By: La'Toyur Tisdale

Extraordinary is the only word I can find to describe this gentleman. Bruce George is the co-founder of HBO’s Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Bruce is affiliated with, founder and co founder of numerous organizations that promote and support the rights of the masses. He is also the founder and managing editor of the “The Bandana Republic: an Anthology of Poetry and Prose by Gang Members and Affiliates.” Bruce has taken life’s mountains and used them as stepping stones to reach new levels. I had the opportunity to meet Bruce at a poetry conference where he was the facilitator of the "Performance and Writing Critique" workshop. Humbly critiquing the poetic writings of the participants, he inspired and challenged them (us) to push past our own set limitations, remain true to the gift and to explore untapped possibilities. He is a visionary, entrepreneur, activist, poet, author, leader, father and grandfather. It was truly a blessing to interview the gentleman.

YM: How long have you been a writer?

BG: I have been writing for over 30 years now in one form or another. Of course I started out with writing my thoughts about being an adolescent in some poetic fashion. Back then and now my writing served a therapeutic purpose. My writing also was an outlet to express my experiences, strengths and hopes.

YM: How did spoken word/ poetry make an introduction into your life and when did you know that this was something you had a passion for?

BG: I was influenced by my mother to write poetry since she’s a great writer/poet. She was the first published poet in my family to my knowledge. My mother was and is a lover of words so I was exposed to exotic words at a vey young age, and as a result of that exposure I in turn fell in love with words. Couple that with the fact that I was a very introverted child so I had a very creative imagination to say the least. As far as Spoken Word goes, I was influenced over 15 years ago by major Spoken Word Artists such as Israel Tacoma, T’ Kalla, Sharif Simmons, Gil Scott-Heron, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez etc…After witnessing the amazing work of those Word Engineers it instilled in me a passion for writing and performing that catapulted me to where I am today.

YM: How did you come up with the concept of Def Poetry Jam? And did you know that it would impact the spoken word / poetry community the way that it has and is?

BG: Def Poetry Jam was birthed as a result of an epiphany I had while watching “Def Comedy Jam.” At the time I was heavy on the Spoken Word circuit and as a collective our genre was pretty much side-streamed. While watching “Def Comedy Jam” I automatically filled in the blanks of there being a performance poetry version. I was blessed to have met and formed a partnership with Danny Simmons (Russell’s big brother) whom I had brought the idea to who in turn brought the idea to his brother Russell Simmons, and the rest as they say is history. I knew that that if Russell had given the art form a head nod it would give the movement the java-jolt it needed to go from the side-stream to the mainstream. At the time the Spoken Word movement was pregnant in its third trimester.

YM: Who are your favorite poets and are there any up and coming poets that we need to look out for?

BG: I have so many Spoken Word Artists/Poets that I admire that my list would be too lengthy, and my admiration is intergenerational in scope. I love the work of Amiri Baraka, Pablo Neruda, Nikki Giovanni, T’Kalla, Dr. Sonia Sanchez, Black Ice, Abyss etc…You definitely want to keep your eyes open for poets like Black Ice, Quiet Rage, Biko from LA , Malik Yusef etc…

YM: How do you feel about spoken word/ poetry becoming more main stream? Do you think people will exploit it like other arts forms (hip hop/ rap)?

BG: That’s a great question. I feel that the prospect of “Spoken Word” going mainstream is double-edged in the sense that it will enable the genre to further gain a stance of legitimacy, and artists will be able to make a living from their work. But as with all art forms the Spoken Word Movement will go through a process of “bastardization” in which it will lose some of its integrity the more it aspires to conform to the contours of the status quo.

YM: You have just co-authored a book entitled "The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates", what inspired you to be apart of this project? Or are you the creator of this project?

BG: I’m the Founder of “The Bandana Republic…” and I was the Managing Editor of the anthology as well. I was inspired to bring those in gang culture to enter the literary fold as a result of the fact that some of the best art (literature, Hip Hop, Graffiti, poetry, fashion etc…) comes from the streets and from prisons. The impact that Hip Hop has had on society can’t be measured only in dollars and cents, because you have to look at how it has changed the cultural landscape of the world’s cultural apparatus to become a mainstay in world history.

YM: I recently attended a lecture where an elder stated that our youth seek gangs because they are seeking a "rites of passage". They stated that it was subconsciously in their ( our) nature to go through a rites of passage and since black and brown people in America culturally do not have one, this is the alternative. What do you think about this concept? Why do YOU think many of our youth join gangs?

BG: I think that the elder’s statement is right on point. The word “gang” is a generic term coined by the status quo so they can define it and control it (gangs). So-called gangs are really “Street Tribes” or “Street Organizations.” Street Tribes serves multiple purposes such as protection, solidarity, economic security, and a rite of passage. Street Tribes also serve as a surrogate family as well. Many of our youth join “gangs” for many reasons, but it’s important to know that gangs are a symptom of a failed system. When you look at gang violence you have to look at the social conditions that give it life/death such as a poor educational system, poverty, gentrification, suppression, racism, oppression, unemployment and underemployment, as well as a “Prison Industrial Complex.” All of those social ills play a major part in our youth being misguided.

YM: Who are your influences?

BG: I’m influenced by great thinkers, philosophers, ministers, entrepreneurs etc…

YM: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

BG: I see myself continuing to serve people in struggle.

YM: Any inspirational words for the YUR Magazine Readers?

BG: Get and keep a relationship with God. Also go after your passion with all fervor.

Click Here to purchase "The Banadana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates Edited by Bruce George and Louis Reyes Rivera

Check him out at the following websites:
Bandana Republic Soft Skull Press
Bandana Republic MySpace
Bruce George Media