Born: 1993 (circa), United States
Died: NA
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from the National Endowment for the Arts. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
“Poetry has been used for hundreds of years to share stories and bring people together; Poetry Out Loud should be no different.” – Amber Rose Johnson, 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Champion
In 2010, after advancing from a field of 325,000 students, Rhode Island Poetry Out Loud Champion Amber Rose Johnson was named that year’s National Champion. Johnson is currently working toward a degree from Tufts University, where her senior thesis focuses on black feminist writers. In an interview with Poetry Out Loud, Johnson reflected on the competition and some ways poetry has influenced her identity and life choices.
NEA: What do you remember as your earliest engagement with the arts?
AMBER ROSE JOHNSON: My earliest engagement with the arts was with my father and the art of storytelling. My dad would read to me and my siblings every night and I would be amazed at the way stories came to life, right from my bedroom. I still remember all of my favorite books that we read together and often site this as the reason I have come to love poetry and storytelling as much as I do.
NEA: Fill us in on your life since being named Poetry Out Loud National Champion. Has poetry informed any of your more recent endeavors?
JOHNSON: Since Poetry Out Loud, poetry has remained a huge part of my life. I am currently a senior at Tufts University and my undergraduate thesis centers on the ways that black feminist writers use poetics to deconstruct and rebuild language. Additionally, I have taught several poetry classes for middle school students in the community and am current the coach for my university’s spoken word team. Though my relationship with poetry has changed, it continues to be a huge part of my life and driving force for my academic research.
NEA: Any plans for the future?
JOHNSON: I plan to enroll in a PhD program for next fall in an interdisciplinary major such as Culture and Theory or American Studies.
NEA: Who are some poets or writers who inspire you?
JOHNSON: M. NourbeSe Philip, Dionne Brand, June Jordan, Toni Morrison, and Hortense Spillers.
NEA: What is your favorite memory of participating in Poetry Out Loud?
JOHNSON: My favorite memory (though it is really difficult to choose because I have so many memories from NEA that I hold very dear) is actually from the first year I made it to [the National Finals], which was the year before I became the National Champion. On the last night of the competition, a bunch of us from different states got together to talk with one another, listen to music and build community—without the pressure of the competition. To this day, some of the competitors from that year are still my best and closest friends. Aside from the competition, NEA is an opportunity to meet amazing people from across the country and share something that we all love.
NEA: What advice would you give to students participating, or thinking about participating, in Poetry Out Loud?
JOHNSON: Do it! Poetry Out Loud changed my life and is by far one of the best experiences I have had. Don’t worry too much about the competition—focus on finding poems that really resonate with you (because you will probably never forget them) and sharing the experience with others along the way, no matter what level you are at in the competition. Poetry has been used for hundreds of years to share stories and bring people together—Poetry Out Loud should be no different.
NEA: What would you like to ask yourself—and answer—as the final question of this interview?
JOHNSON: Do you remember all of your poems from Poetry Out Loud? Not only do I remember all of my poems, but all of my family members do too! Sometimes we will get nostalgic and recite them together–remembering the long nights I would spend practicing and asking my parents and siblings to help me with memorization and performance. Each of the poems carries an important message and they continue to be relevant to me in all the things I do today. I am happy to carry these poems in my head and my heart.