Keepin' It Real: Post-MTV Reflections on Race, Sex, and Politics

by Kevin Powell

In Keepin' It Real, writer, poet, and cultural critic Kevin Powell puts both himself and society under a microscope and creates a searingly honest collection that is at once powerful and disturbing. Within this rich weave of musings, confession, and sometimes painful introspection, he confronts such issues as racism, black self-hatred, gender violence in the '90s, and his own anguished revelations about sex, love, and misogyny. He also explores the meaning and myths of the Million Man March and the influential and threatening presence of rap music. Like that musical movement, Kevin Powell samples the sights and sounds and scenarios of American life, then reshapes them into a provocative soundtrack for our times.

237 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Kevin Powell is an American writer, activist, and television personality whose work spans journalism, literature, politics, and grassroots social change. With a career defined by outspoken advocacy for justice and deep engagement with Black culture and history, Powell has published 14 books, including The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy's Journey into Manhood and When We Free the World. He was a senior writer for Vibe magazine during its formative years and played a key role in shaping its editorial voice, especially in profiling hip-hop culture and icons like Tupac Shakur.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Powell was raised in poverty by a single mother and became the first in his family to graduate high school. He went on to study at Rutgers University through the Educational Opportunity Fund, focusing on political science, English, and philosophy. His academic and personal awakening to Black literature and politics led him to become an activist and organizer for causes such as anti-apartheid movements, voter registration drives, and Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign.
Powell's public profile rose nationally as an original cast member of MTV’s The Real World: New York in 1992. He used his time on the show to engage viewers in conversations about race, identity, and masculinity. That same year, he joined Vibe magazine and became one of its most prominent voices, covering major figures in Black music and culture. His interviews with Tupac Shakur remain among the most defining pieces written on the late rapper.
Beyond journalism, Powell has contributed to The New York Times, Esquire, The Washington Post, Essence, TIME, and more. His writing connects contemporary social issues with historical and cultural narratives, particularly around race, gender, and identity. His essays and reflections often draw from personal experiences, including past struggles with violence and transformation through therapy, education, and activism.
Powell’s commitment to social justice extends into community organizing and political engagement. He ran twice as a Democratic candidate for Congress in Brooklyn, New York, in 2008 and 2010, centering his campaigns on transparency, equity, and grassroots empowerment. He has worked internationally, lecturing and leading workshops, and served as the U.S. ambassador for the Dylan Thomas Centennial.
In addition to curating historical and literary anthologies, Powell continues to publish poetry, most recently Grocery Shopping with My Mother, which was also released as a spoken word album and received a 2024 GRAMMY nomination. His archive is held by Cornell University, reflecting his influence as a public intellectual and chronicler of Black life.
Throughout his multifaceted career, Powell has remained dedicated to redefining manhood, uplifting marginalized voices, and challenging systems of oppression through the written word and public service.

Reviews

[S. Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book after stopping into a BIG LOTS (Or was it DOLLAR TREE?) store's bookshelf & immediately had been offended that it had been placed on an 'Under $5' shelf at a place where I buy my cheap (& discontinued) snacks!
I FELT THAT KEVIN POWELL HADN'T REALLY GOTTEN A FAIR PERSONA OR POV WHILE CASTED ON THE REAL WORLD REALITY SHOW IN NYC MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, & I WANTED TO KNOW HOW HE REALLY FELT ABOUT HIS TIME ON & AFTER BEING SPOTLIGHTED ON MTV'S FIRST REALITY SHOW. SO, I PURCHASED IT & READ IT ON THE LONG BUSRIDE TO WORK & HOME!
SIMPLY PUT, GET THE BOOK!

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book from writer Kevin Powell.

[RK Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

gee, this guy is ANGRY!