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poetry + science

I was recently commissioned to write an original poem highlighting the power of cell research.

This was my first time using poetry in collaboration with science.

The piece I wrote, “Saving our Cells,” spotlights the work of an incredible scientist—Dr. Heather Beasley—whose research studies why Black and Latina women have worse outcomes when diagnosed with breast cancer.

My mom is a survivor, so this one cuts very close to the bone.

You can watch it here (just scroll down for “Saving our Cells”): https://resource.thermofisher.com/page/gibcoloveyourcells/

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Button Poetry releases “Beating Traffic”

Here it is—the culmination of a promise two best friends made to each other at 13.

A tribute to the resilience that carried us through these past 18 months of grief & loss.

A fusion of poetry, music, & film like you’ve never seen:

“Awe & wonder—are you still there?”
https://bit.ly/3EK45ko (via Button Poetry)

 

#ForYourGRAMMYconsideration
#BestSpokenWordAlbum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Book Award-winning poet releases “Beating Traffic”

September 22, 2021

(Atlanta, GA) – Colombian American poet Carlos Andrés Gómez, star of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Spike Lee’s #1 box office movie Inside Man with Denzel Washington, released the short film “Beating Traffic” today through Button Poetry (the largest spoken word media content platform in the world).

“Beating Traffic,” a short film directed by Joe West, is the first video release from Gómez’s debut studio album, Opus, which he recorded with his best friend/musician/producer, Brent Shuttleworth, and GRAMMY Award-winning record producer, Joe West.

Inspired by a promise made between childhood best friends at thirteen (Gómez and Shuttleworth), Opus introduces a groundbreaking collaboration of poetry, music, and film. Having recently submitted the album for GRAMMY consideration in the Best Spoken Word Album category, Gómez seeks to become the first contemporary spoken word poet and first Latino to win for spoken word album.

Carlos Andrés Gómez is the author of Hijito, for which he was awarded the Foreword INDIES Gold Medal and the International Book Award for Poetry in 2020, and the coming-of-age memoir Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhoodreleased by Penguin Random House in 2012.

His most recent book, Fractures, was selected by Pulitzer Prize-winning former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey as the winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry.

Hailing from New York City, Gómez has performed at nearly 800 colleges and universities in 47 U.S. states and headlined shows in 26 countries across five continents. He has been featured on NPR, TEDx, Upworthy, Central Park SummerStage, and partnered with John Legend for Senior Orientation, a program to counteract bullying and champion inclusive masculinity among high school students.

A former social worker and public school teacher, Carlos first made a name for himself by winning at the Apollo Theater’s celebrated Amateur Night and later as a member of the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café’s slam team. In 2008, he collaborated with Tony Award-winner Savion Glover on Broadway. Gómez is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College.

For press access, interviews, and other inquiries:

booking@carloslive.com

For more information on Carlos Andrés Gómez: www.CarlosLive.com

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I was just named 2021 Georgia Author of the Year!

I was just named the winner of the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award. 🤯

Natasha Trethewey, who made the publication of “Fractures” possible by selecting it for the Felix Pollak Prize, was announced as the winner in the memoir category for “Memorial Drive” just before they announced the Poetry Full-Length category. You can’t make this up.

In the judge’s citation, Malcolm Tariq wrote:

In Fractures, Carlos Andrés Gómez delivers a poignant, thoughtful interrogation of what it means to live and love when society gives so many reasons not to. These poems chart a difficulty and invite deep reflection about fatherhood and interpersonal relationships and the strains that racism and notions of manhood place on them. Long after they’ve been read, these poems continue to hold the reader. They teach us that there is forgiveness. There are different ways of caring, and there are different ways of moving forward with the many things we carry.

Thank you to the Georgia Writers Association for honoring me and my work and everyone who’s supported this book. Wow.

Read more here: https://www.authoroftheyear.org/news/57th-annual-georgia-author-of-the-year-awards-winners-and-finalists/

Watch the announcement here: https://youtu.be/5hmCnfvfHKU?t=2866

#GeorgiaAuthorOfTheYearAward
#FracturesBookTour
#LatinxPoetry
#TeachLivingPoets

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“Fractures” just won the Midwest Book Award for Poetry!!

Fractures just won the 2021 Midwest Book Award for Poetry, which was completely surprising (considering being a finalist with Khaled Mattawa & Petra Kuppers) and humbling, but what was most significant about the whole thing for me—

I got to virtually attend an awards gala with one of my dearest friends, Adam Falkner (who won in the Debut category), whose work continues to make mine possible. What a special night.
Lastly, I would be remiss to not continue to say thank you to the readers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, educators (MFA, undergrad, HS, & beyond), publishers, agents, editors, & bloggers who’ve gifted my book with praise, recommendations, & just more love than I could have imagined.

For all this year’s winners: https://bit.ly/3yAyqxR

Watch the announcement & my acceptance speech here: https://bit.ly/3hGBp1e

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my debut studio album: “Opus”

When my best friend, Brent, and I were 13, we’d spend hours in his basement recording music on an old eight-track, freestyling and experimenting with lyrics and sound.

 

We made a promise to each other that one day we would make an album together.

 

Today, that dream has been made real. Ultimately, this project is about a dream shared by two best friends who kept their promise to each other. This is about dreaming big and following through, no matter the challenges and winding roads of this life.

 

We did it, B. Those awkward adolescent versions of us wouldn’t believe how far we’ve come.

 

“Opus” is here.

 

Stream & download the album HERE

Listen now on ReverbNation or SoundCloud

 

Supporters and friends always ask—how can I support?

 

The biggest way to support this project: subscribe to my Spotify (or YouTubeAmazon MusicApple MusiciHeartRadioPandora, etc.) & stream the heck out of “Opus.”

 

Thank you for coming along on this ride with me.

 

Much love,

Carlos

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