Raised on the Roots of Knowledge

I'm not traditionally known as a griot as indicated by definition. However over 40 years i've written quite a body of poems, stories and performed a small bit of music. In some way, i feel connected to this legacy of history and tradition. My first writing came courtesy of being inspired by a poem pen by legacy music icon sly stone. After that first poem i wrote entitled "me", i was well on my way to writing many things, which were inspirational to me. Some poems were sweet rhyming at first but as i began to visualize everything on this earth, i wrote about everything and began to become creative and fluid in my diction. Attending community college of phila and lincoln university (pa) didn't hurt either. Associating with other writings and poets stimulate me to be creative and say what was real and not artificial. My influences were (and still are) langston hughes, gwendolyn brooks, edgar allen poe, gil scott-heron, nikki giovanni, walt whitman, the last poets among others. They were the masters of rhyme, rhythm and message. I only hope that the (words) in this book will become just as potent as these great authors' works. Remember the pen is the sword of justice and knowledge.... Use it well. Sharif b. Abdullah 2019