>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS & GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE LOCATED IN CHRISTIANSTED CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNDERCOVERBOOKS STCROIX.COM.

>> MY GIRLFRIEND´S CLOSET IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL AUTHORS.

THEIR AIM IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH FASHION, FAITH, AND FRIENDSHIP.

FIND OUT MORE AT 340-514-8008 OR ONLINE AT MGCSTX.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS, A SOMETIME WRITER AND A LONGTIME READER.

JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE THE BOOKCASE AND CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS´ AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

WE´LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK, A STORYTELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US, AND I´M EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME-GROWN STORY MATERIALIZE A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

THIS WEEK´S SELECTION FROM THE I´M EXCITED TO WELCOME GERON RICHARDS.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> I´M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT YOUR COLLECTIVE WORKS OF POETRY.

I AM READING IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY GROUNDED IN OUR CULTURE, HISTORY, AND SELF-REALIZATION.

THAT´S JUST MY OPINION.

SO WHY DON´T YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED TO YOU WROTE THIS COLLECTION OF POETRY.

>> IT´S A BOOK THAT I WROTE IN THE YEAR 2017.

IT HAS A LOT OF OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE, AS YOU MENTIONED.

BUT WHAT REALLY AND TRULY INSPIRED ME TO CREATE THE BOOK WAS MAINLY TO KIND OF RELATE TO OUR YOUTH HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND ALSO SEEKING TO EDUCATE THEM IN TERMS OF SELF-REALIZATION, HAVING AN IMPORTANT -- THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING ONE´S SELF, AND ALSO THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF IN SOCIETY AS IT RELATES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE AROUND YOU TRYING TO DEVELOP A MORE SENSE OF LEADERSHIP AMONGST OUR YOUTH.

AND I FELT THAT ME WRITING A BOOK OF POEMS THAT HAS MESSAGES THAT CAN RELATE TO THE YOUTH WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO CONNECT TO THEM AND ALSO EDUCATE THEM.

SO THAT WAS THE MAIN INSPIRATION IN ME ACTUALLY WRITING THE BOOK.

>> SO YOUR POETRY IS MORE GEARED TOWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE.

BUT CAN ANY READER GET AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THAT BOOK?

WHAT WOULD THAT MESSAGE BE?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY ANY READER THAT RELATES TO YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS GROWN ADULTS.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT IT´S ONE SPECIFIC MESSAGE BECAUSE THERE ARE 88 POEMS AND EACH POEM I WOULD SAY HAS A DIFFERENT MESSAGE AND IT REFLECTS MULTIPLE THINGS SUCH AS VIOLENCE.

I SPEAK ABOUT HISTORY, I SPEAK ABOUT POVERTY, POLITICS, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND IT GOES ON AND ON.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY CONNECT TO THE BOOK.

BUT PEOPLE RELATE TO IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES.

>> SO YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

YOU SAID THERE ARE 88 POEMS IN THIS BOOK.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO AMASS THIS COLLECTION OF POETRY?

>> WELL, I WRITE A LOT.

WRITING IS A DEFINITE PASSION OF MINE, SO IT DIDN´T TAKE ME THAT LONG.

IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO YEARS TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE ENTIRE BOOK.

IT WAS A PRACTICE THAT I REALLY AND TRULY ENJOYED, SO IT WASN´T ANYTHING THAT CAME HARD TO ME.

IT´S SOMETHING THAT I FOUND TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT TO MY LIFE AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT THAT ALSO FUELED MY MOTIVATION TO COMPOSE THE BOOK OF POEMS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS LIKE?

ARE YOU THE PERSON THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS TO WAIT FOR INSPIRATION TO STRIKE?

ARE YOU DISCIPLINED?

TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY READING INSPIRES ME TO WRITE BECAUSE I ALSO READ A LOT.

IN FACT, I´M READING SEVERAL DIFFERENT BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHENEVER I READ, I SEE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS THAT I READ IN MY DIFFERENT BOOKS THAT I READ REFLECTED IN MY WRITING DIRECTLY.

AND ALSO, I WOULD SAY JUST IN PARTICULAR, LIFE, LIFE EXPERIENCES, BEING AROUND, ESPECIALLY MY ISLAND, MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT CAN RELATE TO ONE IN A POETIC FASHION OR WRITING MANNER JUST IN GENERAL.

