GRAND FINALE - Verbs on Asphalt

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POETRYFORthePEOPLE AN INTERVIEW WITH KIRK NUGENT Activist. Poet. Entrepreneur. Kirk Nugent exploded on the spoken word scene in 1998. On the advice of Steve Donaldson of Bogies in New Jersey, Kirk slammed for the first time at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in September 1998. Nine months later Kirk won the most coveted title of the New York Poetry Scene, Grand Slam Champion, beating out finalists Stacey Ann Chin, Dialectic, Felice Belle and Talaam Acey.The win earned Kirk a spot on the 1999 Nuyorican National Slam team. Since then, Kirk has been a full time poet, traveling throughout the country to perform at various colleges, universities and venues. As he gained a greater presence in New York and New Jersey poetry circles, Kirk decided to pursue poetry and performance full time. “Once I started reading I decided that this was what I wanted to do,” Kirk reflects, so I just walked out of my job. I’ve had enough of building someone else’s dream, time to put forty hours per week into building my dreams. I damn near starve[d] to death for two years, but if I had to do it all over again, I would walk out just as fast!” Kirk recalls his ignorance of the sport/art when he began slamming,“Nuyorican was the first place I ever slammed. I didn’t even know what a Slam was [at the time]. Ironically, the first time Kayo (1998 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion) heard me, and he predicted that I would win in ‘99. From my first slam at the Nuyorican to my last slam in Florida, I slammed for a total of fourteen months.” Influenced by hip-hop, interlaced with critical thought and analysis of life in the land of ill-gotten opportunity, Kirk Nugent categorizes his poetry as “The Unpopular Truth.” Taking on issues of racism, police brutality, media-frenzied politics and community development, Kirk hopes audiences would get “a different point of view, a paradigm shift, if you will. [What] the audience takes from the poem is going to be in direct relation to their past experience dealing “when the cops murder me who will fight for justice who will stand Will you believe their story that I had two guns and a knife when you knew Will they investigate the evidence for the integrity that it lacked/because you Breathing While Black!” with that particular subject, so I try not to preach, just tell my side of the story.” Kirk has worked with the National Action Network Youth Group under the leadership of the Rev. Al Sharpton. As a poet and activist, Kirk has seen many problems of leadership and unity within the Black community, a theme he often addresses in his writing. I asked him what is vision for his people, the People’s Poet had this to say, “If only we would realize that our greatest liability is our inability to unite. If we stop cosigning our demise, there would be no need for us to beg a racist Mayor for Justice, Justice would bow at our feet willingly. That’s what the poem ‘Copout’ was all about.” Kirk has been writing for years. Initially like many other writers, his writing was cathartic, trying “to relieve personal pain”. He wrote his first poem when he was 12, about “regretting that I was born, wishing that I was dead... I shared it with my younger sister and we both decided that I should rip the piece up for fear that it might fall into the wrong hands.” Kirk was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the US when he was 13. Kirk recalls some of the struggles and criticism of being an immigrant, as well as confronting the racial dynamics of the US in one poem (see inset) It was Kirk’s 8 year old son, who gave him the title “The People’s Poet” Kirk gains inspiration from his son, “He’s the person who taught me how to love unconditionally.” Other people’s voices through their life stories and challenges also provide sources of encouragement. I read a lot of bio[graphies]. John Johnson, Johnnie Cochran, Les Brown, Frederick Douglass, I love reading about other people’s struggle. It makes me realize that regardless of the obstacle, if I persevere, I will win.” Reflecting on the past year since the Grand Slam, Kirk feels that the title has given him more visibility and led to other opportunities,“After I won the Grand – From “When the Cops Murder Me” by Kirk Nugent
Photo: Clare Ultimo Slam Championship people started hearing about me, but it’s up to you as an individual to exploit your opportunities. The majority of my opportunities I sought out myself and with the help of my agent.The Nuyorican is a stepping stone and will always be my home away from home. As far as,“Have I grown?” Absolutely! I am always trying to improve, always trying to move forward.” What’s next for Kirk Nugent? As founder and CEO of Ironic Revolutionary Wear, Kirk is preparing to launch two lines of clothing for men and women for the summer of 2001. His first book of poetry, “The Unpopular Truth” is being released today (May 19th) available on line at www.amazon.com and www.bn.com. In addition, Kirk will release his sophmore CD in September of 2000 and will be touring in Europe this summer. Kirk’s ultimate goal, as an entrepreneur and poet: “In the next five years ‘The People’s Poet’ as well as ‘Ironic’ will be a household name.” The People’s Poet is here to stay.You can rest assured that Kirk’s pen will never run dry. “I’m sure I will grow as the art evolves, but poetry is something that I would do for free, it’s just an added blessing that it’s now paying my bills and taking me all over the world, I guess that’s the beauty of chasing your dreams.” Well, isn’t that ironic? • –Syreeta McFadden up and say ‘Nah man fuck this!’ I was non-violent all my Life? know they murdered me for ...I try not to preach, just tell my side of the story. “ Chicago 1999, the air was filled with excitement and anticipation. The team consisted of myself, Faraji Salim, La “Mar” Hill and Talaam Acey, with Felice Belle as our alternate. This was our first time slamming on a National level. The first thing I recall about the Nationals was just how political everything was. During the opening ceremonies, the MC made it a point to announce that he never liked the “New York Teams”. (keith roach said “the fix is on early this year...”) The experience of slamming on a National level nonetheless opened my eyes to how great the slam community is and gave us a chance to meet poets that we’d been corresponding with online. I enjoyed the spirit of the competition, but it is not something I could see myself doing every year. Even though one is on stage for only three minutes a day during the competition, slamming has the tendency to be emotionally draining and at times the contestants take the slam too seriously. We all would like to win, but losing is something we try to take in stride. I look forward to coaching the Nuyorican Team this year, there’s a lot to be learned from past mistakes, however I can’t see myself involved in the National Slam for a while. There’s just far too much politics and not enough poetry.” – Kirk Nugent Photo: Clare Ultimo The Nuyorican 1999 National Slam Team: From L to R: Kirk Nugent, “Mar” Hill, Faraji Salim, Taalam Acey. (not pictured: Felice Belle, Alternate)
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Page 21 and 22: THIS AD SPACE GRACIOUSLY DONATED TO
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GRAND FINALE - Verbs on Asphalt

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