Maria profile picture

Maria

Unapologetically Black

About Me


The spoken word comes to life when imbued with the spirit & soul of Maria C. James. Her first book, "Windows to the Soul", touched on issues of cultural pride, sisterhood, spirituality, & love. She wrote & designed that collection of poetry while an undergraduate at Shippensburg University, where she earned her BA in Communications/Journalism. While completing a Masters Degree in Communications Studies she completed her second book, "Rising Waters". Ms. James is now working on her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Rosemont College and is a full time professor at Central Pennsylvania College in Summerdale, PA.
Maria has been performing her poetry since the mid 1990s & has blessed the mic at venues in New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Delaware & Washington D.C. Her poetic honors include winning three poetry slams in Harrisburg, PA & a poetry contest at www.christian-poetry.com, and publication in the anthologies: Magaera, The Harrisburg Review and Poetry Ink.
In addition, she is an advocate for literacy. In December she presented a tribute to Nikki Giovanni at the Annual Dinner for the American Literacy Corporation in Hershey, PA. She also was one of the local celebrities chosen to represent the Dauphin County Library System on posters throughout the county for their Get Caught Reading Campaign.
2006 has seen the release of Maria's first spoken word CD, FREEverse which is a beautiful blend of spoken word and music. She hosts a poetry venue by the same name in Harrisburg, PA.
For more information including past performances, workshops and booking information, go to www.mariacjames.com.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/2/2006
Band Website: mariacjames.com
Band Members: Your Inner Color is Purple
Your Personality: You're a dreamer and visionary. You believe you were put on this earth to do something great.

You in Love: You're very passionate but often too busy for love. You need a partner who sees your vision and adopts it as their own.

Your Career: You need a job that helps you make a difference. You have a bright future as a guru, politician, teacher, or musician. What's Your Inner Color?
Influences: My favorite performers and writers are Lauryn Hill, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Alain Locke, Stevie Wonder, Indie Arie and others...Let's change the world on Tuesday!
Sounds Like: Sounds like there is a lot going on in Central PA! I was asked to let people know about some of the poetry venues in our area.
Due to my overwhelming schedule as a full time professor at Central Penn and a full time student at Goddard College, I have handed over the reigns of FREEverse to The Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel. They meet at the Crimson Frog every Thursday. They start at 7 esque and afterward they party at Scotts Bar and Grill in Harrisburg.
Then you have the Poetry Brew in York at York Arts on the 3rd Saturday...

GI, ghetto issue is starting a poetry night in Lancaster PA at the Birds Nest that will be on Wednesday nights.
Also, Shashaawn Dial, operations manager of 1400 the Touch hosts at the Regal Begal every 1st and 3rd Thursday night at 9...okay, I've never seen it start on time but its worth a shot. This one costs $5 but you get a soul food buffet. Its nice. Most of these folks can be found online for more info. If I'm missing stuff, send me an email. I'd like to keep this up to date and accurate.

Record Label: www.cdbaby.com/cd/mariaCjames
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Lets end the game playing in Washington!

...
Posted by Maria on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:09:00 PST

VOTE PENNSYLVANIA! April 22

...
Posted by Maria on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:26:00 PST

You know your hair is bad when....

...you walk into the hair salon and somebody yells out "FREE MUMIA!!!" and everyone starts laughing.
Posted by Maria on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:08:00 PST

So long for now....FREEverse at the Crimson Frog

Tuesday, May 8th will be the final FREEverse at the Crimson Frog   >Featuring: Lashaun Jones, the music of Jaret Wilson, and your host,>Maria C. James.>Tuesday May 8th at 8:00 PM>1104 Carlis...
Posted by Maria on Thu, 03 May 2007 06:41:00 PST

Sonia Sanchez arrested!

 This is a repost from Traycee Lynn, Writers Blocks Magazine... Sonia Sanchez - Court Date 12/1/06 ...
Posted by Maria on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:25:00 PST

2006; A Great Year!

 Our goal to put Harrisburg on the map is well underway!As the year began I was still basking in the glow of my meeting with Nikki Giovanni in December 05 at the American Literacy Corporation's A...
Posted by Maria on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:04:00 PST

about Dwayne

Dwayne passed away at the end of June - the day I was on stage in For Colored Girls. Sometimes I get angry at God for not warning me. I mean, was there anything different in the air that day? Somehow ...
Posted by Maria on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 08:20:00 PST

My Tribute to Dwayne A Moore, Shippensburg University, Sept 30, 2006

Dwayne A. MoreHe Was More  I wish I could stand before you in a garment of praise with the light that comes from an unshaken faith and tell you that I've got joy despite the loss of my frien...
Posted by Maria on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 08:02:00 PST

A message for our time... May, 2004

Especially for the Black folk, listen and discuss...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/metro/ 052304-1s.htm
Posted by Maria on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:00:00 PST

2006 Doin it in a big way!

What's up y'all. I haven't done the blog thing in a while. Well, just letting you know what I'm up to this semester. As many of you know this year has been bigger than ever for me. It started off righ...
Posted by Maria on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 03:17:00 PST