TO ME, TO REALLY AND TRULY CLASSIFY AND PUT IT INTO ONE CATEGORY TO EXPLAIN HOW I PROCESS MY THOUGHTS AND MY WRITING IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

I ALSO GIVE A LOT OF FULL CREDIT FOR THE WORDS I WANT TO BRING TO THE PUBLIC.

SO I HOPE THAT THAT KIND OF HELPS.

>> WHEN YOU DECIDED TO PUBLISH, HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT THAT PROCESS?

ARE YOU SELF-PUBLISHED OR DID YOU WORK WITH A PUBLISHER?

>> THAT IS SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK, BEING THAT IT´S MY FIRST BOOK.

ONE THING IS I STARTED TO CONNECT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I KNEW ALSO PUBLISHED THEIR OWN WORK.

AND ONE PRIMARY EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE AUTHOR RICHARD STRATUS SR.

I SAID A POEM AT AN EVENT IN FREDDIC TO EMANCIPATION AND I SOUGHT OUT A COMPANY HE WORKS WITH.

THAT´S HOW THE PROCESS ACTUALLY GOT STARTED.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU MENTIONED RICHARD SHROUDER, ONE OF OUR RESPECTED VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS.

WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP HERE AND GOING TO SCHOOL, WERE YOU EXPOSED TO A LOT OF VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS LIKE MR. SHROUDER?

>> I CAN SAY TO BE TRUTHFUL -- I CAN SAY THAT I DEFINITELY WASN´T.

THE MOST THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IN PUBLIC SCHOOL WOULD BE THE UMBILICAL CORD, WHICH IS WRITTEN BY GEORGE HA ROW WILLA.

THAT´S ACTUALLY A PART OF WHY I CREATED THIS BOOK BECAUSE I FELT AS IF THERE´S NOT MUCH OF OUR HISTORY BEING TOLD IN OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I FELT THAT THIS BOOK CAN ACTUALLY BE A PART OF THE CHANGE THAT CAN INFLUENCE OUR YOUTH IN TERMS OF READING AND TRULY UNDERSTANDING THEIR HISTORY AND BEING ABLE TO BE MOTIVATED BY THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE THEM.

>> AND THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK REALLY SPEAKS TO HISTORY.

IT´S GROUNDED IN OUR AFRICAN -- IN OUR AFRICAN ROOTS.

WAS THAT INTENTIONAL WHEN YOU SELECTED THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK?

>> NO.

TO BE HONEST, WHEN I FIRST CREATED THE BOOK, WELL, IN MY PRACTICE OF CREATING IT, I HAD MANY DIFFERENT TITLES THAT WERE COMING TO MIND.

IT WASN´T UNTIL IN THE SIGN-UP PROCESS OF ACTUALLY GETTING IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC WAS WHEN THIS TITLE CAME TO ME.

I CAN´T ACTUALLY PUT MY MIND AS TO HOW, BUT WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE BAOBAB TREE, IT´S A TREE THAT CONNECTS TO OUR ANCESTRY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM WEST AFRICA.

AND THIS TREE, EVEN THOUGH IT´S FOUND THROUGHOUT AFRICA, IT´S TRULY NATIVE OF WEST AFRICA.

SO I FELT LIKE WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT ROOTS, IT USED TO BE SAID PEOPLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR HISTORY IS CULTURE IS LIKE A TREE WITHOUT ROOTS.

I FEEL AS IF THE ROOTS CONNECT TO US WHO WE ARE, EVEN MORE SO IN TERMS OF OUR IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED HERE SUCH AS THE ST. JOHN REBELLION, THE EMANCIPATION, THESE EVENTS ARE INTERTWINED IN OUR ROOTS.

THAT´S HOW I SEE IT.

SO I GUESS THAT´S WHAT CONNECTED ME TO THE BEOBAB TREE.

>> SOMETHING THAT I CAN CONNECTS ALL OF US TO THE TREE.

TALKING ABOUT ROOTS, YOU COME FROM A LEGACY, A HISTORY OF MUSICIANS.

YOU COME FROM A MUSICAL FAMILY.

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU TO CRAFT YOUR OWN CREATIVE PATHWAY BUT TAKING A DIFFERENT JOURNEY?

>> WELL, IT´S SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME NATURALLY TO ME.

IT´S NOT ANYTHING THAT I CAN REALLY PIN DOWN.

BUT I MUST SAY THAT MY DAD, HE PLAYED THE KEYBOARD, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, BUT HE´S ALSO A VERY AMAZING WRITER.

