February 8, 2024 • 8 mins
Host Cyrus Webb welcomes author and poet Tony Keith, Jr. to Conversations LIVE to discuss his new book HOW THE BOOGEYMAN BECAME A POET.
Get your copy on Amazon here.
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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cyrus-webb-s-tracks--1422267/support.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to Conversations Live. For morethan a decade, we've brought you the
best in books, entertainment, celebrityinterviews, and current events. When the
movers and shakers of the world havesomething to say to you, they say
it to us first. Here's yourhost, Cyrus Webbs. Welcome back everyone,
(00:20):
the Conversation's live. I'm your host, Cyrus web I'm glad you all
could join us once again for aradio audience tuning in at WYAD ninety four
point one FM and WYAD online dotCom. We're glad that you all can
be with us. Also, it'stuning in through I Heard Radio on Amazon
Music. We're glad you all couldjoin us as well. We're excited to
welcome author Tony Keith Jr. Toour broadcast today. He's written a powerful
new book that I think is somethingall ages can be able to appreciate.
(00:42):
If you've ever been able to lookat your journey and think about where you've
come from, what made you whoyou are, but also what's gonna like
for you to be able to becomfortable in your own skin, Tony's book
will definitely resonate with you as calledhow the Boogeyman became a poet. We're
gonna talk to Tony not only aboutthe writing of the book, but what
it's been like for him to sharehis story with the world world and to
be able to inspire people along theway. Tony, thank you again for
(01:03):
stopping by the broadcast. Really appreciateit. Thank you for having me.
I'm really, really, really reallyreally glad to be here, and thank
you to that wonderful affirmation about thebook. Wow, well it's true.
And I'm going to get into PastorJenkins here in a bit because I got
a chance to read the book byTony, so I appreciate with it about
that. But I want to askyou about this journey, even the title
itself, how the Boogeyman became apoet. What has it been like for
(01:25):
you to think about how the fears, how the uncertainty have all led you
to where you are today. Yeah, so it has been a mixture of
complete vulnerability. I mean, especiallyto just have poems and memories and stories
written about those memories that no onehas ever really heard before, from you
know, my family, to closefriends, and to unpack all of that
(01:48):
and to put this in the bookwhere the whole world is set extremely It's
vulnerable, right, like it's vulnerable, but it's also extremely free, right
Because to your point, I knowthat, you know what, if anything,
readers, hopefully anybody who's dealing withan identity related challenge will be able
to find something in this book forthem. And that's the thing I think
about, is, you know,there's something about you know, my bookie
(02:10):
person was you know, internalized racismand internalized homophobia and internalized like a poverty
based kind of mindset. For otherpeople, then bookiey people might be something
completely different. And so that metaphorI think I wanted folks to understand it.
It can represent so many things,but you don't have to be afraid
and to find your voice. Forme, I found it through poetry.
(02:30):
Yeah, And I think that's thegreat thing I mentioned Pastor Jenkins when I
get to that part of the book, I thought it was so interesting because,
of course for their own reasons,and some of it is because of
what has happened with religion Tony unfortunately, is that a lot of people do
not have a great thought or greatappreciation for the idea of faith or you
know, even those who are supposedto be preachers, right or in a
(02:53):
church. But you talk about somethingthat I think a lot of people can
relate to, and that is someoneseeing something in you that sometimes you don't
see in yourself. And I lovethe fact that as he shared that with
Pastor Jenkins about what his words werein the correnngations, how you were able
to personalize that talk to us aboutthat moment and how that helped you.
(03:13):
Yeah, I'm so glad you askedme that question because in this book,
I absolutely do wrestle with my spiritualidentity and my sexuality because they intersected at
around the same time. And sowhat I want readers to know is that
you know, in this book,I have memories of you know, I
used to be a member of ayouth church choir in the DC metro area.
I don't say specify with one.They know who I was, and
(03:35):
I remember feeling conflicted, of course, because I you know, feeling that
I'm gay and I had not justanybody. I didn't done anything. I
don't do anything with a boy inthis book until I'm well into college,
right, So if someone to askme Tony or Kay, I would have
said no. But like to feelthat and also experience God in church.
Right. And when I say God, I don't really mean Christianity in this
respect, but this feeling of justlike overwhelming joy, right, and and
(04:00):
like or just sort of like feelingvery seen. I remember singing, and
I write about in this book likebeing able to sing out to God and
how that psalm, how that prayerwith that felt like, how relieving it
was like just to get that emotionout. That influenced my ability to perform.
