Synopses & Reviews
Etan Thomas is More Than An Athlete. In this, his first collection of poems, Thomas defies the stereotype of the a-political athlete, and plants his roots in his budding literary career. With the conviction of a Bill Russell, and the poetic finesse of Muhammad Ali, Thomas takes on controversial topics, such as, the Death Penalty, the GOP, racism and abortion.
Born in Harlem, and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Thomas' childhood was surrounded by books on the civil rights movement, politics and the 1960's. He was greatly influenced by his mother, a schoolteacher who traveled with Thomas and his younger brother back home to Harlem every summer. This young, fiery poet approaches his work fearlessly, writing in the strong, historical lineage of his literary elders Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez, and in the tradition of contemporary poets Ras Baraka, Tony Medina and asha bandele.
Thomas has leant his poetry and political voice to the ACLU and Congressional Black Caucus, community organizations, high schools and prisons across the country. He has performed alongside Nikki Giovanni, Edward Hirsch, The Last Poets, Kevin Powell and others. Refreshingly humble and remarkably talented, Thomas is determined to change the face of poetry, politics and professional sports with his own brand of legacy and an honest sense of urgency that resonates off every page of his first collection. More Than an Athlete is more than a box, a definition, or a label. Some of us play ball, and some of us write poems. Etan Thomas has mastered the art of both. Who's got next?
Review
"Etan Thomas is a gifted young wordsmith, one who samples the rhythmic boomshots of the Last Poets, Sonia Sanchez, and Amiri Baraka, as well as the oral grafitti of post-September 11 America, producing literary mixtape for the masses breastfed on hiphop, basketball, reality TV, media soundbytes, the war in Iraq, and the latest high tech gadget. And if Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown were the athletes without fear back in their day, then Etan Thomas is this generation's athlete with a moral conscience and a voice, a voice he has the courage to use, boldly." Kevin Powell, author of Who's Gonna Take the Weight? Manhood, Race, and Power in America
Review
"Etan Thomas stands high above the trivialities of the game. He does much more than play his position. He speaks and lives it. He goes a step beyond a player with this [sic] own shoe. He has begun a process of designing his own inner-soul." Saul Williams, author of The Seventh Octave and Said the Shotgun to the Head
Review
"He talks in rhymes and rebounds, winding metaphors and crooked elbows. He jams at MCI Center and slams local coffeehouses. He can send a blocked shot into the front row and send the front row scrambling for the Oxford Dictionary of Literary Allusions." Patrick Hruby, The Washington Times
Synopsis
Washington Wizards Center Etan Thomas proves he is just as effective on the page as he is on the boards with his first collection of poetry. Thomas provides insightful commentary on the political, social and spiritual issues that shape our nation.
Synopsis
Etan Thomas is More Than An Athlete. In this, his first collection of poems, Thomas defies the stereotype of the typical a-political athlete, and plants his roots in his budding literary career. With the conviction of a Bill Russell and the poetic finesse of Muhammed Ali, Thomas takes on controversial topics, such as the death penalty, the GOP, racism, and abortion. Agreat read for young people, Thomas speaks to the conscience of youth with poems like Sesame Street and Toys R Us Kids. The poet is the center for the NBA's Washington Wizards and this collection is a slamdunk in the faces of those who say poetry belongs to one type of audience. The beautifully produced CD that accompanies the book is a journey from 18th century classic, to jazz and Hip Hop. Scored by award-winning producer, Kenyatta Poole, the soundtrack to the poetry collection is just as impactful as the read.
Synopsis
Poetry. African American Studies. CD Included. Poet, basketball player, and outspoken anti-war activists, Etan Thomas is MORE THAN AN ATHLETE. In this, his first collection of poems, the center for the NBA's Washington Wizards defies the stereotype of the a-political athlete, and plants his roots in his budding literary career. With the conviction of a Bill Russell, and the poetic finesse of Muhammad Ali, Thomas takes on controversial topics such as The Death Penalty, the GOP, racism and abortion. This young, fiery poet approaches his work fearlessly, writing in the strong, historical lineage of his literary elders Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez, and in the tradition of contemporary poets Ras Baraka, Tony Medina and asha bandele. MORE THAN AN ATHLETE is more than a book of poetry; it's a statement about our generation not being confined to a box, a definition or a label. Some of us play ball, and some of us write poems. Etan Thomas has mastered the art of both.