There are Gods amongst us in these ghettos, says spoken word artist Emanuel Xavier. He may very well be one of them. Xavier has certainly been blessed enough to survive a youth fractured by sexual abuse, homelessness, drug dealing, and prostitution as a means of survival on the streets of New York. Xavier has channeled his experiences into an admirable body of work that speaks to both the queer and Latino experience in America. It's important to me that people realize that spoken word is for everyone. My poetry isn't just about being gay or about being Latino but about expressing myself, Xavier says.
It has been a decade since his debut anthology, Pier Queen, was first published, and today Xavier is as immersed in creating new works as he is in encouraging new generations to step up and speak out into the mic. Tigertail Productions is bringing this acclaimed poet to Miami for the first time, and he will appear, perform, and lead youth workshops at venues throughout the county from Coral Gables to Naranja. His reading today will include signature pieces as well as new work from a forthcoming anthology. For more information on Emanuel, visit www.emanuelxavier.com
Sat., Feb. 24, 3 p.m.