At fourteen, Romaine Washington nervously stood in front of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino to recite one of her poems in public for the first time. She received a warm reception which built her confidence to continue reading in public venues. It was that inaugural experience that brought her back to the church in 2022 to offer writing workshops. Some of their writings are in These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology, a life affirming collection of views from African-American writers and artists.
The opportunity to curate and edit this anthology was a dream project for Washington. When she was in high school she looked for Black authors in textbooks and found only one or two poems or stories. To supplement the lack of representation she would go to the public library where she could request books by Black writers.
Years later, when Washington began working on her second collection of poems she needed to fact check her childhood memories and went to the local library. "Where are the books with Black people who made local history in San Bernardino, founders, activists, and organizers who made it an All-America City in 1977?" Washington asked in frustration as she crafted Purgatory Has an Address, her mini memoir in verse.
Although she did not find books that told the stories and achievements of local Black people, she did find a Black oral history project Bridges that Carried Us Over. The project was started in the early 2000s by a prominent local couple, which made her aware of the importance of capturing our personal stories, no matter how mundane they may seem. As an English Language Arts teacher, Romaine Washington began using the oral history archives in the classroom. Her students gained new insights on their surroundings and made invaluable connections with events and people.
Teacher Teaching Teachers is the motto of the Inland Area Writing Project, UC Riverside (IAWP). As a graduate fellow of the program, Washington knew the importance of integrating history, diversity, and current events in her lessons. When her first book Sirens in Her Belly was published, colleagues taught thematic poetry units Washington developed, and she visited their classes to recite and discuss her work.
Romaine Washington has presented her poetry in various venues and programs, including NPR, KPFK, CBS Inside SoCal, and the Stand Against Hate campaign. Her writing has been published in several anthologies and literary journals. For fun she likes to go for walks in the park to observe ducks and dogs. During the pandemic these walks inspired the poem Deciduous which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2022. As a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole of South Carolina , known as the Harlem Renaissance of the South, she continues to find inspiration from attending virtual readings and talks by poets of note. She enjoys facilitating and participating in workshops, cultivating book club talks, and presenting poetry.
The opportunity to curate and edit this anthology was a dream project for Washington. When she was in high school she looked for Black authors in textbooks and found only one or two poems or stories. To supplement the lack of representation she would go to the public library where she could request books by Black writers.
Years later, when Washington began working on her second collection of poems she needed to fact check her childhood memories and went to the local library. "Where are the books with Black people who made local history in San Bernardino, founders, activists, and organizers who made it an All-America City in 1977?" Washington asked in frustration as she crafted Purgatory Has an Address, her mini memoir in verse.
Although she did not find books that told the stories and achievements of local Black people, she did find a Black oral history project Bridges that Carried Us Over. The project was started in the early 2000s by a prominent local couple, which made her aware of the importance of capturing our personal stories, no matter how mundane they may seem. As an English Language Arts teacher, Romaine Washington began using the oral history archives in the classroom. Her students gained new insights on their surroundings and made invaluable connections with events and people.
Teacher Teaching Teachers is the motto of the Inland Area Writing Project, UC Riverside (IAWP). As a graduate fellow of the program, Washington knew the importance of integrating history, diversity, and current events in her lessons. When her first book Sirens in Her Belly was published, colleagues taught thematic poetry units Washington developed, and she visited their classes to recite and discuss her work.
Romaine Washington has presented her poetry in various venues and programs, including NPR, KPFK, CBS Inside SoCal, and the Stand Against Hate campaign. Her writing has been published in several anthologies and literary journals. For fun she likes to go for walks in the park to observe ducks and dogs. During the pandemic these walks inspired the poem Deciduous which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2022. As a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole of South Carolina , known as the Harlem Renaissance of the South, she continues to find inspiration from attending virtual readings and talks by poets of note. She enjoys facilitating and participating in workshops, cultivating book club talks, and presenting poetry.
Below are some of her firsts favorites in reading, poetry, and prose. She asks what are some of your first favorites and invites you to a conversation through the contact button on the menu.
Snapshots: Conversation about Firsts
Click on the images to start a conversation.
First Book
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First Poem Memorized
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Joy Discovered
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