AND HE HAS SHOWED ME SOME SONGS THAT HE WROTE THAT KIND OF REFLECT THE WAY IN WHICH I WRITE.

SO TO ME IT´S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF MY ROOTS IN TERMS OF MY FAMILY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, POETRY ALSO RELATES TO MUSIC BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT OF RHYTHM IN IT.

SO I FEEL AS IF IT WAS JUST MEANT FOR ME AND IT´S MY PURPOSE.

>> EXCELLENT.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST SAY TO YOURSELF I AM A WRITER?

WHEN DID YOU FIRST CLAIM THAT FOR YOURSELF?

>> WELL, EVEN UP TO THIS DAY, I WOULDN´T REALLY SAY THAT I´M A WRITER.

I CAN SAY THAT I CAN WRITE, BUT I WON´T CLASSIFY MYSELF AS A WRITER.

>> REALLY?

>> AND THE REASON BEING IS THAT I REALLY AND TRULY JUST FEEL AS IF ANYONE CAN WRITE.

IT´S JUST EXPRESSING WHO YOU ARE INSIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POETRY, IT´S A REFLECTION OF YOUR EMOTIONS THAT YOU GO THROUGH, YOUR DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

FOR ME, WHEN YOU REALLY AND TRULY SIT DOWN WITH A PEN AND A PAPER AND JUST PUT YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER, IT CAN HAVE SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL MANIFESTATIONS.

BUT TO EACH ONE HIS OWN.

I WOULDN´T NECESSARILY SAY THAT EVERYBODY HAS A GIFT IN WRITING, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THAT EVERYONE CAN WRITE.

>> AND THAT´S -- THAT´S A VERY INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE.

HERE AT THE BOOK CASTE, WE LIKE TO SAY THERE´S A STORYTELLER IN EACH OF US, AND SO YOU´RE SAYING THAT EVERYONE CAN, YOU KNOW, TELL THEIR STORY, THEY JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

WHAT DOORS HAS BEING A LIFELONG READER AND NOW A WRITER OPENED FOR YOU?

>> WHAT DOORS HAVE BEING A READER AND WRITER OPENED FOR ME?

I WOULD SAY JUST OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND GET A POSITIVE MESSAGE ACROSS.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT READING AND WRITING HAS INFLUENCED ME SIGNIFICANTLY AS A YOUNG MAN BECAUSE WHEN YOU WRITE, IT ALSO RELATES TO THE WAY YOU SPEAK TO OTHERS.

IT INCREASES IN TERMS OF YOUR MANNERISMS, IN TERMS OF YOUR INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY AND THE WAY IN WHICH YOU COMMUNICATE YOUR THOUGHTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU READ, YOU GET TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CONCEPTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

TO ME, THOSE THINGS ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

AND I CAN SAY THAT THAT IS WHAT READING AND WRITING HAS TRULY DONE FOR ME.

>> WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

YOU SAID EARLIER THAT YOU´RE READING SEVERAL BOOKS.

WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

>> WELL, I LIKE TO READ A LOT OF BOOKS.

BUT RIGHT RIGHT NOW I´M READING A BOOK CALLED "SELECTIVE SPEECHES."

I´M READING A BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR FROM MARTINIQUE.

HIS NAME IS FRANCE FAN.

HE´S ALSO A PSYCHIATRIST.

HE WROTE A BOOK CALLED "A DYING COLONIALISM."

I´M ALSO READING A BOOK BY THIS NIGERIAN AUTHOR CALLED "THINGS FALL APART."

>> THAT´S SOME HEAVY READING.

I REMEMBER READING ONE OF THEM YEARS AGO AND IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING NOW THAT I NEED TO REVISIT WITH A -- WITH A -- A NEW, MORE INFORMED PERSPECTIVE.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY TALK LAPTOP ABOUT POST-COLONIALISM AND THE WAY IN WHICH SLAVERY HAS KIND OF AFFECTED THE PEOPLE AND HOW YOU SEE IT NOW IN PRESENT TIMES AS IT RELATES WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

SO I REALLY ENJOY READING THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT RELATES TO US RIGHT NOW PRESENTLY.

>> DO YOU HAVE -- IS YOUR WRITING VERY INFLUENCED BY CURRENT EVENTS?

OR YOU JUST WRITE ON WHATEVER IS INSPIRING YOU AT THE TIME?

>> YEAH.

THERE´S ACTUALLY A SECTION IN MY BOOK CALLED "TEARS NO MORE."

