Reggie Eldridge: A Poet Speaks

There’s an event taking place at the Embassy Suites in Tampa, FL. It’s a celebration, an introduction to Reggie Eldridge’s new album, aptly entitled, The Awakening. This is just one of the places that will allow you a glimpse into the eclectic world of some gifted artists. Reggie Eldridge is not only an exceptional poet, but also an advocate for humanity. He is an Africana studies/Literary theory graduate and a well appreciated professor of the Africana Studies program at University of South Florida. Excerpts and sample tracks from Reggie Eldridge’s album has been well received by his fans.  The Awakening is not Reggie Eldridge’s first album. He has been dabbling in this fine art of the spoken word for some time now. Reflections in the Mind of a Dying Breed was his first album which was soon followed by a revised version, entitled, Reflections (Re) visited.

His current compilation, The Awakening was borne out of the enlightenment and acceptance of his new creative journey.  The album was originally entitled, Identity Crisis which somewhat indicated a sense of creative perplexity.  After pressing forward for the appropriate sound and feel, along with finances which would enable creative freedom, he was finally able to see the direction, in which this album was heading. Yes, he wants the audience to become lost in his poetry, in the performances, his grandmother chatting with her Grandson, amidst   a backdrop of rich melodic tones; Listen, feel the rhythms and succumb to the hypnotic rhyme. He also wants people to get found. Which is inevitable after listening to tracks like We Are Love and the dissonant harmonies of SoThelonius. When I asked Reggie who was most influential in his life as a child, without hesitation he explains how as a child he remembers singing old Negro spirituals with his older sister in church. He talks about his Aunt and Uncle, who had their own show on Nickelodeon, Gullah Gullah Island. He had learned from an early age to appreciate the different aspects of culture.

He couldn’t quite pin point what it was exactly that directed him to performing on stage “I don’t know , It just found me.”, he  elaborates, “I remember one day being an audience  member and the next day I was on stage reading poetry and people liked it.” What inspires Reggie is the historical, social and psychological aspect expressed throughout the world. He hopes through his words he might help people get in touch with something they would not normally be exposed to.

Reggie Eldridge: “Everything I encounter in life shows up in my poetry somehow… The research that I do helps me to understand that what I’m doing is not just a personal kind of expression of my emotion or mind– but it has a context that enables me to see myself as being a part of a movement more so than just an individual artist trying to struggle to get his little piece of the pie.”

Today, Reggie has some worthy mentors. He admires people with a gift of storytelling; he makes no claim to being in the same company with the likes of Bob Dillon, Maya Angelo. He is humble Perhaps unaware of his gift for prose. He recites his accomplice’s names like a soldier pitches the names of his dedicated and perhaps unsung comrades like Aisha Marshall flutist/ producer and others for which he is eternally grateful, He takes care to spell out the names of- Diane Andrieux singer, , Aleshea Harris poet actress playwright, Dana Harmon electric guitarist and David “DeTyme” Tolliver poet/ hip hop and close friend. He makes not of his Grandmothers contribution on the We Are Love track, a timeless piece of beauty, a gentle soothing voice only a Grandmother could have. With so much negative prose, on the airwaves today, which leaves little to the imagination and usually is geared toward shock and awe, it is refreshing to see or better still hear a poet with some sense of purpose. Reggie is a great advocate for simply promoting human beings.  He doesn’t take himself too, too seriously. He does however understand that the slightest movement in any direction can cause a rippling effect. Any gesture can be used, abused or embraced. He is disappointed in the capitalization of voices which was once feverishly suppressed. Reggie is ambiguous in his thinking as he also believes rap has its purpose, even those laced with negative jargon.

Reggie Eldridge: “I undertake it’s an industry, so at its very core, these corporations are putting ideas or images that they feel are going to sell… Sometimes, I do feel it’s very unfortunate, that these are the messages that are put out there, especially when it comes to people of color. Specifically black males, but I think there are several sides to that, I think just having a voice… Is it detrimental on the whole scale because the voice is saying the types of things that are being perpetuated and being able to be used and co-opted by people who are against you, or is the fact that you have a voice, something that will enable someone else to come further along and be a counter point to that negative perspective of the world…  As a rapper- all you hear are the basic tenant of capitalism. No different from anyone else, but because their black -it’s just harder to swallow by the general public.”

That is why Reggie believes spoken word is such an important art form as there is a personal experience a sense of connection where everyone is contributing in some form or another.

Reggie Eldridge: “I’m really passionate about love. I guess, brotherly love. I guess you could say love between people who are finding a way to maneuver in this kind of society that doesn’t quite promote the kind of love that nourishes the human spirit. I’ m passionate about building the community, about making connections, human connections and growing in an organic kind of manner. I’m kind of turned off by the movement away from human contact.

When Reggie is asked what he would want his legacy to be, he thinks about that rippling effect.

Reggie Eldridge:“I would want my legacy to be someone who encouraged people to think. My little part as a poet and teacher is to get people to be critical thinkers.”

For more on Reggie Eldridge visit http://www.reggieeldridge.com/ or download the album at http://www.digstation.com