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Freedom Speaks-Diaspora

Live Spoken Word or Die Unheard

About Me

Order your copy of Manjani now and get 10% off the cover price. All customers will receive their books on or just before the August 1, 2008 release date. *Autographs available by special request.$16.00 (-10% pre-order discount) = $14.40 + shipping.Manjani Jackson is a mouthy New York teenager who believes her life's purpose is to lead her "deaf, dumb, and blind" brothas and sistahs into The Revolution. On one of the worst days of her life, tragedy strikes, landing her at an all white school. Although she is working on getting along, the racist students make it impossible, and before long, the administration crosses the line, forcing Manjani into political action. Then one of her events gets out of hand, sending Manjani on the run. Her journey leads to a place where bittersweet lessons about liberation are learned as her comrades turn against her. Only tough love, spiritual revelations, and self-determination will help her find her place in the struggle. Freedom Speaks: the poet, has dedicated her life to uplifting her community through writing and performance. People often describe her work as being “powerful” and “insightful,” and she is said to be “wise beyond her years.”Under the name, Keena Diaspora, Freedom’s work has been published internationally, in The African Journal of New Poetry, in June 2006. She also has work scheduled to be published in the anthology "Black Women Reflect on the N-Word" along with other forthcoming anthologies.The twenty-nine year old mother’s themes center on education, liberation, and self-empowerment, and she is cherished for her down-to-earth attitude.As champion of her very first poetry slam, the HBO Def Poetry Jam Slam, Freedom Speaks earned the opportunity to open for Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam on Broadway at Atlanta’s Fox Theater in November 2003, formally introducing her to the Atlanta Spoken Word Community. Other notable performances include the 2003 Spoken Word Expo in St. Louis, Mo., Proctor & Gamble’s 2004 Pantene Total You Tour in Atlanta, Ga., the 9th Annual World Natural Hair and Beauty Show, and she was a guest performer and judge at V103 and Littel Concepts’ First Word Youth Slam.Flourishing in any setting, she has opened for the 2005 U.S. Human Rights Network’s National Conference, opened for Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney's Sister to Sister Workshop, and was the featured spoken word act at “Girls in the Night,” during Atlanta’s 2004 Gay Pride Festival. As a motivational speaker, she has facilitated her “Promises” workshop at The Dekalb Senior Center during Women’s Health Week 2006, and she recently appeared on Robert Townsend’s “Spoken” on The Black Family Channel. She was also a performer and panelist at Oakhurst Medical Center's Hip Hop Health Summit held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Performing Arts Center.Freedom Speaks’ poetry products include her debut album, Roadblocks to Righteousness and Revolution, an EP and a DVD titled A Taste of Freedom, and two poetry books, Soul Witness (Completely Revised) and Speak, Poet! while her “Live Spoken Word or Die Unheard--” t-shirts continue to be a national Spoken Word commodity.In the community, the former New York State NAACP Youth & College Division President is now the Artistic Director of Griotsville Foundation, a community organization dedicated to educating and empowering indigenous people/people of African Descent using spoken word as a medium. As a professional writer, editor, and self-publisher, she founded Freedom Speaks Ink in 2003, which offers writing, editing, proofreading, and consulting services. Her newest company, Sun Cycle Publishing focuses on converting desktop chapbooks to paperbacks, manufacturing self-health and holistic healing books, and publishing books written for and by children.Currently, Speaks looks forward to the release of her debut and sophomore novels, Manjani and Initiated Men.On stage and off, Speaks continues to be an invaluable asset to the African-American Literary and Performing Arts communities.For booking, contact [email protected] Prison My Whole Life Trailer
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/14/2006
Band Website: freedomspeaksink.info
Band Members: Freedom Speaks

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Influences:

