Customer Reviews

Teducation

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from personal views on various strugles through observation on society, this highly educational gift brings us to closer understanding of afro-american existence in usa. for someone like me who comes from southern europe it is very important to come close to the knowledge about presented topics. it deffinetly gives different light to my own personal experiences of war and divisions. pieces like: Let's play something, Dead Serious, The Truth, A Few Blue Words..., may for some only share the obvious but for me it represents often unspoken and taken for granted.

to watch Ted go through 50 years of his work and see the changes in his persona is individualy rewarding. he may not be the mainstream, yet he is the shaman of our time.

as a guru he says: "...you HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM THE POET BUT THE TRUTH".

as a prophet he predicts: "All your automobiles will die of thirst Pedestrians shall inherit the streets"

I fell in love with Joans' poetry when I was 15 years old in 1972. it is potent with sometimes strong sexual imagery, sometimes anger and frustration expressed, but never gratuitously. A middle-schooler in our writer's group likes Joans because, as she says, "He tells it like it is."
This is clearly the precursor to rap with more flowing rhythm and (for me) better use of language. Though sometimes a bit "Afro pedantic" still valuable.

Ted Joans is a writer like few out and about today. He is real, true, honest and blows your mind with everything he serves us up on his poetic platter. More people out there--writers included--could use a little Teducation!!!