IN THAT SECTION I WOULD SAY THERE´S A LOT OF WRITING THAT WAS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT WORLD EVENTS SUCH AS THE MYANMAR REFUGEE CRISIS THAT IS STILL OCCURRING UP TO THIS DAY.

I SPEAK A LOT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT POLICE BRUTALITY.

I SPEAK ABOUT THE TRUCK BOMBINGS IN SOMALIA.

I SPEAK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO MY WRITING IS DEFINITELY INFLUENCED BY CURRENT EVENTS, AND I WOULD SAY TO ANY WRITER OUT THERE TO ALWAYS KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED.

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

BUT THERE´S SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE, MUCH NEWS COMING FROM EVERY DIRECTION, WE´RE SO BOMBARDED WITH EVERYTHING.

IN TELLING YOUNG WRITERS TO KEEP INFORMED, HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF FROM BEING OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD AND DECIDING WHAT YOU´RE GOING TO WRITE ABOUT?

>> THAT´S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

WELL, IT´S REALLY AND TRULY TRUE BECAUSE THERE´S SOMETHING THAT WE FIND OUT IN THE NEWS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT IF YOU ARE A WRITER, ESPECIALLY FROM ST. CROIX OR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I WOULD SAY THE PERFECT PLACE TO START WOULD BE YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER WHERE YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF EVENTS THAT RELATE TO US SPECIFICALLY.

BUT SOMETIMES I TEND -- SOMETIMES YOU REALLY AND TRULY JUST NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND ABSORB WHAT´S GOING ON BUT NOT REALLY CONSUME EVERYTHING, IN OTHER WORDS.

>> SO DOES YOUR WRITING HELP YOU TO PROCESS AND FILTER OUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU´RE TAKING IN?

>> YEAH.

WHEN I WRITE, I CAN´T DESCRIBE IT, BUT WHEN I WRITE, WHATEVER IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT, IT JUST COMES OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WHEN I READ ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS, ESPECIALLY EVENTS IN WHICH -- CONNECT TO PEOPLE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES I FEEL AS IF MY WRITING IN PARTICULAR CAN HELP TO STAND UP FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

SO IT KIND OF HELPS TO NOT REALLY START A WHOLE REVOLUTION, BUT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CREATE CHANGE IN DIFFERENT SOCIETIES AROUND THE WORLD.

SO THAT´S HOW I FEEL ABOUT WORLD EVENTS.

PRESENT-DAY WORLD EVENTS CAN CONNECT TO A WRITER, BUT IT´S DEPENDENT ON WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON.

I WILL SAY FOR MYSELF, I´M A VERY -- I´M A PERSON THAT DOESN´T LIKE INJUSTICE.

SO I REALLY AND TRULY USE MY WORDS TO STAND UP FOR PEOPLE.

>> AND IN YOUR WRITING, WHY POETRY?

THERE´S SO MANY GENRES OUT THERE, FICTION, NONFICTION, PROSE, WHY POETRY?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE FORM OF POETRY THAT SPEAKS YOU TO AND INSPIRES YOU?

>> WELL, I ALSO WRITE SHORT STORIES, WHICH IS ANOTHER PASSION OF MINE.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK POETRY COMES MORE EASILY TO ME, BUT I FEEL AS IF I´M ABLE TO WRITE POETRY -- SORRY -- SHORT STORIES THAT CAN ALSO BE INFLUENTIAL.

THAT´S ALSO SOMETHING I´M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO INCORPORATE POETRY BUT ALSO SHORT STORIES.

>> SO MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WE´LL SEE A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES BY GERON RICHARDS?

>> I CANNOT SAY FOR SURE, BUT YOU WILL DEFINITELY SEE MORE OF MY WRITING THAT IS PROSE BECAUSE I DON´T JUST PLAN TO WRITE ONLY POETRY.

I ALSO PLAN TO BRING UP WORK THAT CAN RELATE TO PEOPLE BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE LIKES TO READ POETRY.

SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY JUST LIKE TO READ A STORY AND GET A DIFFERENT -- GET A LITTLE MESSAGE OR -- I WOULD SAY -- CONNECT WITH A THEME IN A PARTICULAR SHORT STORY OR MULTIPLE THEMES.

SOISM AS IF THERE IS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ME IN TERMS OF MY WRITING.

BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON MY ENERGY LEVELS AT THE TIME.

