Kevin Powell
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Kevin Powell (April 24,1966) is an African-American journalist, poet, activist, and lecturer. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn. He was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, and attended Rutgers University.
He became famous when he appeared on the first season of MTV's reality television series, The Real World: New York in 1992. He is the oldest member of The Real World cast. From 1992 to 1996, he was a senior writer for Vibe magazine. He is widely known for his role as a reputable hip hop historian, although Powell's scope as a writer includes an emphasis on historical and contemporary social issues, particularly those regarding race, gender, class, and politics in America.
He co-founded the nonprofit community-based group Hiphop Speaks (with activist, entrepreneur, writer April Silver), which he describes as "a series of forums and MC battles geared toward using hip hop as a tool for social change." He is a much sought after lecturer who engages students all over the country in intellectual forums at colleges and universities, where he strives to empower the youth to affect necessary social change for the future. In 2008, Powell announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in the 10th Congressional District of New York against Representative Edolphus Towns.
[edit] Books
- In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers, (1993), co-edited by Ras Baraka (ISBN 0-86316-316-5)
- recognize (1995), an anthology of poetry (ISBN 0-86316-324-6)
- Keepin' It Real: Post-MTV Reflections On Race, Sex, and Politics (1997) (ISBN 0-345-40400-9)
- Step into a World: A Global Anthology of The New Black Literature (2000) (ISBN 0-471-38060-1)
- Who's Gonna Take The Weight (2002) (ISBN 0-609-81044-8)
- Who Shot Ya? Three Decades of HipHop Photography, (2002), featuring the photography of Ernie Paniccioli (ISBN 0-06-621168-9)
- Someday We'll All Be Free, (2006, Soft Skull Press) (ISBN 1-933368-57-8)
- How to cry at your workmates, and still survive (2008, Soft Skull Press) (ISBN 1-564538-67-8)
