Wordsmith emcee Black Violet aka Ebony Walden was born and raised in New York, has spent time in DC and Seattle and has been a C’ville resident for nearly 6 years. Her training and occupation has been as a City Planner promoting healthy and livable communities. Her love for community building, the arts and entertainment has led her to organizing and emceeing various community events, such as the WordSmith Poetry Jam.

Ebony is embarking on an around the world poetry project entitled “The Poetic Justice World Tour” from June 2010 to March of 2011. The WordSmith Poetry Jam is scheduled to continue in her absence. Visit www.poeticjusticetour.com for more information or to support this effort.

WHO IS EBONY “bLACK vIOLET” WALDEN?

A REAL LIVE POET (in the making)

For the WordSmith Poetry Jam, I’m the organizer MC and I promote it

And on top of that I’m trying to become a real live poet

Maybe I’ve always been one and simply didn’t know it, Perhaps I’ve never had the confidence or audience to show it

But if you give me a few minutes of your time, I think I wont blow it. 

I’ve been inspired to write rhymes, to capture the verses that are running through my mind, sprinting toward the finish line that will make my whole stanza shine 

From my heart flow metaphors pumping life into my words so that you can feel my prose, making your heart stop before I close. 

In my soul is a pen, writing the who, what and when with lyrics that expose my mind, will and emotion 

I’m a real live poet and it’s not a notion 

A real live poet, a wizard and poetry is my potion

So not is my time, I’m ready to shine, commit lyrical crimes at the drop of a dime 

I’m a real life poet and I’m coming into my prime. 

REAL – Read to Elevate your Awareness Lyrically

Spitting LIVE – Life-giving, Inspirational Verses Eloquently

POET– A Prophet Orating Everlasting Truth 

I’m a real live poet and this poem is the proof.

I’m a real live poet spitting fire life and truth.

THE ETYMOLOGY OF EBONY

Hello nice to meet you my name is Ebony

So you want to know what I do, how I’m made, the essence of me. 

Ok, let me see if I can break down my etymology, word for word, letter for letter.

E is what I go by for short, but in short 

Ebony is efficient, effective, and eager to achieve the epitome of excellence. Sometimes I lack empathy, but I do some things effortlessly like wake up early and exercise essentially everyday.  

Be Clear 

Ebony is a born again, baptized, blood washed believer. She is blunt, beautiful, balanced and basically a blast to befriend especially as Black Violet, who she has recently been.  

O and just in case you were wondering, 

Ebony is essentially an overachiever, obsessively organized, but not OCD, objective and open-minded, outspoken and occasionally ornery. 

N What else can I add to this narrative? 

Ebony is a native New Yorker that embraces her natural nappiness and from nine to 5 neutralizes neighborhood neglect and nuisance. 

Y  I do ask a lot of random questions, like your goals, dreams and inhibitions, your biggest regret and spiritual positions. And yes, I do yearn for the yesteryear when youngsters had an unyielding yearn for education instead yapping on yahoo.  And that goes for you adults too.

Yes, Ebony is my name and I’ve broken me down, word for word, letter for letter, and just like fine wine, with age, I’ll only get event better.