>> SO YOU HAVE 88 POEMS IN THAT BOOK -- IN YOUR BOOK, RANGING FROM HISTORICAL PIECES OR PIECES THAT HONOR OUR HISTORY TO PIECES THAT ARE MORE ROOTED IN THE PRESENT ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE POEM THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US?

>> OKAY, WELL, IT´S NOT A FAVORITE.

I DON´T REALLY HAVE A FAVORITE IN THIS BOOK, BUT -- >> OKAY.

>> I´LL READ THIS ONE CALLED CRUISE AND SONS.

SOMEWHAT CONDEMNS GUN VIOLENCE.

IT GOES LIKE THIS.

YOUTH OF THE FUTURE, WE ARE SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

GUNS AND BULLETS, THEY´RE NOT OUR FRIENDS.

BUT HISTORY AND CULTURE, THESE WE MUST DEFEND.

YOUNG BLOOD OVERFLOWING, YOUNG PSYCHOLOGISTS, YOUNG ENGINEERS, FUTURE ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

ALL BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE?

PUT UP YOUR DEFENSE.

LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE.

THOSE GUNS AND BULLETS, YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

CHOOSE A ROAD OF EDUCATION OR SUFFER FROM INHUMANE MANIPULATION.

CAN´T YOU SEE WE´RE FADING AWAY?

WHY WASTE ANOTHER DAY?

GUNSHOTS, GUNSHOTS, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

DO YOU ENJOY CRYING?

OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE SMILING?

WOULD YOU BE CALM IN JAIL, OR WOULD YOU BAWL AND WAIL?

PUT DOWN THEM GUNS.

IT´S TIME WE HAVE FUN.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

THAT IS VERY, YOU KNOW, IMPACTFUL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR -- THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT´S DEFINITELY AN UPLIFTING MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAS WRITING BEEN ABLE TO HELP YOU BRIDGE?

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU BRIDGED BY BEING A WRITER?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU´RE A WRITER, YOU THINK A LOT MORE -- THINGS ARE A LOT MORE COMPLEX TO YOU IN TERMS OF SITUATIONS.

AND I FEEL AS IF -- ESPECIALLY FOR ME WHEN I GO THROUGH THINGS, I WRITE IT OUT INSTEAD OF SPEAKING TO SOMEONE.

I SEE WRITING AS A THERAPEUTIC FORM OF EXPRESSION.

IT HAS ALSO HELPED ME TO TEACH, TO TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE´S POWER IN WRITING, ESPECIALLY ON HISTORY.

GOING BACK TO THAT SAME AUTHOR, HE ALSO SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THE POWER IN WRITING YOUR OWN STORY AND SEEKING TO TELL YOUR HISTORY FROM YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE.

SO WRITING HAS DONE A LOT FOR ME IN TERMS OF LIFE SITUATIONS, BUT IN TERMS OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE, IT´S VERY SIGNIFICANT.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IT´S NOT JUST FOR ME, IT´S FOR ANYONE TO REALLY AND TRULY DISCOVER IT.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE, YOU KNOW, THE DEMANDS OF A DEMANDING PROFESSION, TEACHING, WITH BEING CREATIVE?

>> WELL, I CAN SAY TO BE HONEST IT´S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT IT´S ALL ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT AND IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS YOUR PASSION, NO MATTER WHAT, YOU´RE ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE TIME FOR IT.

BUT IT´S INTERESTING BECAUSE TEACHING IS ALSO A PASSION OF MINE.

SO I FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR THE TWO.

WHEN ONE TENDS TO GET IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, SOMEHOW NATURALLY I TEND TO BALANCE THE TWO OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH -- THE TWO OF THEM ARE BOTH MY PASSIONS.

>> WHAT CAN OUR COMMUNITY OVERALL GAIN FROM A GREATER EXPOSURE TO VIRGIN ISLANDS WRITERS OF WHICH YOU ARE CERTAINLY ONE?

WHAT CAN OUR COMMUNITY GAIN?

>> I WOULD SAY THEY WILL GAIN FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES OF THEIR WRITERS, FIRST OF ALL, AND YOU CAN RELATE DIRECTLY TO THEM, ESPECIALLY BEING THAT THEY´RE FROM RIGHT HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

BUT I CAN SAY THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD START GIVING OUR LOCAL WRITERS MORE OF A -- AND START TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR WRITERS BECAUSE WHEN YOU WRITE, IT´S LIKE YOU´RE REALLY AND TRULY PRESERVING SOMETHING.