Right. So even nowadays when Iperform poetry on the stage, I
tell folks, if you see meclose my eyes, I have transcended.
I am in a whole different space. Me and God in conversation, Me
(04:23):
and ancestors are doing a thing.That's what this word and this language is
about. If I don't want tomake it sound like it's too spooky,
but you know, there's a spiritualityto my poetry, and I, you
know, do not identify as aChristian. I was want to say that
for this record, but there's aspirituality to my poetry. And I understand
the significance of the Black Church whenit comes to the spoken word, and
I wanted that to show up inhere, I'm like, I can move
(04:45):
crowds like a preacher can move acongregation, right, like a teacher can
move a classroom. That comes fromthings. Yeah, well, I want
to talk to you about that inthe external impact of it, Tony,
because what you just said is goingto be the key for a lot of
people to know it's okay to feelthat way. How does that feel to
know that something that is so personal, right, is something that is bigger
(05:10):
than you and can impact the livesof others. Wow? What a really,
really powerful question. You know.The only thing I keep thinking about
is I go to poetry to answerquestions about myself. And I say this
in the book, that I askmyself about myself when no one is around
to hear me thinking inside of myown head, right, when you know,
when I'm in those spaces where,like, yo, I'm dealing with
(05:32):
something, I'm feeling something I don'tquite know how to wrestle with this thing,
I got to write it out tome. It's like a prayer,
you know what I mean. Andthat's you know, it's really what it's
like. It's like it's like praying, And so for me, I'm like,
there's got to be something bigger inthis world that can help me figure
all this stuff out. Otherwise wherethe poetry come from. You know,
I was telling someone the other day. I was like, you know,
(05:53):
if anything, I do know thatevery day I wake up, I'm a
human being living on a planet thatis rotating in space. It's the facts.
When I go outside and look upin the sky, they're starves.
Okay, so there's a planet likeI think there's a bigger there's some bigger
thing going on, and I don'tbelieve that bigger thing wants me to hate
myself, and I don't think thatbigger thing wants anybody to hate anybody.
(06:13):
I think that bigger thing wants usall to love each other and to love
ourselves and to find the humanity inall of us. And I think that
that for me is where it's that. So I'm like, yeah, I
want people to read this thing andknow that I believe that there's something bigger
and greater going on and it doesnot want me to not be free.
Yeah. Well, Tony has toask you this question because it is kind
(06:33):
of the elson in the realm ofa book like this. This book couldnot
have been I think so readily acceptedten years ago. How does it feel
to know that, in twenty twentyfour by people picking up how the Boogeyman
became a poet, people can beable to identify and be able to not
only to hear your words, butto feel their words for themselves. Yeah,
(06:55):
you know, I ah. Itis one of the most affirming experiences
of my life right now, youknow. And I've I've performed on stages
and I received like claps. Andthis is an important thing about this,
right this is my very first book. I've got another one coming too,
But you know, I received receptionsfrom audiences on stages. I've had people
(07:18):
clap and appause for me like today. However, I won't see everybody who
reads this book, and I mightnot even meet everyone who reads this book,
so I may not know what kindof reception I might ever get.
But I tell you what, thepeople who send me pictures of their young
people reading this book right now.The people who my hairstylist, he gave
(07:41):
black Man, also from DC,I was sitting under the dry I get
my hair done last week, andhe was sitting in the milk of the
hair salon reading my book, andhe was so deeply engaged that for me
is what it's all about. It'slike this. I'm so glad this book
is now able to be in thehands and not only younger readers, but
even adult readers who probably would theywould have had this book when they were
kids too. The healings that's happeningbooth spaces, I think is what really
(08:05):
emits. It's truly it's an affirmation. It feel. It feels very very
powerful. It feels like love.Is kind of the best way I can
describe it is it's God. Itfeels very much like a yeah, human
goodness, like wow, like yes, and now people can experience it again
everyone. Tony Keith Jr. Hasbeen our guest. How the Boogeyman became
a poet is The book also makessure you guys are staying connected with Tony.
