| The 'Urbanite' magazine says: |
| "Still Swingin' is not for the thin-skinned. It was written to engage honest discussion for those who acknowledge racism as an American problem. It was written to implore people to take action, to demand that changes be made."
- Candance L. Greene, 'Urbanite', June 2006 edition
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STILL SWINGIN'
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Still Swingin’ is a reprint of a book that Three Sistahs Press felt had gone out of print prematurely. In fact it was at the press’ launch party in September 2004 that Matthews approached the publishers about bringing her book back into print. Matthews is perhaps better known in her east coast base of Baltimore as the spoken word artist JaHipster. The publishers felt that Matthews’ strong poetic voice showed up as well on the page as it did when the poet performed. That quality - well written, strong poetry - combined with Matthews’ established audience and packed performance schedule would provide a win-win as the publishers’ first publication. Still Swingin’ also fit nicely within Three Sistahs Press’ mission to publish a mix of out-of-print, as well as new works by women of African descent they feel strongly about.
Still Swingin’ has a new introduction by poet Jessica Care moore-Poole, well known spoken word artist and publisher in her own right. The book also has a boldly designed new cover and inside design which boasts new graphics and illustrations fronting each section. Matthews revised some of the 21 poems and added a few new poems. Matthews is an award winning poet, a recent recipient of a Hurston-Wright fellowship and a 2005 recipient of a Maryland State Arts Grant for her poetry. Earlier this spring Matthews completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from prestigious Johns Hopkins University.
The PFPB People’s Poetry Awards 2005 results are in! Congratulations to Tonya Maria Matthews/Jahipster for being voted Best Storyteller Poet and for Still Swingin’ being voted Best Poetry Book. P4PB is a community service arts organization. The members and affiliates represent various facets of the community including teachers, students, mentors, activists and of course vibrant writers, emcees, musicians, visionaries and cultural preservationists with aspiring careers whose love of the word is eclipsed only by their love for people. The goals of P4PB include exploring new ways in which poetry can be used and new places in which to use it, as well as exposing youth and the community at large to poetry as an art form, a viable educational tool, a business, and an uplifting form of entertainment.
Still Swingin’: New and Selected Poems from These Hips
Tonya Maria Matthews
$11.95 paper
Three Sistahs Press, LLC
September 2005
ISBN 0-9769-3550-X
94 pages
You are listening to Tonya Maria Matthews read the poem These Hips.
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© 2006 Three Sistahs Press, LLC
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