TruthFeasting

As the title indicates, TRUTHFEASTING serves a veritable banquet of literary treats, philosophical insights, and soulful observations. Ja A. Jahannes is clearly not a poet inclined to biting his tongue when it comes to sensitive issues, no matter if in regard to race, religion, or anything else. Whether examining the nature of living life in the political spotlight, as he does in "The Death of Jesse Jackson," or musing on the notion that "Poets are Precious People," his lyrical vision is framed in the unique music of his own illuminated soul. An extraordinary bonus in this volume is the informative essay, "Africa-America: Perspectives from Brazil and the USA, which was presented as a speech on the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Brazil. In addition to being the author of TRUTHFEASTING, Jahannes is well-known as a playwright, minister, educator, and creator of the critically acclaimed "Montage for Martin," a celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Aberjhani author of I MADE MY BOY OUT OF POETRY and ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Do you remember when it was considered cultured to recitepoetry from memory? Well, educator, psychologist and poet Ja A. Jahannes in his latest collection of poems and essays titled "Truthfeasting" gives you the nutrients for poetry reciting again. "Truthfeasting" is a seemingly never-ending orgy into the both painful and joyful experiences of being Black in America. From the journey beginning in Africa to "Being Black in America, to "Rap Dance", Jahannes cooks up rich oratory delights, like the present "turntable generation, zapping your African bodies across centuries". "Truthfeasting" is thought provoking and profoundly lucid, which is a lost art among many poets. It is also revolutionary. The poems are revolutionary not only because of their fiery language and radical messages, but beause the poems are highly instructive and suitable for use as lesson plans in elementary and high schools. Jahannes writes for the young at heart. Often poets get lost in pedantics and pontifical vomintings of the mouth. They are even more disturbing when their poems run into multiple pages and takes hours to complete! Jahannes is one of the few poets who understands that a good poet is one who captures the essence of a thought, feeling, moment or event in simple, clear and poignant language. Robert Frost once said, "a complete poem is one where an emotion has found its thoughts and the thought has found the words" Feast on "Truthfeasting" and see a God at work or (play?) where in the poem "dream maker", Jahannes says, "I am a foolproof plan to own tomorrow". It is exactly these type of statements why poets are never invited to talk shows!

This is an inspiring work about the state of Black America and its relation to the rest of the world. It address every facet of life in Black America from slavery to economic empowerment to AIDS. Two of its most powerful entries (at least in my opinion) are "Neckbones" and "Black Generation". The book's first poem (Neckbones) makes one think of how items of vital sustinence which were considered insignificant by the masses are now being gouged in price. "Black Generation" serves as a wake-up call to every single living black person regardless of age. It challenges the reader to gain knowledge and not just show it: "...Nefertiti chains without Nefertiti brains..."; how preachers take advantage of parishioners, and the dangers of promiscuity. The content of this book makes for good conversation and heated debate. It's his sounding board to Black Americans but for the rest of the world. Check it out!!!