Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Broadside Lotus Press 60th Anniversary Sept 21, 2025
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Broadside Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Book Award Winner Joshua Meyer's D.C. Book Launch
Good morning everyone,
Joshua Meyers, winner of the Broadside Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Book Award, will be having a book launch for his collection of poetry, "Holy Ghost Key" on April 6th in Washington, D.C. at the Sankofa Bookstore.
"Joshua Myers's Holy Ghost Key celebrates the essential role of African music in the continuity and sustenance of African Diasporic life and culture. Myers weaves his broad knowledge of African and African American music practices, genres and instruments with his memory of gospel lyrics and symbols evoking African spirituality, showing us the ways in which this music has been both the light on our path and the grounding of our historic journey. Though many of the poems pay tribute to the genius of contemporary musicians who have won popular acclaim, the entire collection reminds of a persistent African ancestral legacy."
Please see the note below from Dr. House that has the link.
Best regards,
Aurora Harris
Friends:
Please enjoy and post this wonderful newsletter and video announcing our NLM Award book on our BLP platforms and elsewhere.A luta continua!
Aneb
https://www.sankofa.com/so/bbO
Monday, October 2, 2023
2023 Oct 2. Rev. Stephen "Sparrow" O'Neal, Detroit Poet Homegoing Service Info
I am deeply saddened to announce that Rev. Stephen "Sparrow" O'Neal, passed away last week. At this time, the family of Detroit poets are in shock and grieving. After the Motown Mic Spoken Word Competition at The Cube (Max Fisher Theater) on Friday, September 22, 2023, Robin Terry, Chairperson and CEO of the Motown Museum, presented a community recognition award to Sparrow. Thursday evening, September 28th, I received text messages that Sparrow had passed away.
The Visitation for Sparrow will be Friday, October 6, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the O.H. Pye Funeral Home, 17600 Plymouth Road, Detroit, MI 48227.
Family Hour: Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Unity Baptist Church, 7500 Tireman, Detroit, MI 48204
Funeral Service: Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. at Unity Baptist Church, 7500 Tireman, Detroit, MI 48204.
Condolences and Flowers may be sent via the O.H. Pye website: https://www.pyefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Stephen-O-Neal/#!/TributeWall
My condolences to his family and everyone who knew him.
Aurora Harris
Saturday, July 8, 2023
2023 Broadside Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Book Award Winner
Detroit's Broadside Lotus Press is happy to announce the 2023 book award winner.
Joshua Myers
Winner of
the 2023 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award
Broadside
Lotus Press
Dr. Joshua Myers has won the 2023 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award of Broadside Lotus Press, with a stunningly beautiful manuscript entitled, Holy Ghost Key. Dr. Myers lives in Silver Spring, MD. The author of three books and multiple articles on African American culture and politics, Dr. Myers is Associate Professor of African American Studies at Howard University. His poems have appeared in Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora, and in the anthology, Doors, Burning House Press, December, 2018. The annual NLM Award includes publication of the winning manuscript and a prize of $500. Broadside Lotus Press will publish Holy Ghost Key in February, 2024. The next deadline for submission of manuscripts is March 15, 2024. Send submissions to Broadside Lotus Press, 10463 San Juan Drive, Detroit 48238.
Monday, July 18, 2022
Poetry Detroit: 2022 Winner of the Motown Mic Spoken Word Contest & Broadside Lotus Press Publications
Since 2014, as a board member of Broadside Lotus Press, I have served as one of the judges in collaboration with the Motown Mic Spoken Word Contest held at Hitsville, the Motown Museum in Detroit, MI. Each poet must write a spoken word piece that focuses on either the history of Motown records, its founder Berry Gordy, the music, or the social impact the record company had on the globe.
Congratulations to Ben Will, the 2022 Motown Spoken Word Artist of the Year! Ben Will won with his poem " Griot's Tale: The Blue Building on the Boulevard." His poem will be published on a broadside by Broadside Lotus Press.
See this year's Grand Finale competition and Ben Will here: https://youtu.be/BigRbrp8FBY
Past Motown Mic Spoken Word Artist of the Year winners and published Broadside Lotus Poets include:
2014: Rosemarie Wilson a.k.a. One Single Rose for "Motown Blues" https://youtu.be/bEER0cZaG8w?t=23
2015: Tamyra Rene for "Motosomes" https://youtu.be/Ell3yAK5LCM
2016: Omari Barksdale for "Dance of Revolution". Grand Finale performances: https://youtu.be/5G8lwjKp2LE
2017: William T. Langford IV for "Shop Around" https://youtu.be/Fk2fJqLGbEQ
2018: Microphone Phelps a.k.a. Mic Phelps for "We Still Here" https://youtu.be/opUiTT7qCK4
2019: Mikhaella Norwood for "Dear James Gordy" (this poem had a family "secret") https://youtu.be/1Ov554ZtcLs
2020: Cancelled due to Covid 19 pandemic
2021 Kyle Mac for "Young America". Grand Finale performance: https://youtu.be/tzPQSJdHx9M
The Grand Prize-Winning Act will receive:
- The title of 2022 Motown MIC: The Spoken Word Artist of the Year
- $3,000 Cash Prize
- Engagement with Motown Records Black Forum Label executives
- Published on a literary broadside through Broadside Lotus Press
- 2 hour studio session in Hitsville NEXT Stern Recording Studio
- Be featured in a nationally released Press Release for the Grand Finale, and be taken on a Media Tour as well as continued promotion of the winners’ achievements through our social channels, website, and e-Newsletter
- Your performance featured on the Motown Museum website and YouTube Channel
- Opportunity to perform at various events throughout the year for Hitsville NEXT and its affiliates
The competition is now in its 8th year. Learn more about the annual competition here: https://www.motownmuseum.org/program/motown-mic/#:~:text=Motown%20Mic%3A%20The%20Spoken%20Word%20was%20created%20to%20pay%20homage,for%20Black%20expression%20and%20education.
Poetry Detroit: 2022 Broadside Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award Winner
Broadside Lotus Press Announces
Sunday, January 16, 2022
2022 Detroit MLK Day Rally and March Jan 17th Update
Update to the Public from the Detroit MLK Day Rally and March Committee.
The Annual Detroit MLK Day Rally and March for Jobs, Peace, and Justice While Protecting Water, Climate, and Communities will take place on Monday, January 17, 2022, virtually at MLKdetroit.org or on Facebook at facebook@MLKDayDetroit from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
We will have local and international speakers with local poets and musicians on this program.
https://www.facebook.com/events/237248801821088
The 2:00 p.m. in-person rally has been canceled due to the rise of Covid variants.
For more information go to MLKdetroit.org or our Facebook page.
To make a donation, go to: gofund.me/61fbb5ea Copy and paste this link into your browser or Cash app at $DetroitMLKDay