march forth...first

by Carlos Andrés Gómez

About the author

Hailed as a “truth-telling visionary” by Brass Magazine and a “lyrical prophet” by the Caymanian Compass, CARLOS ANDRÉS GÓMEZ has been dubbed "a leading voice at the forefront of the oral poetry movement" (The Punch). A former social worker in Harlem and the south Bronx and public school teacher in Philadelphia and Manhattan, Gómez has performed at over 200 colleges and universities and toured across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize and named Artist of the Year at the 2009 Promoting Outstanding Writers Awards, he is a two-time International Poetry Slam Champion (2006, 2010) and co-stars in Spike Lee's #1 movie "INSIDE MAN" (Universal Pictures) with Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, and Clive Owen. Gómez appears on the 6th season of HBO’s “RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS DEF POETRY” – voted “Favorite Poet” of his episode by viewers. Most recently, he showcased his talent in MTV’s first ever poetry slam alongside hip hop luminary Talib Kweli.

GÓMEZ is the star of the Emmy® Award-winning "Respect Yourself" television spots by At Large Films and appears on the third season of the popular Showtime series "The L Word.” He is a two-time National Poetry Slam Finalist – once as a member of the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café's Slam Team that finished 2nd, and later with the NYC/louderARTS Slam Team that finished 3rd in the U.S. He's represented the United States at the Poetry Africa International Festival in Durban, South Africa and been a special guest performer at the MACY’s Passport Fashion Show. He's collaborated with Tony Award-winning tap dance legend Savion Glover on Broadway. In the past year, he was Guest of Honor at the Berlin International Literature Festival, headlined Central Park SummerStage, and opened the Campus Progress National Conference in Washington, D.C.

Over the past decade, Gómez has shared the stage with a diverse range of celebrated artists and icons, including Wyclef Jean, MC Lyte, Yusef Komunyakaa, Rosie Pérez, Pete Rock, Ntozake Shange, Toots and The Maytals, Immortal Technique, Reel Big Fish, Suzanne Vega, Saul Williams, Javier Colón and Mos Def.