KingsOfKings
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TIME STAMPS:
2:14 -- Talib's mother, Dr. Brenda Greene gets a shout out at the top of the show and Talib thanks Sonia for her special contribution to 'Eardrum'. They go on to discuss how Sonia's sons Mungu and Morani convinced her to give hip hop a chance after she told them she couldn't understand the words and how that led to her embracement of rap as a continuation of the culture she helped solidify in the 60s. She also speaks on the power of Eric B. & Rakim's 'Casualties Of War.'
7:48 -- Sonia is asked to talk about her involvement in the creation of the Black Arts Movement of the 60s. Sonia goes on to name the people she came up with during that time including Amiri Baraka, Haki Madhubuti, Larry Neal, June Jordan, and others, as well as how the death of Malcolm X played such a huge role in how the movement got started. She also reflects on witnessing Abbey Lincoln recite 'Who Will Revere the Black Woman?' and the profound impact it had on her and so many other women
12:39 -- Sonia is asked about her experience growing up in Bermingham, Alabama, her relationship with her mother and grandmother, how losing them led to her stuttering problem, and how that led to her love of poetry. Sonia explores her childhood, always having a book in her hands, and playing with the boys. She also details the day her mother passed away, the stuttering she developed afterwards, as well as hearing women in the family talk about how to handle an abusive husband.
19:07 -- Sonia's 1971 album 'A Sun Lady For All Seasons Reads Her Poetry' is brought up, her use of spoken word, and she is asked about the significance of that style. Sonia goes on to tell about how it was experimental at the time and essentially a precursor to hip hop. They also discuss the importance of the Schomburg Center in Harlem, how it changed Sonia's life, and put her on the road to becoming a teacher of Black literature
25:16 -- Sonia goes on to tell the story of the F.B.I. showing up at her door and labeling her a militant for teaching about leaders like Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Richard Wright. She goes on to name some of the specific books that had the most impact on her and talks about how the scholars at the Schomburg Center gave her knowledge. She also reflects on her traveling to Mexico City and climbing the pyramids following the death of Malcolm X, then soon after joining Amiri Baraka and Larry Neal in New York during the formation of the Black Arts Movement
33:12 -- Sonia is asked for her thoughts on the role of the Black poet in 2022. She explains why it hasn't changed over all these years and tells the story of a time she felt compelled to teach a young man about the importance of respecting Black women. Sonia goes on to recite her '10 Haikus for Max Roach', tells about her recent book 'Collected Poems' available online and in stores and shares another haiku close to heart that she wrote while in China.
