Today we’d like to introduce you to Phetote Mshairi

Hi Phetote, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I discovered poetry was my purpose when I was a scrawny 10ish-year-old boy in Tulsa, OK. I was a self-imposed loner with spurts of extraverted tendencies. One hot summer afternoon in the early 1980s, I ran into my childhood home, seeking attention and water, only to find my siblings immersed in writing raps to the instrumental of Rappers Delight by Sugar Hill Gang. (I now realize they were in flow.) Intrigued, I asked my sister Cody to teach me to write raps too. She handed me paper and a pencil and showed me how to turn my thoughts into lyrics and write with the rhythm. It was love at first write! From that day on, I was destined to make sense of life through rhythmic sentences.

As I grew, toggling between rapping and writing poetry, I found my happy places on stages and in cypher circles, captivating audiences with my lyrical prowess. I became mindful of the words I said, wrote, and listened to. I gained an appreciation and understanding of the power of words to affect moods, sway opinions, and even influence people. In a world filled with half-truths, lies, and negativity, I choose to counterbalance it with truth, knowledge, and inspiration. Despite being overlooked and underestimated due to my height sometimes, performing allows me to command attention and respect.

I write for those at a loss for words, offering a smorgasbord of edifying content amidst the junk food of negativity that the world is bombarded with. My journey continued as I wrote raps, poems, and songs about my experiences, other people’s experiences, and stories I concocted in my imagination.

Through my writing, I aim to provide a voice for the voiceless and help eliminate the illiterate tax. Poetry is the tool that I was blessed with to help me fulfill my purpose.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Has the road been smooth? NOPE! Choosing to earn a living through my passion (poetry/words) instead of practicality (my BBA) is very challenging. There are times when my calendar is full of gigs and people are buying my books. Then, there are times when my calendar is a barren desert of second guesses, and no one wants to buy another poetry book that they may not even read. But thank GOD that there are seasons in every aspect of life, and Spring always follows Winter.

People often overlook short people (pun intended); and Black people aren’t taken serious in some literary circles. I have to be extra good at what I do, for people to acknowledge and appreciate what I bring to the table, and to pay me what my services/skills are worth.

Dating is a different struggle! To add heartache to hardship, people determine how much respect they’ll show you by what you do for a living. (They don’t even consider asking what you do for the living.) You think it’s hard telling a woman you’re interested in that you’re a professional poet; try telling her judgmental family and friends that you’re a poet! I’m self-sufficient so, I don’t need anything from the women I date, but not being able to help them when they have a big financial crisis has been an issue in the past.

Relying on your art/passion to make a living can be very hard and yet rewarding.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I started a publishing company called New Greenwood, LLC, because I would no longer wait for anyone else to publish my work. I am an alumnus in residence with Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF). My TAF fellowship term was 2021-2024. I am the vice-chairman of the poetry committee at Living Arts of Tulsa. I am a poet, author, editor, publisher, event curator, and performing artist. I’ve curated over 200 multi-disciplinary events. I’ve performed in over 500 multi-disciplinary events. I am commissioned to write and perform original poems that coincide with a variety of themes based on the event at which I’m booked. I am booked locally and all around the country. I conduct poetry workshops, host events, and give keynote speeches about the power of words and literacy in society.

I edited and published (2021) RELEASE ME the Spirits of Greenwood Speak anthology as a Tulsa Artist Fellowship fellow and a Greenwood Art Project artist. RELEASE ME: The Spirits of Greenwood Speak intertwines historic facts about the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK (before and after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre) with timeless principles of community building. Crafted in the ekphrastic poetry style, the anthology features a diverse collection of full-colored original artworks and photographs, each accompanied by vivid poems that bring the visual art to life.

The anthology includes original poetry, authentic artwork, photographs depicting the aftermath of the massacre (both destruction and rebuilding), fictional short stories, plays, and essays. Some of the works were created by a few descendants of Greenwood’s citizens circa 1921, adding a deeply personal touch to the collection.

RELEASE ME: The Spirits of Greenwood Speak features contributions from esteemed individuals such as former U.S. Poet Laureate Dr. Joy Harjo, award-winning poet/author/educator Quraysh Ali Lansana (foreword), leading historian on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Hannibal B. Johnson, and Tulsa Artist Fellowship artists Sarah Ahmad, Kalup Donte Linzy, Shelby Head, Adam Carnes, and Phetote Mshairi. The anthology also showcases works by distinguished award-winning photographer Don Thompson, the Tulsa Historical Society, and various renowned citizens of Tulsa, OK.

I wrote and published (2023) An Old Fart and a Thousand Sentiments. It’s a book of poetry that truly encapsulates the essence of diverse emotions and experiences. Through a seamless blend of poetry and prose, the book takes readers on a captivating journey through themes of love, wisdom, nature, civil rights, life, death, and humor.

Featuring over twenty distinct poetry styles, An Old Fart and a Thousand Sentiments pushes the boundaries of traditional poetry and introduces readers to innovative forms of expression. It encourages introspection, sparks creativity, and invites readers to explore the vast spectrum of human emotions.

What makes this collection truly unique is its exploration of language and culture. With poems translated from English to Spanish (Arthur Malcolm Dixon and Clotilde Hill), Wahzhazhe ie/Osage (Chelsea T. Hicks), and Urdu (Sarah Ahmad), readers are invited to experience the beauty and nuances of different languages. This not only adds depth to the work but also celebrates the richness of linguistic diversity.

I’m currently writing/editing/compiling an anthology called Tulsa Artist Fellows Inciting: LITERACY. This book will have contributions from experts in various fields. It will focus on nine essential areas of knowledge that I believe everyone should be proficient in:
• Reading Literacy
• Writing Literacy
• Numerical (Math) Literacy
• Technology Literacy
• Health Literacy
• Financial Literacy
• Media Literacy
• Cultural Literacy
• Civic Literacy

THE THEME of Tulsa Artist Fellows Inciting: LITERACY is to provide accessible, easy-to-understand knowledge and tools that will help lay the foundation for people to become more literate, competent, and productive.

Literacy: A person’s knowledge of a particular subject or field.
Inciting: Stirring, encouraging, or urging on; stimulating or prompting to action.

THE OBJECTIVE of the book is to help eliminate the illiterate tax, which is the extra price one pays for not being proficient in a particular area (copyright by Phetote Mshairi).

Earning a living as an artist of any discipline can be challenging, but the outcomes and impact it has on others can be rewarding. I would like to sign with a major publishing company and get my books (past, present, and future) into as many bookstores around the world as possible.

My goal is to earn the right to be Poet Laureate of Oklahoma and/or the United States, someday.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

The important lessons I learned due to Covid-19 are:

• If you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready.
• Life and liberty are precious.
• Life, health, and loved ones shouldn’t be taken for granted.
• Cleanliness can save lives.
• We as individuals, governments, and society are ill-prepared for pandemics, disasters, etc.
• Some people are really caring.
• Some people have no regard for other people’s health or life.
• Some people are utterly stupid.

Pricing:

• RELEASE ME the Spirits of Greenwood Speak: $34 after (15% discount)
• An Old Fart and a Thousand Sentiments: $24.99
• Booking to perform, host, and/or curate: Price depends on the theme of the event, duties, length of time, and venue
• Conducting Workshops: Depends on the number of hours and days of the workshop

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.newgreenwoodllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poet_phetote/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhetoteMshairi