Searching for Saul Williams

Saul Williams, a famous slam poet/actor/musician, was born in 1972 and raised in Newburgh, New York. While growing up, his father was a preacher and his mother was a schoolteacher. They influenced him early in life by sharing their love of reading. As a result, he was able to master the meaning of works of Shakespeare in the third grade and he wrote his first poem in the fourth grade.

He has a B.A. in acting and philosophy from Morehouse College and a Masters in Acting from New York University. He has been performing at poetry readings since 1995. He performed frequently at New York City's Nuyorican Poets Cafe, where he developed his skill. According to his website, he writes poetry "because it is the clearest and most direct expression of how I think." He also states that he takes "pride in being called a poet mostly because it feels like an ordination."

He has four published books of poetry which are "The Seventh Octave" (1998), "She" (1999), "Sorcery of Self"(2001), and ",said the shotgun to the head." (2003). Currently, he has an announcement on his website that he "is editing an anthology of fresh, new, and unheard voices in modern poetry. All are welcome to submit (please no more than 3 poems). Any and all topics are welcome. Send your sub/trans/missions to martyrloserking@gmail.com."

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