STATS:

• LOCATION: Mount Rainier MD b/w of Washington D.C./ Charlotte N.C. native
• TENURE: I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old. I’ve been a journalist since high school, a poet since 10. I finally started calling myself a writer at 30.
• PROJECTS: Currently working on finishing up the newest incarnation of my first poetry manuscript entitled GIST and I’m looking for a publisher. Entering the third year as a co-host of Soul Conversations, a really dope radio show that features the music that mainstream radio misses. We play a lot of nu-soul, London Soul, local D.C. artists, acid jazz, dusty rare grooves and interview many folks that you’ve never heard of but are glad you did. We’re like the Gilles Peterson of independent radio. Lastly, I’m working on becoming a better Creative Writing teacher for my 9th and 10th graders.
• WEBSITES:www.myspace.com/d_weston
  www.myspace.com/soulconversationsliv
  www.washingtonart.com/beltway/dbrown2.html
  www.mipoesias.com/EVIESHOCKLEYISSUE/brown_d.html
  www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFB60gnJJns

1. What is your mission statement as an artist?

Great question. I think my answer differs depending on the day, time, and the emotional state I’m in when asked. Right now at this moment, as an artist I realize that my work represents the many groups of which I am a part. I am black, male, 30′ish, a son, a poet, a dreamer, a teacher of young people,a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a friend, a legacy, an only child, a child of divorce, raised by a single mother, possible buddhist, lover of women. So my work reflects and speaks to all of these parts of me. My work as a writer and poet also acknowledges the craft and work that goes into poetry, and to pass that understanding along to others who wish to take part in such a craft. And finally the special responsibility I have as a poet of people, black people and humanity, to bring some truth, beauty, and ugliness to the world, and touch folks with words whether spoken or written.

2. How would you distinguish your work from others?

I think the most distinguishing aspect of my work is my voice. Like any writer, I have influences and I borrow and steal little bits and pieces from mentors, friends and other wise. But my voice is distinctly mine. I use multiple written forms; from free write free style lyrical poems, to haiku ( my favorite) personae poems, and other styles. I think my poetry and writing shows that I don’t take myself seriously. I ‘m not so much about braggadocio or posturing ( but I’m a black man so you’ll get a little of that), but I don’t mind signifying. Plus although I might write a poem with a particular audience in mind, I don’t write for the audience. I used to. But I’m trying to write tickle puch poetry kind of in the style of Tim Seibles or better yet Richard Pryor ( minus all the cursing). They are good at hitting you with a bitter pill of knowledge, but they tickle you first to get your guard down and then….Boom..the punch, the gut shot of truth. I also want to get folks to read poetry again. So before I read or perform, I read a little (O.P.P) Other People’s Poetry to get their appetites whetted for other voices beyond the stage.

3. Being a writer can be a discouraging journey. Describe a moment, where you said it’s all worth it?

Being a writer also means sometimes becoming a teacher of writing. For the past four years I have volunteered and worked for a neighborhood Elementary School in SE Washington D.C. Its a tough task trying to get 1st through 5th graders to sit still and pay attention long enough to write even a line of poetry. But somehow, every summer these kids, who would complain if I placed a pen and some paper in front of them, would end the summer session writing some amazing stuff. One exercise I gave them dealt with them describing their skin color. The third graders loved this exercise and they took to it immediately. After a little coaxing and some examples they really came up with some touching lines. One particular girl had the most beautiful dark skin, it had a almost purple tint. But dark skin is still looked down upon and ridiculed in our communities and I know she was teased and made fun of. But she was tough. So she shows me her poem and in it she wrote about how her skin was night and when she plays and gets sweaty, she shines like a night with stars. She said “Mister Brown, thats a beautiful poem ain’t it?

I said yeah. And she said, “my poems are beautiful cause I’m beautiful. And I said yeah.

That’s when its all worth it.

4. What do you think is the state of poetry in America, specifically within hip-hop culture?

The state of poetry in America is alive and well. Within hip-hop culture, I think the poetry is overshadowed by he usual negative things that plagued most of the musical creations of black people. Like jazz, rock, and hip-hop, marketing has really created a glut of sound alikes, and formulaic boredom. Big companies want to find the successful formula that keeps making money, so a lot of the voices that are dope and cutting edge get drowned out by what’s popular. But the underground never went anywhere and that’s why hip-hop will stay relevant, even under the radar. You got folks still hustling their work and creating their own venues, and publishing companies, and magazines, when most doors are closed. So on one hand, you got great artists with stellar marketing skills, but then the content of their art is lost in the hustle, or maybe on the surface everything looks good (i.e cover art, glossy packaging) and on the inside misspellings, and work that could use some workshopping. Quantity hurts quality sometimes.

5. Where do you see yourself in the next decade?

On the bookshelf just before Sterling Brown, but after Baraka and Toni Cade Bambara. I see myself hosting Reading Rainbow, and in schools teaching your children. I see myself worrying about why its 80 degrees in December and missing snow. I see myself as a part of a great writing community and I see myself still relevant as a writer among black people even if I’m in my forties. I see myself alive, thriving, writing and being.

ARTIST WORK

Poem from running into you after not seeing you for a while
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R n’ R
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