WHEN YOU PUBLISH IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC, IT´S VERY -- I CAN SAY DANGEROUS, AND IT CAN ALSO BE VERY EMOTIONAL TO YOU AS A PERSON BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE TEND TO REFLECT THE THINGS THAT THEY GO THROUGH IN THEIR WRITING.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT´S VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO ANALYZE THE THINGS THAT YOU BRING OUT BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY PUT IT OUT THERE BECAUSE THE WRITING THAT I HAVE IN MY BOOK IS TO MAINLY INFLUENCE THE YOUTH.

WHEN I ACTUALLY CREATED THE BOOK, IT WAS FOR A PURPOSE.

EVEN THOUGH WRITING IS MY PASSION, THIS BOOK WAS CREATED WITH A PURPOSE.

>> SO AS WE GET READY, YOU KNOW, TO CLOSE, I´D LIKE FOR YOU TO SHARE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR POEMS, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY TO GIVE OUR AUDIENCE ANOTHER TASTE OF THE GREATNESS, THE GREATNESS IN YOUR POETRY.

>> OKAY.

SO I´LL READ A POEM THAT REFLECTS VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY SINCE WE´RE IN THE FINAL DAY OF MARCH.

SO THIS POEM IS CALLED TRAIL OF ASHES.

150 LASHES, 150 DEIGN I WORK ACRES.

SEASONING, SEASONINGS, ROASTING, BRANDINGS, MUTILATING, COLD SKIN, BLOOD WHIPPING.

GUSHING, GUSHING, DARK FLESH HANGING.

SPINE, HEART PUMPING BARELY IN A TRAIL OF ASHES AND BONES OF WEST AFRICAN FRENZY.

FREEDOM WHERE WE GAINED OUR WINGS, MIDDLE PASSAGE.

FROM THE HEIGHTS OF OUR THRONES, BLACK QUEENS AND KINGS, MOSAIC FLOORS OF THE MOORS AND GOLDEN DINNER PLATES AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE GATES BECAME.

CAPTIVES, CAPTIVITY, ACTION BLACK COMMODITIES.

INVADING INDIAN COLONIES.

ELIZABETH, NOT SO QUEENLY.

SETTLERS, PLANTATION OWNERS, AND THE TRAIL OF ASHES AND THE DEPTHS OF BLUE ATLANTIC WHERE THE GREAT WHITES ROAM.

AND MILLIONS OF SOULS STILL SWIM FOR AFRICA RESIDES IN THE WATERS WITHIN.

TRAIL OF ASHES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT.

AND I THINK IT´S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A BODY OF WORK THAT REFLECTS SUCH A BROAD PERSPECTIVE OF OUR HISTORY AND OUR CULTURE AND OUR PRESENT EXPERIENCES AND USING YOUR WORDS AND YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR POETRY TO HELP TO BOTH EDUCATE AND UPLIFT OUR PEOPLE.

AS WE WRAP UP, IS THERE ANY LAST WORDS THAT YOU HAVE FOR OUR AUDIENCE?

>> WELL, YES, I DO.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS BOOK WAS CREATED WITH A PURPOSE.

AND THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO GET IT INTO THE HANDS OF OUR YOUTH.

AND I THINK THAT THE MAIN WAY THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN IS IF IT BECOMES A PART OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO I´M REALLY AND TRULY REACHING OUT TO THE AUDIENCE TO SEEK TO GET THIS BOOK INTO THE HANDS OF YOUR CHILDREN AND GIVE IT MORE EXPOSURE BECAUSE I AM TRYING MY HARDEST TO REALLY AND TRULY PROVIDE SOMETHING TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT CAN BE OF BENEFIT TO THEM EDUCATIONAL.

BECAUSE I FEEL AS IF EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF ANY SOCIETY.

IF WE EDUCATE OUR YOUTH, WE´RE EDUCATING OUR FUTURE.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.

SO I FEEL LIKE THIS BOOK CAN BE A DEFINITELY STEPPING-STONE TO HELP BRING A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, GERON RICHARDS.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON WHERE TO FIND HIS WORK OR OTHER BOOKS INCLUDED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT US AT WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

♫♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS & GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE LOCATED IN CHRISTIANSTED CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS, AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WWW.UNDERCOVERBOOKS STCROIX.COM.

>> MY GIRLFRIEND´S CLOSET IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL AUTHORS.

THEIR AIM IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH FASHION, FAITH, AND FRIENDSHIPS.

FIND OUT MORE AT 340-514-8008 OR ONLINE AT MCGSTX.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♫♫