The Oracle Speaks--and why you should listen...

“I speak the truth you need to hear. Most times good, because I always try to find the silver lining. There's always something positive, even in the midst of the muck and mire there's something in there--a lesson, to benefit you so it doesn't happen again. Sometimes I say things people don't want to hear--just like your mamma.”

I first encountered the dynamic Denise L. Cook not as The Oracle, but as a publisher and author. She was part of an authors panel at a Made in the Valley forum back in April. She immediately distinguished herself with effervescent energy and sage insight into the process and journey of writing and self-publishing.

But ultimately, it was her depth of wisdom and community involvement that put her in my purview as a potential interview subject. She untiringly volunteers with the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center, and is an active member of PALEF (Publicity and Public Affairs for Performing Arts For Life Education Foundation). PALEF is dedicated to bringing the arts to the inner city and under-served youth of Los Angeles, and Denise dons the hats of Executive Board Member and Director of Publicity.

When asked what drives her to pay it forward, she quickly and succinctly replied, “It's required. If I keep my craft and my gifts for myself, then shame on me and I'm gonna get slapped down, and I’ll have roadblocks placed in my way—I know it! But when I step out of me, step out of ego, and say, ‘Okay, I'll do this’—Boom! Doors open. Opportunities are coming my way because I am giving back.

When I give, I give my last—I'm the brokest philanthropist I know.”

The Oracle has been a staple at The Paul G. Gleason Theatre in Hollywood, where she performs Jazz, Song and spoken word. She frequents the Jazz and cultural circuit of Leimert Park, most recently as a performer for the First Annual Leimert Park Art Walk back in June. And for the second year in a row, she will host “Spoken Worlds”, an interactive spoken word and poetry program of the Los Angeles Black Book Expo on August 21.

With two books (The Oracle Speaks... just because (2008), FULL CIRCLE: Balance In Life (2005)), two CDs including "Music from The Oracle Speaks", and featured vocal contributions on at least five other CDs, she holds the resume of a multi-talented powerhouse. With her BFA and MFA in Dance, Fine Art and Education, as well as numerous awards in those arenas, the pedigree speaks to an intellectual of scope and largesse.

We shared plenty of laughs and giggles, along with personal and creative insight as I discovered more of the woman behind The Oracle.

Denise L. Cook was born March 21, 1958, a product of what she terms an “adulterous affair” between her mother and a Jewish man named Johnny Greenberg, a neighborhood store operator. “I came out with blue eyes and red hair.” The seventh of eight children, she was the object of scorn and abuse, from her functionally alcoholic mother, and her jealous siblings. “But I loved unconditionally, to continue to love beyond—that was my coping technique.”

At the age of eight, she was forced to become caretaker to her eleven-year-old sister, Bessie Maria, born with muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. “She never walked a day in her life. But she is the one who taught me how to dance. She taught me how to listen to music. I paid attention to the music, so that I could dance. Because I knew in my heart and soul that I was supposed to be a dancer.”

Her life purpose was also set through a spiritual experience in her youth. She had questions about the pain she was suffering, and the pain and disability of her sister. The answers she received helped her to understand that, “my purpose was to be of benefit to humankind. The thing is, how could I say, 'I understand', when I don't truly understand? It would be necessary for me to experience a great deal of human pain, but it would be necessary so I could be of true benefit to the earth.”

Thus, The Oracle was born.

“Actually, it has heightened what I do. Because today, there's very little substance, and the content is very negative. We have young people, they're so negative. What I do is a breath of fresh air. I speak to the ills and aches of the universe of the present day, but with a positive twist, a search for a solution at hand, not just a bitch session or a pity party. I don't do that.”

Pieces like “Their Presence Disturbs Me” and “Freedom Wakes Me Up” are manifestos of awareness, coupled with determination and promise.

“I speak to the current conditions without all the ghetto-ness. What I am doing, people are saying, ‘Finally!’ And they think back to Nikki Giovanni. So, the rappers have actually paved the way for a resurgence, for Renaissance, if you will, of the type of poetry I do. I'm more akin to the last poets you see, than I am to any of the current things that are going on.”

But she didn't take on the brand until much later, mostly focusing on her singing and dancing career. “I was on TV for two years on BET's Comic View. I was on tour with Vickie Winans in Somebody Oughta Tell God Thank You. But I didn't know how to parlay it, I didn't have right management.”

Once she acquired new representation, the pieces began to fall into place. “I was known as ‘China Eyes’, but my management said, ‘You want people to listen to your words, we want to brand you—you strike us as ‘Oracle.’ When I speak to people I don't give advice, so I never really tell you anything, I lay out your options. You make the choice, because I'm a firm believer in that—we all have choice. That's the one gift we were given as human beings.”

Now in control of her brand, with heavy-hitters like producer Keg Johnson in her corner, she's ready to bring it—and a waiting world is ready to receive.

When The Oracle performed at Minton's Playhouse in New York, she received her first standing ovation. "This is an historic place! We're talking Satch, we're talking Ella--all of 'em went through this place! It's like going through The Apollo in New York, you go perform at Minton’s, you're bringing it. And I got my first standing ‘O’ doing what I do—not trying to sing, but singing and doing my poetry.”

Despite her pivotal role and embrace in the Black community, her vision is to have universal appeal.
“I'm not considered a Black artist, I'm not considered a white artist—I'm The Oracle. I crossover. I don't care what color you are—white, pink, purple, black, yellow—everybody has similar life experiences—Period. I speak to the universality of life.”