#freequencyspeaks

[freeqthamighty]

A year and a few days ago my TED talk “Black Lives At The Intersection of Birth and Death” came out (after almost not coming out cuz i (rather kindly) told them about themselves in an article and in the talk cuz they asked me to remove #BlackLivesMatter from my talk) • it was definetly an experience ill remember, one that challenged me to remember why i do the work i do the way i do it and the importance of speaking out, even and especially when your voice shakes. Article is on Medium ( www.medium.com/@mwendekatwiwa ) , TED talk at ted.com getting close to 1 million views 😱 • outfit by @ayadesignsglobal , “African bluetooth” / ear cuff by @doviesdivine , make up by @karmencosmetics • #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks https://www.instagram.com/p/BtegWXPgwol/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dblz819bmt1d

[spanky606]

@Regran_ed from @pushing_black - When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land. - Jomo Kenyatta #JomoKenyatta #DesmondTutu #MwendeFreeQuencyKatwiwa #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5pUJMHoB-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16zr2fug7mvq3

[freeqthamighty]

Tour date #1 wrapped up (and looking quite handsome might i add😉) • i love love love poetry lectures yall. Poets are not poetry jukeboxes. I always appreciate having space to expand on the thoughts and work behind the words. It was especially great to be able to a talk-performance on Borders. I spoke about colonial history and heritage, borders on our bodies and beings, read new and old work in front of a room primarily made of future and current social workers of color...and none of it wouldve been possible without @marilyn_cortez whose follow through game is SO STRONG! I met Marilyn 1.5 years ago at the Liberation Based Healing Conference (which is a dope gathering you should check out) where i was a lunchtime performer. We connected and that day she said “Im gonna get you on my campus before I graduate” and now shes months away from doing so and here i am #FollowThroughGameSoStrong • congrats @marilyn_cortez on your upcoming graduation and I wish you the best in your future necessary work 💛2nd pic: Me and Marilyn • 3rd pic: me and other keynote speakers • 4th pic: me and this fly band Ella 🌞#FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks (at California State University, Northridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZkj4HAXCc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=co184skd4i5t

[freeqthamighty]

Last round, finals stage, 2018 Women of the World Poetry Slam - I chose to do this poem even though I was scared. Why? Well because I'd done it in preliminaries as my 4 minute round poem as in..it's really long when it's done at the speed and build up that feels most comfortable for the piece (finals is 3 rounds of 3 minute poems with a 20 second grace period). I had a plan to have my partner who was in the audience indicate when time was getting near, but the venue was so large and bright I couldn't see a damn thing in the audience.

So I had to wing it.

I had to find a speed that worked for me and for the time constraints. And I was DAMN close to getting a time penalty. DAMN CLOSE. But I didn't. And let me tell you, I've lost slams before on time penalties. More than once. I have been my own worst enemy in slam before being careless about time, but I'm sure you can tell towards the end of the video I was moving like a speedrail cuz I could feel the time getting short (when you do enough slams, you start to know how 3 minutes feels without counting). I chose to just yell over everyone in the audience cuz I couldn't wait for it to quiet down and cut out a line at the end. And it paid off. I won my first individual slam title outside of New Orleans at the 2018 Women of the World Poetry Slam hosted by Poetry Slam, Inc. who also released this video in partnership with Slamfind

AND BIG UPS TO THE WOMAN NEXT TO ME FURIOUSLY SIGNING TO KEEP UP WITH ME. You did that sis :)

[freeqthamighty]

NEW VIDEO - I'm excited to release the video for “Remembrance” a multigenre collaboration mixing poetry, music & film with Spirit McInyre, directed by Gian Smith this National Poetry Month

Please SHARE widely - This project is dedicated to all of our beloved Black Ancestors; those who have died by violent means, natural causes, or by their own hands. We are intentionally uplifting Transgender, Queer, Sex-Worker, Elder, Youth, People With Disabilities, Women & Immigrant kin;making sure they never suffer the second death that comes with being forgotten. #BlackLivesMatter in birth, in life, in death and in remembrance.

Most poetry videos are shot at slam tournaments and contain the author and a mic, but I’ve always wanted to find more compelling ways to merge poetry and videography to tell stories beyond words amplified in front of an audience. I’m honored that this team agreed to help me realize this vision with this project, look out for more in 2018! Visit www.freequencyspeaks.com for more videos.

#FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatter #SandraBland

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FreeQuency aka FreeQ Tha Mighty: Website www.FreeQuencySpeaks.com | Twitter @FreeQthaMighty | Instagram @MwendersInSuspenders

Spirit McIntyre: Website www.spiritwerks.com | Instagram @mcintyrespirit

Gian Francisco Smith: Website www.pbesoul.com | gian0@yahoo.com

Malcolm Johnson: Website: www.malcolmjstudios.com | Instagram @malcolmjstudios | Facebook Malcolm J Studios

[freeqthamighty]

My favorite kinds of audiences 😍✊🏾I love doing university shows that have Black audiences. Black students at PWIs always seem to have so much to say about the Ivory Tower they find themselves in 👀we for real need more truthful recruitment people 😂(check out mine and Akeem’s poem “Keep on Talking” for an example) #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks

[freeqthamighty]

Won't you celebrate with me 💃🏿earlier this year I entered into this video contest for my poem "The Gospel of Colonization". If you know me, you know I hate competition (partially cuz I get too into it sometimes) and submitting things so I challenged myself to do both and then I won! Thank you to all my PSI slamily who voted, it means a lot that you took the time to vote and used your one vote on me 🌞and shoutout to @wanpoetry for the video! #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks

[freeqthamighty]

Stories to come tomorrow, but for now, here’s your 2018 Women of the World poetry slam #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks (at Majestic Theatre)

[freeqthamighty]

Finals stage ready #WOWPS2018 #WOWPSdtx #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks (at Majestic Theatre)

[freeqthamighty]

Show #8 on the #BecomingBlackBookTour done! Fun fact: I often tell my audiences that I write to and for and about Black folks and Blackness and offer no explanation (...cuz why you need to explain that? It’s like saying we not worth it 🤨🙄) then I end my set with the poem “Dear White People” which is one of 2 poems I’ve ever written to white folks (the other one being “Dear White Feminists 🌚) and also not surprisingly the poem I get the most trolled about ...like once this dood made a whole response video about that poem 😂🤦🏾‍♀️😬anywhooooooo you can find the poem on my website at www.freequencyspeaks.com as well as the rest of my tour calendar 😁#FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks

[freeqthamighty]

This weeks shows 🙇🏿‍♀️ come find me if you’re in Washington or NC or Virginia • #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #BecomingBlackTour

[freeqthamighty]

This week, come find me in Washington and Oregon • full tour schedule at www.freequencyspeaks.com • #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #BecomingBlackBookTour

[freeqthamighty]

Thankful for a thoughtful and engaging audience tonite at University of Pittsburg at Greenberg. I never just do a performance 😂it's part lecture, part game show, part poetry but it's always all FreeQuency 😉#FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #BecomingBlackTour

[freeqthamighty]

I think if my mom was on social media she would say this photo is vain but also be really proud. I think if she knew I walk into my shows wearing my shuka and then use it as the tablecloth to my merch table she’d chuckle and shake her head and say it’s smart. I been thinking about my mom a lot recently. I dunno why. I think I’m learning a lot of the lessons she tried to teach me about life that she learned in hers as I’m living mine- patience, self knowledge, integrity, fluidity, kindness, calmness etc - and I just keep seeing her gap toothed grin floating around like the Cheshire Cat every time something happens and she could theoretically say “I told you so” or “that’s bad manners” or *clicks her tongue at me*😂😐 • #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #BecomingBlackTour

[freeqthamighty]

TONIGHT! I’m not with my squad @slamneworleans officially this year, but I still get the chance to represent New Orleans at the 2018 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Dallas TX later this month alongside my slamily @icontheartist • come on out tonight to hear new work and support #TeamSNO and New Orleans poetry. I’ll have copies of my book for sale too! 🎤 #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks

[freeqthamighty]

Of all the texts and messages I’ve gotten after winning the 2018 Women of the World poetry slam, the ones from the youth I work with have made me cry the ugliest. I always feel such swelling pride for them and their writing and their future trajectories and to know they feel proud of me right now is a feeling I want to hold onto for as long as I can. I’m honored that my first show after this title is featuring for the @noyouthopenmic before our Youth Poetry Festival happening April 18, 20-21st, 2018 🙇🏿‍♀️ hope to see y’all there, being a young person you know! #NOYOM #NOYouthOpenMic #FreeQuency #FreeQuencySpeaks #NOLAyouthpoetry #followyournola