Modesto’s first Black Poet Laureate hopes to pave path for others
Angela Drew is Modesto’s first Black poet laureate but wants to make sure she’s not the last.
Drew was introduce during the City Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 8, where she presented her poem “Poetry Lives Here,” dedicated to Phillis Wheatley, the first Black female poet to be published.
“She is a huge inspiration for me ... especially in showing the power of telling our stories, no matter our circumstances,” Drew said.
On July 13, 1993, the Modesto council created the honorary, nonsalaried position of poet laureate. The Culture Commission is responsible for nominating and recommending candidates for the role, with the City Council approving the final appointment. The poet laureate’s role is to present original poems at official occasions, serving a two-year term with the option for one additional term.
Drew is the city’s eighth poet laureate, replacing Salvatore Salerno.
“I want to make sure I’m uplifting other voices,” she said.
Drew’s path didn’t begin with poetry but with storytelling, inspired by her Aunt Betty Fushimi, who taught her to read at 3. By age 7, she was writing her own stories.
Now, she sees herself as more of a spoken-word artist than a traditional poet, winning first place at Modesto’s 2021 ILL List 16 Poetry Slam.
For Drew, the lasting impact comes from the personal connections made once the applause is over. “It’s those stories after the stage,” she said, recalling a 16-year-old girl who approached her, deeply moved by her work.
Originally from Oakland, Drew moved to Modesto over two decades ago to raise her family. In her poetry, she delves into various themes, such as the prison industrial complex, the Black female experience and love.
One of her most personal pieces, “The Birth of a Black Man,” speaks to the anxieties she felt while pregnant with her son, knowing he would have to navigate a world that might not always love him back. At 18, her son tattooed lines from the poem across his collarbone. They read, “Since birth, I’ve possessed more smiles than the world can take away, more respect for myself than the world can diminish.”
“That was my ultimate mom moment and poet moment,” Drew said.
In addition to her poetry, Drew has written a children’s book, “ElderBerry Wine,” as an ode to the wisdom of elders. She wants to encourage young people to value the stories of those who came before.
“Elders are a wealth of information. … If an elder dies, it’s like a library burning to the ground,” she said.
As Modesto’s poetry scene has grown more inclusive, Drew wants to urge young poets to “write yourself in,” quoting writer Octavia Butler, because “if you don’t tell our stories, they’re not going to get told.”
“Poetry, for me, is not something that exists somewhere in this academia world. Poetry belongs to the people,” she said.
Drew is also currently curating a spoken-word poetry album and an accompanying book, both set for release in December. To follow Drew on her poetry journey, upcoming performances are listed on her website at www.linguisticartistry.com and her Instagram @shespitsfire_.
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
