asu professor wins first place in regional poetry competition
By Hazel Scott/ASUDr. Linda J.M. Holloway, award-winning children’s book author and associate professor at Alabama State University’s College of Education and Instructional Support Programs, is the first-place winner in the Southern Christian Writers Conference (SCWC) poetry category for her original poem, “If My Hair Could Talk.”
Her poem, which is published in the Journal of Poetry Therapy, speaks to the journey of a Black woman learning to accept, appreciate and celebrate her hair.
“Black women should always celebrate their hair! Stand tall and be proud of their God-given hair,” Holloway said.
Holloway has received several awards from the SCWC, including winning second place for her poem “Who Will Speak for Me,” about a young child speaking about the agony, suffering, and pain of Sickle Cell disease. Her children’s book, “BAD Girls of Montgomery,” was a finalist for the 2024 Southern Conference Christian Writers Notable Book Award.
Holloway says she has participated in the conference for the last four years as a writer and guest speaker.
“The Conference is a very caring, welcoming environment which nurtures the soul of writing,” she said. “It’s a non-judgmental zone for writers to grow and blossom into their true authentic divine talents,”
Holloway is a Counselor Educator with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health. She had had a strong passion for Creative Expressive Therapy for several years. She uses a unique style of cinema therapy, bibliotherapy and poetry therapy to train and teach counselors how to work with clients dealing with complicated issues such as death, divorce, emotional, physical, and social abuse, and traumatic events with the oppressed, and marginalized community.
“My focus is black women and children and mental wellness,” she said.
Holloway said some people who experience severe traumatic events find it extremely challenging to speak about these situations.
“I’ve discovered that many people are more willing to express themselves more openly and boldly using poetry or spoken words. This outlet allows the person to feel safe and to share their story in a much more creative and non-threatening way.”
Click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsaF9G2UZeE for Holloway's spoken word, "If My Hair Could Talk."
If My Hair Could Talk Spoken Word by Dr. Linda J. M. Holloway Black women should always celebrate their hair! Stand tall and be proud of your God given hair . . .
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