Red Emma’s

Let's come together in a poetry/spoken word open mic of justice, conscious thought, spirituality, fam, real life—whatever advances the village! In the tradition of Emma Goldman’s “Mother Earth” magazine, come drop some rad “fiyah” on us, or contribute just with your presence and energy! By the way: it’s a non-erotic poetry, non-“Love Jones” type of evening, so we ask that you not go there. (And, almost needless to say, leave the misogyny, homophobia and other unnecessary ish outside!)

We’re honored to have featuring this evening the co-hosts of the legendary DC poetry open mic, Spit Dat: Drew Anderson and Dwayne B!

A science teacher turned teaching artist, poet/parodist turned playwright, and marathon runner turned motivational speaker, Drew Anderson is founder and co-host of Spit Dat (the longest-running open mic in the nation’s capital) and co-creator of the critically-acclaimed stage productions Push The Button and From Gumbo to Mumbo (nominated for the 2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences, winner of "Best Of" at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival). A nationally-credentialed teaching artist and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow, Drew has merged his passions for entertainment and education into such arts integration initiatives as Spoof School and C.R.U.N.K. Academy, bringing his unique spin on hip hop, comedy, parody, drama and poetry to stages virtual and physical, local and international.

Dwayne B!, aka the “Crochet Kingpin,” is a homegrown DC native poet, activist, break-dancer, and fashion designer. Named DMV Best Male Poet 2021 at the DMV Renaissance Awards; Dwayne's work has also taken the stage at the Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Keegan Theatre.  Dwayne has authored 3 books: One Color Kaleidoscope, twenty:21, and Breaking the Blank (co-authored with Rebecca Bishophall). Dwayne serves as a member of the Busboys and Poets hosting team for the 450K location and hosts karaoke at various places across the district. For more information about Dwayne, visit CrochetKingpin.com.

Holdin’ it down for the evening is Analysis—poet/spoken word artist, author, rad minister and bookseller, educator, justice & human rights person… Y’all know what’s up! https://www.liberationandpoetry.com   CashApp: $AnalysisThePoet

The mic list will be ready for you at Emma’s so you can get on the mic and share something with us! Additionally, we’ll pass the bucket—physically and electronically—to give something to our featured poet and to help build for the future. Please support independent artists!

The evening is, indeed, brought to you by Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse, a worker-owned and collectively operated restaurant, bookstore, and community events space in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland that is dedicated to putting principles of solidarity and sustainability into practice in a democratic workplace! http://redemmas.org https://www.facebook.com/redemmas Twitter & Instagram: @redemmas

Remember: PEACE, JUSTICE, POETRY! Will we see you there?