That’s All She Wrote A Community Conversation with Dr. Carol Adams at CICS

Kai EL’ Zabar CNW Contributing Writer

It opened as a book signing celebrating and honoring the poetry book written by Carol Adams Ph.D. “That’s All She Wrote,” a collection of personal reflection memoirs written about personal experiences. Upon entering the room, I could see that everything was in place, set-up for a book signing and conversation. I was early so I seized the moment to sit down and interview my respected friend who as always was poised, relaxed and ready.

I opened with, “What made you choose poetry as the genre to tell your story? Because the book does tell the story? Like many I know that the doctor is brilliant and creatively poised to express herself through any chosen vehicle, so I was like most curious why poetry now?

Without hesitating Dr. Adams began with, “Over a period of many years, I wrote, not with the thought of publishing. They were for me. It was the way I processed different things that I was experiencing. That expanded when I started writing about my I travel. Writing was something I did since my childhood. At home in the evenings from time to time, I would read one or more, randomly based on a feeling.” She shared, “I’m going to read one this evening from a trip to Jamaica, where, I took a group of students. When we returned, I presented the poems to them because every night I had only about what things that I had I done, and which thought were only of interest to me. But after that, I traveled to Israel twice and when I returned the second time, I shared it with Prince Asiel. Such sharing what I wrote with others were exceptions, “ she said more to herself than to me.

Dr. Adams lingered in her pause and inquired whether or not I knew Kwesi, who was an invaluable member of Chicago State’s staff with whom she shared one of her personal favorites – “We Need Some More Neighbor in this Hood.” After reading it to him, Kwesi asked, “What? Can you read that again?” After which, he inquired, “where can I get that? ” When she expressed that it wasn’t published he responded , “Well, you should.”Dr. Adams continues, “So he put the thought in my head. Later at some point Tracie Hall , Executive Di- rector at American Library Association encouraged me to publish as well. I was already processing the idea of writing about Catalyst, which I am currently working on, now that I am free to do things I want to, meaning I have the time, so I can.”

We paused for a moment as guests strolled in and immediately approached the table to greet Dr. Adams and purchase an autographed copy of her book. It was so seamlessly fluid as she flowed in and out of conversations with the guests and I, one thread weaving the fabric of conversations woven into the story I get to tell. It was surreal—I felt I was participating in a poem yet to be written.

“Hi, darlin, how are you? Yes, yes, where do you want it? . . .

“Sure we can take. Selfie . ..” the author says ever giddy. The guest takes the selfie with Dr. Adams and moves on. She turns to me, and continues, “ Yes, so, I’ve decided to do some of the things I really want to do, as a way of taking time for myself is essential to complete the circle.”

I advance the conversation, “So, you’re working on the book about the Catalyst. What is that journey, like so far?”

She smiles lighting up her eyes and says, “Oh, it’s amazing, because I know the work. I know it’s value. The research has revealed the berth, the full weight of it, so I find myself impressed. I was there and I knew what we were up to, still, now going through the archives, I’m thrown back in time reminiscing and discovering simultaneously. It’s celebratory.”

Just then a striking young sister approaches the table and compliments acknowledges Dr. Adams, as MamaDoc, and I knew that she was one of our Watoto . . . community children. She goes on to compliment Dr. Adams on her fabulous gele/headwrap, who accepts the compliment and then introduces me to Pilar Audain, as we both realize that we are FB friends. She would later conduct the actual interview with Dr. Adams. And just like that Dr. Adams kept it moving and continued, “The members of Catalyst were phenomenal people.

The bodies of work that emerged from each member, who had made a strong commitment to Abena Joan Brown to work for our people, not for those who work against us, is incredible (you’ll have to learn the details when the book is published). Each of us committed to work for Black people and we were everywhere as educators, administrators, executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, institution builders, artists, writers, technicians, etc. The work speaks for itself, but I am pursuing what each individual thought about, their goal and intention” Then she shifted her body towards me looking directly in my eyes, and said, “Think about our latest Catalyst member to transition,’ referring to Useni Eugene Perkins who passed earlier this month. “His body of work, as one individual is staggering. A reporter from the Sun Times called me for an interview regarding Useni-talking about the “Black Fairy,” as she shook her head.” His written tome includes Poems. Plays, social, commentaries, cultural history and case studies for social and economic justice and more.”

It was understood that those people and unfortunately too few of our own have no idea that Useni was a major contributor to the literary world. She continued, “And I had to say, ‘That’s just one thing.”

She mentioned how thorough Catalyst was as a group, how they covered everything. It’s all there for the record, there is photographic documentation captured. I could literally feel her excitement. The journey of revisiting the ‘s work that she helped to create together with her comrades lives and she gets to share their journey’s as each found their own path to achieve great things is affirming that they did what they set out to do. She informed me that she even has the minutes from their meetings which reveals their intentions, accomplishments and how and what they did to achieve their work.

Back to her collection of poetic stories, of which she said, “My book tour has been very exciting in that I get to be with and commune with people from every phase of my life. It’s rejuvenating. So its successful in that way and because I’m selling books that allow insight into my

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