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Dominique Christina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dominique Christina
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas at Monticello
Notable awardsNational Poetry Series Champion (2012)
Women of the World Poetry Slam (2012) (2014)

Dominique Christina (born 1974) is a writer, performer and social activist. She is a champion at the National Poetry Series and Women of the World Poetry Slam.[1][2][3][4][5]

Christina’s 4th book Anarcha Speaks won the National Poetry Series in 2017. [6]

Education

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Christina obtained a bachelor's degree in African American Studies from the University of the Pacific. She earned her Master of Education in English Language and Literature from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.[7][8]

Christina began writing poetry in 1996; she was taking her master's degree when she decided to enroll in a creative writing class.[4]

Career

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Christina is influenced by her family's involvement in the civil rights movement.[4] She performs as a speaker and slam poet, often discussing social issues such as racism and sexism. She has spoken at colleges and universities across the United States and has been a keynote speaker at women's conferences.[6][9][10][11][3] She also appeared at the HBO series High Maintenance as an actress and contributing writer.[12][13]

Christina went viral with The Period Poem. It was written in response to the tweet of a man saying he dumped his girlfriend because she menstruated during intercourse.[1][14][15][16]

Christina was hailed champion at the National Poetry Series Slam in 2012. In 2017, her book Anarcha Speaks won an award from the same body.[17][18] In 2012 and 2014, she was hailed as Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion.[19][13] She earned the National Underground Poetry Slam Champion in 2013.[7][13]

Works

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Christina released poetry collection The Bones, the Breaking, the Balm: A Colored Girl's Hymnal in 2014, where she contemplated upon the African-American girl experience.[20] In They Are All Me (2015), Christina commemorated African-American heroes and martyrs.[21][22]

This Is Woman’s Work: Calling Forth Your Inner Council of Wise, Brave, Crazy, Rebellious, Loving, Luminous Selves was published in 2015. It is a self-help book that explores the wisdom of female archetypes so as to integrate it in the psyche and empower oneself. It contains poetry, prose and writing exercises. The book extracts spiritual, historical and literary examples.[23]

Anarcha Speaks: A History in Poems was released in 2018. The poetry collection is reimagined in the perspective of slave Anarcha Westcott, who endured experimentation under the medical trials of Dr. J Marion Sims, the father of modern gynecology.[24][25]

In 2021, after a two-year investigation by the Aurora Police Department, Dominique was convicted of stealing a house, sentenced to three years probation and a fine of over one hundred thousand dollars. She is a multiple convicted felon.[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Vagianos, Alanna (1 June 2017). "Every feminist poet you need in your life right now". babe. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. ^ Vagianos, Alanna (4 March 2015). "14 Slam Poems That Pack A Serious Feminist Punch". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b BUNCH, JOEY. "Boulder's Motus Theater to hear about immigration from Black Lives Matter founder". Colorado Politics. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Dominique Christina a Voice of Conviction -". MET Media. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  5. ^ "About Dominique Christina | Academy of American Poets". poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "The Poet's List: Dominique Christina". The Poet's List. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Poetics and Ancestral Logic: An Interview with Dominique Christina". Gulf Stream Magazine. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Dominique Christina - Author - Beacon Press". Linkedin. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  9. ^ MONCALEANO, SOPHIA (9 February 2021). "Motus Theater announces podcast performances featuring immigrant stories". Colorado Hometown Weekly. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Office of Multicultural Affairs launches effort to celebrate various cultures year-round". The Hub. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  11. ^ Mulson, Jennifer. "For Colorado Springs woman, poetry is therapy, activism and more". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Dominique Christina". IMDb. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Dominique Christina — TEDxMileHigh: Wonder Speaker". TEDxMileHigh. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. ^ Foundation, Poetry (13 March 2021). "Rubyfloetics: A Period Poem Mixtape by Yolanda Wisher". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. ^ Vagianos, Alanna (30 June 2014). "This Ode To Periods Puts All Shamers To Rest". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Famous Speech Friday: Dominique Christina's "The Period Poem"". Denise Graveline. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  17. ^ Whipple, Kelsey (12 March 2012). "Video: Slam Nuba's Dominique Ashaheed wins 2012 Women of the World Poetry Slam". Westword. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Announcing the Winners of the 2017 National Poetry Series!". National Poetry Series. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  19. ^ Whipple, Kelsey (12 March 2012). "Video: Slam Nuba's Dominique Ashaheed wins 2012 Women of the World Poetry Slam". Westword. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  20. ^ The bones, the breaking, the balm: a colored girl's hymnal. 2014. OCLC 876350611. Retrieved 13 March 2021 – via Worldcat Identities.
  21. ^ K, Katrina (31 January 2016). "Book Review: They Are All Me by Dominique Christina". Swimming with Elephants Publications. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  22. ^ "They Are All Me". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. ^ "This Is Woman's Work: Calling Forth Your Inner Council of Wise, Brave, Crazy, Rebellious, Loving, Luminous Selves". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Poetry That Speaks Truth to Power: A Word About "Anarcha Speaks" for National Poetry Month". Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  25. ^ Poets, Academy of American. "Anarcha Speaks: A History in Poems | Academy of American Poets". poets.org. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Judge orders slam poet to pay $117,000 in restitution after alleged plot to steal Aurora woman's home". 13 May 2021.