Latimore: New group keeps poetry alive in Middle Georgia

As a poet, I accept the credit for creating a modern day wave of open mic and poetry performances in Middle Georgia. However, there comes a time when you have to recognize the new comers who will keep the legacy alive.

Currently, there’s a Mercer University poetry organization called Point B.L.A.N.K. This group evolved from the B.L.A.C.K. Poets, which was founded in early 2012 by Mike Scott and a few others, a dynamic group of spoken word artists. B.L.A.C.K. is an acronym for Believing Love and Cherishing Knowledge.

The B.L.A.C.K. Poets was a collaboration of artists from all over Georgia, mainly from college campuses. They were a force to be reckoned with in the present-day literary movement. Many of the members graduated and the organization dwindled away.

However, some young emerging wordsmiths have formed an official Mercer organization called Point B.L.A.N.K., which stands for Believing Love and Nurturing Knowledge. Many of these poets were mentored by Mike Scott. So, it’s no coincidence that Point B.L.A.N.K. is a spin off of the B.L.A.C.K. Poets.

Ryan Jones takes pride in keeping this literary movement going and serving as the current president of Point B.L.A.N.K. The members participate in poetry slams all over the nation.

Recently, the collective group of poets participated in the 15th annual College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, also known as the CUPSI, during March at Virginia Commonwealth University, where they ranked 20 out of 68 teams from the U.S. and Canada.

They have also revived Groove Speak, a spoken word event that takes place at the 567 Center for Renewal. Their first Groove Speak event takes place from 7:30-10 p.m. Sept. 24 and features Royce Lovett, a songwriter from Tallahassee, Florida, who expresses his work across a combination of genres including hip-hop, neo soul and rock.

Local artists are invited to come out and sign up for the open mic, which will only recognize a limited amount of participants. Admission is $5 in advance and $7 at the door.

A lot of poetic energy in Middle Georgia is represented by Mercer students. Many of them come from major metros or vibrant towns where the poetry scenes are at a climax. They embrace the culture and help to make it relevant in Macon.

As a pioneer of helping to create such a scene in Macon and founder of Poetic Peace Arts, which has been consistent in providing a platform for poetic artists for 12 years and counting, I take pride in acknowledging groups such as the B.L.A.C.K. Poets and Point B.L.A.N.K.

All of us spoken word artists and writers are just continuing a legacy practiced by authors such as Sidney Lanier and John Oliver Killens, who were natives to Macon.

Yolanda “Y-O” Latimore is founder of Poetic Peace Arts and director of Like Water Publicity, a media and booking agency. She is also a Macon Arts Alliance board member. Contact her at ylatimore@gmail.com.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Latimore: New group keeps poetry alive in Middle Georgia ."