A Voice of Equality in The World

The LBCC’s Gay-Straight Alliance, Diversity Achievement Center and Council of Clubs, with a grant from the campus’s English Endowment Fund, recently hosted Mr.Darrel Holnes (April 16, 2014) as he presented a collection of poetry to campus and community members alike. 

“Ask everyone to do their part for the cause and help to broaden and widen the conversation (of equality) so we can really open everyone to the importance of understanding.” This is one of many beliefs held by renowned Afro-Latino writer Darrel Alejandro Holnes, an individual who has pursued equal treatment of minorities to an international level.

       

Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

Holnes, whose poetry, art, and events have been both locally and internationally viewed over the past decade, has had works published in TIME Magazine, the Best American Poetry Blog, Callaloo, The Caribbean Writer, and the Kennedy Center for the Arts College Theater Festival as well as many others. In 2013 Holnes received the G.O.D.s Broadway Icon of The Year Award making his presence felt in the world. Holnes is also a member of an elite poetry troupe by the name of “The Phantastique Five” who are well known for their use of poetry to propagate a more enlightened society.

Darrel and fellow equality proponent George Takei. Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

       With all these accomplishments one could easily be caught up in their own life but not so with Holnes who has never forgotten his early teachings or that his voice is one of the people, “Nothing is ever a one man mission. I thank all my workshop teachers for teaching me to seek out sources of those who don’t have a voice. To help others be on stage to voice their cause.”

Currently residing in New York, NY, Holnes is a native of Panama City, Panama and currently teaches creative writing at Rutgers University. Holnes holds his position as a teacher dear to him and can still find time to mentor his students both past and present even as he continues to rally the voice of equality both near and far.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Holnes.

“I see myself as a student always. The world is the ultimate teacher.”

Obviously no stranger to the rigors of academic life himself, Holnes holds degrees in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and the University of Michigan. He received scholarships to Cave Canem, Canto Mundo, Bread Loaf, and various other residencies, contributed work to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, was a guest speaker at the United Nations, and supported programming at the White House as a Presidential Inaugural Scholar.

        Along with his skills as a writer, producer, educator, and activist Holmes also founded EMERGING in New York City which is a movement celebrating innovative, modern and edgy musical theater. Holnes has also established two other groups in New York City; one, a Broadway Understudies & Swing(er)s cabaret currently at Toshi’s Living Room in the Flatiron Hotel, and the other, a Broadway Composers Cabaret at The Lambs Club. Holnes will additionally be debuting projects which will move him beyond the worlds of fine arts and high theater and into TV and Film, a project which he has set for some time now in 2014.

At a glance:   

Born: Panama City, Panama

Current Residence: New York, NY

Education:  University of Houston,  University of Michigan,  Cave Canem, Canto Mundo,  Bread Loaf, and various other residencies.

Currently Teaching at  Rutgers University

Contact Info:

facebook.com/darrelholnes,

twitter.com/daholnes,

writersontheriver.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/darrel-alejandro-holnes

blog.bestamericanpoetry.com/the_best_american_poetry/2011/12/jericho-brown-farewell-featuring-the-phantastique-5.html

Tim Black: Advocating Equality

            Non-judgmental, friendly, quick to laugh, and open to others ideas are thoughts that come to mind after a conversation with Tim Black. With his flamboyant style and infectious tones, Black can often find himself the center of attention. This can be noted as an admiral quality, one of many black has at his disposal, as he continues his endeavors as a voice for activism and change in the community.

Black at work again. (photo provided by Black.)

            As well as being a Communication educator, Black acts as advisor to the Gay Straight Alliance. The GSA is for the students, staff, faculty and alumni of Linn-Benton Community College who are members or allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex, queer and questioning community. Having had little exposure himself in his early years to the LGBT community, Black quickly came to embrace there pursuit for equality and has become one of the LBCC’s most ardent voices in the propagation of the communities rights.

"Marrying" GSA member (Lex) at GSA protest. (Photo provided by Black.)

            “When I was in high school, I didn't know any LBGT folks. It was like they didn't exist. I've never had issues with those who identify as LBGT, but I had also never been exposed to any identifying folks. So, my life was limited. When I heard the GSA didn't have an adviser, and was thus inactive, I jumped at the chance. I love learning, and advising the GSA has taught me volumes about love, acceptance and compassion,” said Black.

            Behind him totally in his pursuits is his family. Black admits how proud he is of them, “My claim to fame is my awesome family. We have a rather unique family (at least by Nebraska's standards). One 'white' son, one 'black' son, one white parent and one black parent. They are my wife's biological children, and I adopted them in 2007.”

            His hometown of West Point, Nebraska may be the beginning of his tale but Black says he considers Albany his “home.” It was his family that brought him and his wife to the decision to move to the local area from West Point. “My eldest, Jake, was getting old enough to date, and I remember what a hard time I had dating as the only black kid in a small town,” said Black. “So, without a job, we moved to Corvallis. My wife, Cynthia, started teaching here, and she put in a word for me. I started teaching about two years ago, and fell in love with LBCC.”

            “I was going to be a journalist”, said Black, “But after volunteering at the local Kearney (Nebraska) paper, I switched to English Writing. After 9-11, I was invited to teach as a Graduate Student at Wayne State College (Nebraska). So, I moved back home. I had been living in Albany and working at the Storage Depot. I moved back, started teaching, and fell in love with it.” Black went on to say, “In Nebraska, other faculty would stab you in the back--here, other faculty have your back. It's a great difference, and I've never taught at a more supportive, welcoming school. I truly love LB.”

            Some of Blacks other interest include his recommencing of the Literary and Artistic Journal “66’ which will be seeing publication soon and for his efforts in poetry.

Black accepting a painting with CC fellows Glenn North and Makalani Bandele. (Photo provided by Black.)

            “I'm a member of Cave Canem,” said Black. “Cave Canem is a fellowship of the best emerging black poets. It's fairly exclusive--although in operation for about 15 years, CC only has about 400 Fellows. I was honored to be accepted on my first application, which is a rarity. CC has really enhanced my life.”

            Black went on to say, “I also love to cook and clean, which is odd.”

Black with some CC members. (photo provided by Black.)

            The work Black has accomplished in his short time here at LBCC is commendable but the many students he has guided and inspired in that same time is what Black holds in the highest regard, “I work for students, not money. Although I'd love a full-time job here at CC, I have a very fulfilling position, and love what I do.”

At A Glance

Tim Black

LBCC Communication Educator

Family: Cynthia (wife, married January, 2007), Jake (son), Titus (son)

Education: West Point High School (West Point Virginia) / Wayne State College, Nebraska /                                        University of Nebraska at Omaha

Hometown/Current City: West Point, Nebraska / Albany, Oregon

Memberships: GSA Advisor, Cave Canem member, Literary and Artistic Journal “66” Advisor

To contact Tim Black: blackt@linnbenton.edu

                                    Facebook at facebook.com/timothy.black.33