(08:28):
You can find him at Tony KeithJunior dot com. Tony, congratulations
to you again man, really appreciatethe time and looking forward to speak with
you again. Thank you so much, Peace you take care. Thank you
as well, and we think youraudience for tuning in to another great segment
of conversations Live until next time.I'm your host. Stower's web thing is
always enjoy your day, enjoy yourlife, enjoy your world. Thank you
(08:48):
all for using conversations live. Thenit's gonna make today amazing. Take care,
Welcome to Conversations Live. For morethan a decade, we've brought you the
best in books, entertainment, celebrityinterviews, and current events. When the
movers and shakers of the world havesomething to say to you, they say
it to us first. Here's yourhost, Cyrus Webbs. Welcome back everyone,
(00:20):
the Conversation's live. I'm your host, Cyrus web I'm glad you all
could join us once again for aradio audience tuning in at WYAD ninety four
point one FM and WYAD online dotCom. We're glad that you all can
be with us. Also, it'stuning in through I Heard Radio on Amazon
Music. We're glad you all couldjoin us as well. We're excited to
welcome author Tony Keith Jr. Toour broadcast today. He's written a powerful
new book that I think is somethingall ages can be able to appreciate.
(00:42):
If you've ever been able to lookat your journey and think about where you've
come from, what made you whoyou are, but also what's gonna like
for you to be able to becomfortable in your own skin, Tony's book
will definitely resonate with you as calledhow the Boogeyman became a poet. We're
gonna talk to Tony not only aboutthe writing of the book, but what
it's been like for him to sharehis story with the world world and to
be able to inspire people along theway. Tony, thank you again for
(01:03):
stopping by the broadcast. Really appreciateit. Thank you for having me.
I'm really, really, really reallyreally glad to be here, and thank
you to that wonderful affirmation about thebook. Wow, well it's true.
And I'm going to get into PastorJenkins here in a bit because I got
a chance to read the book byTony, so I appreciate with it about
that. But I want to askyou about this journey, even the title
itself, how the Boogeyman became apoet. What has it been like for
(01:25):
you to think about how the fears, how the uncertainty have all led you
to where you are today. Yeah, so it has been a mixture of
complete vulnerability. I mean, especiallyto just have poems and memories and stories
written about those memories that no onehas ever really heard before, from you
know, my family, to closefriends, and to unpack all of that
(01:48):
and to put this in the bookwhere the whole world is set extremely It's
vulnerable, right, like it's vulnerable, but it's also extremely free, right
Because to your point, I knowthat, you know what, if anything,
readers, hopefully anybody who's dealing withan identity related challenge will be able
to find something in this book forthem. And that's the thing I think
about, is, you know,there's something about you know, my bookie
(02:10):
person was you know, internalized racismand internalized homophobia and internalized like a poverty
based kind of mindset. For otherpeople, then bookiey people might be something
completely different. And so that metaphorI think I wanted folks to understand it.
It can represent so many things,but you don't have to be afraid
and to find your voice. Forme, I found it through poetry.
(02:30):
Yeah, And I think that's thegreat thing I mentioned Pastor Jenkins when I
get to that part of the book, I thought it was so interesting because,
of course for their own reasons,and some of it is because of
what has happened with religion Tony unfortunately, is that a lot of people do
not have a great thought or greatappreciation for the idea of faith or you
know, even those who are supposedto be preachers, right or in a
(02:53):
church. But you talk about somethingthat I think a lot of people can
relate to, and that is someoneseeing something in you that sometimes you don't
see in yourself. And I lovethe fact that as he shared that with
Pastor Jenkins about what his words werein the correnngations, how you were able
to personalize that talk to us aboutthat moment and how that helped you.
(03:13):
Yeah, I'm so glad you askedme that question because in this book,
I absolutely do wrestle with my spiritualidentity and my sexuality because they intersected at
around the same time. And sowhat I want readers to know is that
you know, in this book,I have memories of you know, I
used to be a member of ayouth church choir in the DC metro area.
I don't say specify with one.They know who I was, and
(03:35):
I remember feeling conflicted, of course, because I you know, feeling that
I'm gay and I had not justanybody. I didn't done anything. I
don't do anything with a boy inthis book until I'm well into college,
right, So if someone to askme Tony or Kay, I would have
said no. But like to feelthat and also experience God in church.
Right. And when I say God, I don't really mean Christianity in this
respect, but this feeling of justlike overwhelming joy, right, and and
(04:00):
like or just sort of like feelingvery seen. I remember singing, and
I write about in this book likebeing able to sing out to God and
how that psalm, how that prayerwith that felt like, how relieving it
was like just to get that emotionout. That influenced my ability to perform.
Right. So even nowadays when Iperform poetry on the stage, I
tell folks, if you see meclose my eyes, I have transcended.