My influences are the Divine Creator and Spirit Poets whispering in my ear. The Orisha, especially, Baba Esu, Baba Shango, Ye-Ye Oshun, Ye-Ye Oya, Baba Ochosi, Baba Obatala, the plight of my Ancestors, my life growing up with my mother and grandmother, African drums, dancing at Bernice Johnson's Cultural Arts Center, cheerleading, Hampton University's Pep Squad, the New York State NAACP, singing in the choir at Shiloh Baptist Church, Trevvalution, erotica, reggae, vegans, my son Elyjah, Black Women, The Nation of Gods and Earths, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Alice Walker, Mutabaruka, Taalam Acey, Lizz Straight, Heru, Khafra, l.i.f.e., Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Amir Sulaiman, Malikah Hameen, Samantha Raheem, EnVogue, Jerzee Monet, Alicia Keys, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, Eve, broadway musicals, Jim Carrey films, In Living Color, The Jefferson's, Roots, my dreams, Native American culture, Ile Ori Ifa Temple, Egbe Orisha Nubian Temple, Iya Amoke and Baba Atiba, Dr. York's Nuwaupian scrolls, Chris Rock's comedy, Dave Chappelle, Judy Blume books growing up, Fran Wheeler (supervisor at my last plantation who told me to stop spittin poetry at work and speak to someone who wants to hear it!) and more.Favorite Books Include: Alice Walker's Anything We Love Can Be Saved: A Writer's Activism, Conversations with Gloria Naylor, Queen Afua's Sacred Woman, Scenes from a Sistah, The Coldest Winter Ever, Ida B., Upstate, Breath, Eyes, Memory, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, Invisible Man, Sisters and Lovers, Chasing Destiny, Genevieve, Between Lovers, Lil Mama's Rules, Chocolate Flava, Walk Like A Man, Assata, Conversations with God, Conversations with Nikki Giovanni and Margaret Walker, Conversations with Audre Lorde, Yolanda King's Embracing Your Power in 30 Days, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office 101, 48 Laws of Power, Four Agreements, Bird by Bird, Spirit Healing, Nowtime Prophecies, Dancing the Dream, Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Succeed in Business Without Being White, Gumbo (anthology of short stories), the Autobiography of Malcolm X, Tom Joyner's autobiography, I'm Just A DJ...But it Makes Sense to Me, From Niggas to Gods, They Stole it But You Must Return it, Nutricide, Are You Still A Slave?, several poetry anthologies and natural healing/herb books, tarot, and the list goes on and on, ad infinitum.
Sounds Like:The bellows and cries of Afrikan men, women, and children, Ancestors, and mighty spirits of liberation. Soothing yet severe spoken word topped with hip hop flava. Food for your mental and fire for yo’ ass!
Record Label: Freedom Speaks Ink
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Manjani Novel Excerpt

At the advice of a reputable author, Karen E. Quinones, in her blog, I am posting a little of my work...showing off my stuff!  The novel, Manjani, is a coming of age story&nbs...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:20:00 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (please distribute widely)

Kingsland, GA--May 15, 2008--Whether you are an avid reader, a writer, poet, publisher, or fan of the arts, you will appreciate Freedom Speaks Diaspora's tale of resiliencethe same force that runs th...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Thu, 15 May 2008 11:30:00 PST

MANJANI NOVEL MYSPACE PAGE

Please send a friend request to www.myspace.com/manjani_novel. Thanks!
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:09:00 PST

Manjani Pre-Orders Available Now (10% Discount)!!!

Order your copy of Manjani now and get 10% off the cover price. All customers will receive their books on or just before the August 1, 2008 release date. *Autographs available by special request....
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:28:00 PST

When Your Oshun Shrine is Dusty Your Relationship Probably is Too!

Oshun (American spelling) is the West African deity of love, sweetness, children, prosperity, and morebasically she represents the finest things in life. Characterized by the color yellow, and its co...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:03:00 PST

Mumia Appeal Denied Again (and movie trailer)

I was saddened to learn a few days ago that all of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s appeals were once again denied despite the fact of someone else having confessed, and all the other details that make his dea...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:39:00 PST

Theme Song For Manjani

Hey, I have begun working on Manjani’s myspace page but I can’t find a theme song for her that is appropriate. I thought of Queen Latifah’s "Ladies First" which I love but the ...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:37:00 PST

You Don’t Know Your Name?

My son plays soccer. And I am his mother. I am extremely proud of him. The boy has skillz. But I am not the kind of soccer mom I see on game day. You know the ones...they walk around repeating that th...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:33:00 PST

my new blog

Peace to everyone, I’m just writing to inform you that I have started a new blog at http://readerswritersandlovers.blogspot.com/ called Freedom, Tigress & Co. It will have information ...
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:30:00 PST

Thanks

To everyone who has assisted with Manjani in its various stages. Your support has come in various forms and has not gone unrecognized.
Posted by Freedom Speaks-Diaspora on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:02:00 PST