* Tongo Eisen-Martin is San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate.
* His curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His book "Someone's Dead Already" was nominated for a California Book Award. His "Heaven Is All Goodbyes" was published by the City Lights Pocket Poets series, shortlisted for the Griffins Poetry Prize, and won a California Book Award and an American Book Award. * Matthew and Tongo revisited his inauguration as poet laureate - a powerful, inspiring event that has been viewed on YouTube 1500 times - and discussed how Tongo intends to use his new platform. * Tongo discussed his relationship with San Francisco, as well as his upbringing in an environment where he was instilled with a duty to help raise consciousness. * Tongo shared how and why he began writing poetry, what about poetry called to him, and how he gradually embraced his identity as a poet. * Tongo's new poetry collection, Blood on the Fog, is published by City Lights. Tongo shared how this latest book is different from his previous ones, how meditation has affected his process, and what it is like to collaborate with such an esteemed institution as City Lights. * Tongo explained why fixing the system won't work to create lasting social change; instead, he asserts that revolution is essential for humanity to survive. He also underscored the need for prioritizing the collective over the individual as essential to that. * Tongo shared his thoughts on the relationship between the written word and the spoken one, as it applies to poetry. * With Alie Jones, Tongo recently launched Black Frieghter Press. He shared their mission, as well as their recent publications and projects. * Blood on the Fog is out September 21 .
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Links
https://www.blackfreighterpress.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_tongogara_/
https://www.facebook.com/tongo.eisenmartin