I am in a whole different space. Me and God in conversation, Me
(04:23):
and ancestors are doing a thing.That's what this word and this language is
about. If I don't want tomake it sound like it's too spooky,
but you know, there's a spiritualityto my poetry, and I, you
know, do not identify as aChristian. I was want to say that
for this record, but there's aspirituality to my poetry. And I understand
the significance of the Black Church whenit comes to the spoken word, and
I wanted that to show up inhere, I'm like, I can move
(04:45):
crowds like a preacher can move acongregation, right, like a teacher can
move a classroom. That comes fromthings. Yeah, well, I want
to talk to you about that inthe external impact of it, Tony,
because what you just said is goingto be the key for a lot of
people to know it's okay to feelthat way. How does that feel to
know that something that is so personal, right, is something that is bigger
(05:10):
than you and can impact the livesof others. Wow? What a really,
really powerful question. You know.The only thing I keep thinking about
is I go to poetry to answerquestions about myself. And I say this
in the book, that I askmyself about myself when no one is around
to hear me thinking inside of myown head, right, when you know,
when I'm in those spaces where,like, yo, I'm dealing with
(05:32):
something, I'm feeling something I don'tquite know how to wrestle with this thing,
I got to write it out tome. It's like a prayer,
you know what I mean. Andthat's you know, it's really what it's
like. It's like it's like praying, And so for me, I'm like,
there's got to be something bigger inthis world that can help me figure
all this stuff out. Otherwise wherethe poetry come from. You know,
I was telling someone the other day. I was like, you know,
(05:53):
if anything, I do know thatevery day I wake up, I'm a
human being living on a planet thatis rotating in space. It's the facts.
When I go outside and look upin the sky, they're starves.
Okay, so there's a planet likeI think there's a bigger there's some bigger
thing going on, and I don'tbelieve that bigger thing wants me to hate
myself, and I don't think thatbigger thing wants anybody to hate anybody.
(06:13):
I think that bigger thing wants usall to love each other and to love
ourselves and to find the humanity inall of us. And I think that
that for me is where it's that. So I'm like, yeah, I
want people to read this thing andknow that I believe that there's something bigger
and greater going on and it doesnot want me to not be free.
Yeah. Well, Tony has toask you this question because it is kind
(06:33):
of the elson in the realm ofa book like this. This book couldnot
have been I think so readily acceptedten years ago. How does it feel
to know that, in twenty twentyfour by people picking up how the Boogeyman
became a poet, people can beable to identify and be able to not
only to hear your words, butto feel their words for themselves. Yeah,
(06:55):
you know, I ah. Itis one of the most affirming experiences
of my life right now, youknow. And I've I've performed on stages
and I received like claps. Andthis is an important thing about this,
right this is my very first book. I've got another one coming too,
But you know, I received receptionsfrom audiences on stages. I've had people
(07:18):
clap and appause for me like today. However, I won't see everybody who
reads this book, and I mightnot even meet everyone who reads this book,
so I may not know what kindof reception I might ever get.
But I tell you what, thepeople who send me pictures of their young
people reading this book right now.The people who my hairstylist, he gave
(07:41):
black Man, also from DC,I was sitting under the dry I get
my hair done last week, andhe was sitting in the milk of the
hair salon reading my book, andhe was so deeply engaged that for me
is what it's all about. It'slike this. I'm so glad this book
is now able to be in thehands and not only younger readers, but
even adult readers who probably would theywould have had this book when they were
kids too. The healings that's happeningbooth spaces, I think is what really
(08:05):
emits. It's truly it's an affirmation. It feel. It feels very very
powerful. It feels like love.Is kind of the best way I can
describe it is it's God. Itfeels very much like a yeah, human
goodness, like wow, like yes, and now people can experience it again
everyone. Tony Keith Jr. Hasbeen our guest. How the Boogeyman became
a poet is The book also makessure you guys are staying connected with Tony.
(08:28):
You can find him at Tony KeithJunior dot com. Tony, congratulations
to you again man, really appreciatethe time and looking forward to speak with
you again. Thank you so much, Peace you take care. Thank you
as well, and we think youraudience for tuning in to another great segment
of conversations Live until next time.I'm your host. Stower's web thing is
always enjoy your day, enjoy yourlife, enjoy your world. Thank you
(08:48):
all for using conversations live. Thenit's gonna make today amazing. Take care,
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