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Writer, Performance Artist, Spoken Word Artist, Poet, Essayist, Actor, Solo Performer, Public Speaker, Friend.

I look forward to the day I can do at least one of these things magnificently. (According to my own standards.) ..
Well, Poets and Writers Directory of American Poets and Writers just informed me I am not only a spoken word artist but also, a poet. La dee dah. Don't get me wrong, had they not let me in, I would have been pissed. (That's how I roll.)

So let me toot my horn. My solo poetry/performance shows have been presented at venues such as the Hudson Theater (Hollywood), Highways Performance Space (Santa Monica, CA), Sushi Performance and Art (San Diego, CA), Dixon Place Theater (New York City), and Kitchen Theatre (Ithaca, New York.) My shows have received PERFORMANCE PICK OF THE WEEK - LA Weekly, BEST BEST - L.A. TIMES, BEST BET - ITHACA (NY)JOURNAL, BEST WEEKEND PICK (SAN DIEGO BEAT)

My solo work and poems have been featured at venues such as The World Stage (Leimert Park, Los Angeles), Beyond Baroque Literary Center (Venice CA), Henry Miller Library (Big Sur, CA), UCLA Hammer Museum, USC Ethnic Studies Conference, Disney Hall's Redcat Studio Series and blah blah blah.

"Black Stuff", a satire I co-starred and co-wrote with Alexander Thomas has been performed at venues such as Highways Performance Space, National Black Theater Festival, UC-Santa Barbara, Dartmouth College (through New York Theatre Workshop), New York International Fringe Festival (Backstage East - Pick), and Kitchen Theatre (Ithaca, New York

www.blackstuff.net.

You wanna really get me quiet, say "Tell me about yourself". I'm at a lost. I am a contradiction. I am many people inside. There are those who think I am overly serious. There are those who think I am childish. There are those who think I am pure. There are those who know better. I am very private and yet I write poems in the first person (even when they aren't true - I am the next James Frey. I will also lie like a dog to protect my privacy.) I am also into writing first person essays. Me-me-me.

I feel I have some things to say - I have been annointed with some kind of holy oil - and I have to share what's on my mind. I come from Robbins, Illinois, a small town of around 5,000 - if I walk around or go into any public place there, I am bound to run into somebody I know or somebody will ask me "You a Hawkins, aren't you?" Robbins is 99% black and when I was growing up, we were surrounded by all white surburbs. There are all types of people in my town so I view black people in a great range instead of as a few stereotypes. Some good, some bad. Some my brother, some I wouldn't turn my back when I'm in their presence.

My first white teacher was in the seventh grade and his name was Mr. White. Since my junior year in high school, I have been educated in predominately white environments. I think my experiences give me a good feel on what people are really like.

I've been an honor student, I read a lot, I am very curious about life and love all kinds of people. We are the world! We are the children! I am black and have white, black, asian and latino friends. I am a same-gender loving person (black for "gay" - hate the word, queer). Hid it most of my life. Well, I should say, I tried to hide it, some knew, some didn't. Don't ask. Don't tell. Not a healthy way for a person to live. Lying everyday. I came out to many of them in my first show. "A Symphony To Find Myself". Most of my friends are straight. It makes for an interesting world and an interesting birthday party.

I come from a Christian family - everybody used to say I was going to be a minister and I do consider myself one - but only in my writing and performing. I do believe in Jesus Christ but I don't have a rigid interpretation of the bible - Jesus was a radical who challenged stupid religious rules and believed in loving all and interpreting things from the spirit and not by rigidity.

I understand some of the right wing's point of view but more often than not, they make my ass tired. I am moderate moving towards liberal and some liberals make my ass tired. The world will never be right unless we are willing to look beyond our world into someone else's and realize, if we're going to get together, compromises have to be made.

I am looking for love and know along with success, it WILL come my way .

I am an artist trying to find a way to do it all the time and live large. Well, not LARGE LARGE but at least medium.

Before all things, I am a human being. I hate labels and limitations. I think of myself as a bookworm with a little flava. I am eternally optimistic and can't deal with cynicism or a lot of negativity (unless it's somebody probing life looking for solutions).

I work hard and many people say I am the hardest working person they know, but now I'm starting to realize I take on too much, am a tad unorganized, and I don't always work smart.

AND I HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE LONG - WINDED.

Hit the play button to the left of the time and underneath the word "chat"