Up Not Down Teen Poetry Camp” in which SeKeithia is also one of the instructors. Still considering herself a "diamond in the rough" SeKeithia is determined to live a life dedicated to seeking peace and understanding regardless of the circumstance in order to live a life full of happiness and most importantly self love. The InterviewWhere do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry? My inspiration to write poetry comes from experiencing and/or witnessing pain and/or misfortune. I see it, I feel it, I analyze it. I want to understand it and find a way to overcome it even if its not my place to do so, so i write. What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry? Whenever I encounter someone who says they "cant" write poetry or are "afraid" I simply remind them that poetry is what you make it. It is your moment to say and feel just how you want to without anyone judging, questioning, over analyzing or thinking you are abnormal. Poetry is like the bestfriend that truly wont tell your secrets, it allows you to be as creative, silly, irrational, moody, etc. but will allow you to disclose that information to the public yourself. It provides security, therapy, and a chance to gain understanding. Its spiritual. What is an interesting fact about you? An interesting fact about me would be that I am extremely shy. When I first started performing in highschool I would always go completely blank while on stage forgetting everything, over time I learned to breathe and to just be in the moment always staying focused on my purpose but I still experience extreme nervousness after performing when it is time to accept the accolades for my work and be introduced to the audience. Where are you from / Where do you live? I am from Southeast Washington, DC and currently reside in Landover, MD. Who is your favorite poet? My favorite poet is Saul Williams. He has revolutionized poetry for me. When I first heard him it was if I fell into a trance. He is complex, honest, raw, his instrumentals tug at my spirit, his lyrics liberate me in a way that makes me embrace my uniqueness. Not all artist can evoke that type of emotion especially out of another artist. I admire his creativity and strive to be an artist like him that has no limits, no genre, just purpose. PressGazette: http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/061208/largnew172159_32362.shtml Washington Post: http://www.nfte.com/sites/default/files/shes_not_mean_at_all_shes_strict.pdf MusicContact
44 Comments
Sistah Joy
4/20/2013 12:18:39 am
Powerful performance and interview! Congratulations to Queen Gyre and to Yvonne Brown for keeping poetry lifted and in the forefront during NPM and always.
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Yvonne Brown
4/22/2013 05:14:22 am
Thank you Sistah Joy!! Your love and support for the arts is always remembered and appreciated!
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A.N Teibe
4/20/2013 02:04:58 am
Passion in action!
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Yvonne Brown
4/22/2013 05:15:08 am
Sekeithia is one of the most passionate people that I have met. You should see her perform live! Wow!
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Franklin
4/21/2013 09:56:18 am
Wow is all I have to say. Extremely amazing! may god bless you for being so talented and for allowing you to express yourself.
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Yvonne Brown
4/22/2013 05:15:34 am
Thanks for the support and poetry love Franklin!
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4/21/2013 11:59:36 pm
Great poetry and she is from my neck of the woods.
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Yvonne Brown
4/22/2013 05:16:13 am
Cool Betsy! Are you still in the area?
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4/22/2013 12:49:06 am
Thanks for sharing about Sekeithia "Queen Gyre" Johnson, her daughter's name sz it all !!
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4/22/2013 01:22:13 am
I love that she works with teens...what a beautiful way to let them express themselves!
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veronica
4/22/2013 03:56:09 am
What an inspiration! great poem and I loved that she named her daughter Lyric :-)
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4/22/2013 04:12:51 am
Sounds like a talented and humble artist!
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4/22/2013 04:49:55 am
Very nice article to read.
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Yvonne Brown
4/22/2013 05:16:58 am
Thanks Dov! I am glad that you are enjoying the ride!
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4/22/2013 02:08:50 pm
WOW. I don't even know what to say.... just as A. said...Passion in action!
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4/22/2013 06:45:05 pm
I love that she works with teens...what a beautiful way to let them express themselves!
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Queen Gyre
4/23/2013 09:18:59 pm
Thank you all for taking time out of your personal lives and allowing me to share my creativity with you the comments have truly blessed my spirit and I am very grateful to have been allowed the opportunity.
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Yvonne Brown
4/24/2013 01:53:12 am
You ROCK Queen Gyre!!! Thank you for blessing us with your many talents! I remember the first time I saw you perform (right before the first Expressions camp) and how you were nearly standing on your tippie toes to bring force to each word that left your mouth---I'll never forget that! It moved me so! And to think that you are now a mother and creating a legacy! LOVE IT!!!!
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Leo
4/28/2013 09:04:51 am
I like this poem and i like how she express herself very nice video
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Mario
4/28/2013 10:53:23 am
I really liked the performance by Queen Gyre. She truly has great talent and alot to say. I cant wait to read and see more of her work,
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Maxwell
4/29/2013 06:30:04 am
Your poetry is so simple but yet so complex. That is pure talent. Loved it!
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cynthia
4/29/2013 09:09:27 am
Your poem shows your great talent. And i love the goal of your organization.
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edwin
4/29/2013 09:12:46 am
Great advice. Great poetry. I think that it is great that you work and help the youth.
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Sagen
4/29/2013 10:50:37 am
I totally understand her love for poetry, it's to symbolize everything you believe in words.
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Paola
4/29/2013 11:51:33 am
Wow, amazing! I can hear the passion and empathetic. Great work. I can tell that poetry is her talent. She speaks right out there for the crowd.
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Blanca
4/29/2013 01:46:11 pm
"Never give a man you all but trust in the Lord"
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Ganiu
4/30/2013 07:05:01 am
This is good work I can see myself listening to this in the car and I feel your voice in the poetry different and not scared to proclaim it.
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Kayla W.
4/30/2013 12:08:35 pm
Wow. She is very passionate about her poetry. I liked how she defined poetry in the interview. To me poetry is a way to express myself without being judged, but I can still get my point across. Poetry is what you make it.
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Jazmine A.
4/30/2013 01:10:17 pm
I love the way you can tell that she really ment every word she was saying. The emotion she brought made the poem even better
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JasmineBW
5/1/2013 10:22:31 am
Its very clear to see and hear how passionate she is about her work. Her words are not just words for her, they hold meaning and life within them.
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Lovely Ruth R.
5/1/2013 10:39:14 am
To "Queen Gyre" Johnson,
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Francisco S
5/1/2013 12:52:59 pm
This poem did not need a title at all because we all understood her words! Amazing poem!
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Ian H
5/2/2013 05:21:32 am
The way the poem was structured, it told a story and i was able to imagine it, word for word. Really good poem, i enjoyed this one. Though it didn't have a title, I don't think it needed one, perfect as is.
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Davonte S.
5/2/2013 08:59:03 am
The way she spoke in this poem with authority made me feel who ever was hurting pain. She gave you verbal words with a bright picture. AMAZING poem.
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Maritza P
5/2/2013 10:02:29 am
Wow. I'm speechless. What a FANTASTIC speech!! Her voice was demanding enough to bring out the speaker soul. I really enjoy this poem. :D
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DanielleG
5/5/2013 05:08:02 am
Hearing this poem type of poem you could just like close your close and image everything happening. I enjoy poetry that teens like myself and others could relate to and i feel this poem is very relative. This poem could be a inperation to all the younger girls going through hurt and pain !
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Shawntel Collins
5/13/2013 02:31:54 pm
I really liked the poem in the video A lot of girls give everything to a guy and thy don't always have the right intentions.
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