Whenever I have been asked who has inspired me the most as a student, the first person I will name is Truth Thomas. He was an artist in residence at Howard Community College when I took his class in Poetry. Our class was filled with students from many backgrounds, academic goals, and personalities. 

    For each class, we were expected to read a poem, out loud and in the center of the room, to craft our own poetry, and give constructive feedback with grace. Truth was able to teach each of us how to become better public speakers, to be more confident in our voice, and give feedback that was honest and constructive. At the same time, pull out of each student their unique voice. Each moment done with care to the needs of the student in that moment. 

By the end of our class, I saw how each of us had become more confident in our speech, more instructive with our criticism, and more inspired to express the importance of the small moments which quietly carry big voices.


    Check out The Skinny Poetry Nation, dedicated to the skinny form of poetry.  A form developed by Truth Thomas during a Tony Medina Workshop at Howard University in 2005.  Maybe create one of your own!


(https://theskinnypoetryjournal.wordpress.com)

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