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The Howard University Bookstore hosted Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas yesterday as he signed "More Than An Athlete," his first published collection of poems.
Award-winning author and activist asha bandele, who is also a former Howard student, joined Thomas. She signed her newly released book of poems entitled "The Subtle Art of Breathing." The book is her second poetry release.
Moore Black Press, a black-owned publishing company created by poet and public speaker jessica Care moore-Poole, published both collections.
During the signing, Thomas and bandele stressed the important role black publishing companies play as the voice of the black community, "It's about claiming a space...having our work out there," said bandele.
Thomas, new to the publishing world, said he had a first-hand experience with publishing companies wanting to censor his work. The desire to publish work deemed by some as taboo is what led Thomas to Moore Black Press.
"A lot of companies liked the fact that I wrote poetry as an athlete, but they didn't want me to touch on some topics," said Thomas. "You can't censor poetry."
Thomas began writing at an early age. In the seventh grade he read the "Autobiography of Malcolm X," which prompted him to write speeches. As he grew older, his writing turned to poetry. Thomas said that initially, he didn't give much thought to publishing a collection of poetry.
"I was just writing for the pure love of writing," said Thomas, stating that writing was therapeutic. Once people started suggesting that he should publish a book or make a CD, Thomas decided to use his words and his celebrity status to reach young people.
Thomas said that he speaks at a lot of schools and youth prisons because young people will pay attention to what athletes have to say.
"As an athlete I have a platform," said Thomas. "They're always trying to put you in a box-just to play a respective sport and that's it. It's a great honor to be in the NBA, but I'm not limited by that," he said.
Thomas used his experiences traveling to schools as a catalyst for some of his work, "I saw a big difference between the schools in the city and the schools in the suburbs," he said. Thomas told the audience that he regularly watches television shows such as the Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," a conservative leaning broadcast, to see what their opinion is on topics.
"You have to know the ways of your enemies before you can call them your enemy," he said, referencing Malcolm X.
The conservative views he watched on television and the vast disparity he witnessed in various schools prompted Thomas to write a poem entitled, "Republicans" which he reluctantly recited for the audience. The poem was critical of the Republican Party and accused them of not being aware of the impoverished conditions many Americans live under.
Thomas said the poem was inspired in part, by the differences in the quality of schools he visited while speaking. He said that schools in the suburbs were better equipped than those in poorer neighborhoods.
Bandele also recited the title poem of her book, "the subtle art of breathing."
Throughout the session, the two poets joked about the humbling experience of being edited, but reiterated the importance of publishers like moore-Poole and supporting black publishing. Both books are currently available at the HUB in the new releases section.
