In celebration of Black Aspirations Week at Cleveland State University, the group Black Poetic will present “Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Poems of Black Poetic,” on Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. The new multi-media performance is free and open to the public and will take place in Dively Hall, located at 1717 Euclid Avenue in Glickman-Miller Hall on the Cleveland State campus.

Black Poetic is a newly formed arts education and performance troupe. Joining them will be featured performers Mary Weems, Ph.D., a Cleveland State alumna; Da Boogie Man, a.k.a Anthony Rucker; and the noted slam poet Q-Nice of “Chief Rocka” Entertainment, along with a performance by Elegant Ladies of Poetic Thought, a young women’s poetic group, and an open mike session.

Mary Weems is a nationally acclaimed poet, playwright, and educator. A National Poetry Slam champion, she teaches in the English and Education departments at John Carroll University. Through her consulting business, Bringing Words to Life, she designs and implements literacy, cultural, and self-esteem-based programming in K-12 schools.

Da Boogie Man is an Ohio native who was a four-time winner on the television show “Showtime at the Apollo.” He was also the first male to win the National Poetry Slam individual competition. He now hosts the highly popular Los Angeles Elements poetry slam.

Cleveland native Q-Nice is a regular contributor to Young Audiences and performs locally as master of ceremonies for poetry slams. He also presents a workshop for students and teachers on African American history, culture, and cross-cultural communications. Students across the country know Q-Nice through the MTV "Rock the Vote" Tour and BET's "Rapcity The Basement."

Black Poetic is under the directorial eye of Douglas “Sage” Hoston, founder of the original Black Poetic Society in 1994. The group began by holding free theater-like “readings” in nontraditional spaces. Audiences grew to over 300 people per event who came to hear poems, grassroots theater, and music under the cultural banner of hip hop. By 1997, the Black Poetic Society grew to 17 members and is a mainstay in the Greater Cleveland arts community. The group is also highly sought after outside of Cleveland for performances.

For more information, please contact Douglas Hoston at 216.322.SAGE (7243).

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