Daniel Thompson (poet) facts for kids
Daniel Thompson (born 1935, died May 6, 2004) was a talented poet from Cleveland, Ohio. He was also a champion for civil rights and helped people who didn't have homes. He even became the very first Poet Laureate for Cuyahoga County in Ohio, which is a special honor for a poet!
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Daniel Thompson's Creative Work
Daniel Thompson was a very creative person. He worked on many projects that mixed poetry, art, and music.
Editing ArtCrimes
Thompson worked with another poet, Steven B. Smith, to edit a special magazine called ArtCrimes. One edition was even called the "popcorn box" version! It was full of poetry and pictures. This magazine was a big part of the underground art scene in Cleveland. It was similar to the creative works from famous writers like Kerouac, Corso, and Ginsberg.
Organizing Festivals and Events
Daniel Thompson loved bringing people together through art.
- He helped organize a festival in the 1980s called Junkstock. This festival featured poetry, art, and music. It was held in a unique place: a junkyard in Cleveland!
- In 1992, Thompson organized Cleveland's very first poetry slam. A poetry slam is a fun competition where poets perform their work.
- Also in 1992, Daniel Thompson was named the Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County. This means he was recognized as the official poet for the area.
- A large collection of his poems, called The big book of Daniel, was published in 2011.
Daniel Thompson's Music Projects
Thompson also used music to share his messages.
- In 1996, he released a CD called "Genetic Memory" with a musician named Sam Phillips.
- One song on the CD, "Tell Chief Wahoo," spoke out against the use of the Chief Wahoo logo by the Cleveland Indians baseball team. This song was very popular in Cleveland.
- In 1998, Daniel released another CD called "Famous In The Neighborhood." This CD went along with a small book of his poems.
- He performed with talented jazz musicians like Ernie Krivda and Bill D'Arango.
- You can even see clips of his performances in a 2008 documentary called "Saints In The City."
- Thompson also toured with a Cleveland percussion group called Drumplay.
Daniel Thompson's Community Activism
Daniel Thompson was not just a poet; he was also a strong voice for change in his community.
Helping the Homeless Community
Thompson cared deeply about people experiencing homelessness.
- He wrote poems for the Homeless Grapevine newspaper and its wall calendar.
- These items were sold by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. The money raised helped people in need.
Speaking Out for Change
Daniel Thompson was brave enough to speak out against things he believed were unfair.
- He protested against the name of the Cleveland "Indians" baseball team. He also spoke out against their "Chief Wahoo" logo.
- His poem "Tell Chief Wahoo" was even printed on t-shirts. These shirts helped spread awareness for a group called the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance.
- In 1986, Thompson organized poetry readings at the Justice Center.
Creative Solutions for the Community
Thompson was known for finding unique ways to help people and his city.
- He suggested renaming parts of East Boulevard in University Circle after famous poets Hart Crane and Langston Hughes.
- After he passed away, a street in downtown Cleveland was named Daniel's Way in his honor.
- In one interesting situation, a Cleveland poet named Chris Franke was told by the city to paint his house. Instead of painting, Thompson helped arrange a creative solution. Franke did community service by reading his poems to people at a homeless shelter's soup line.
Daniel Thompson's Poetry Collections
Here are some of the books and collections of Daniel Thompson's poetry:
- ArtCrimes 4, 1988 (edited by Thompson)
- Famous in the Neighborhood, 1989
- Even the Broken Letters of the Heart Spell Earth, 1998
- The Rain Poet, 2004
- Double X, 2004
- Comforting the Dead, 2004
- The Big Book of Daniel: Collected Poems of Daniel Thompson, 2011 (edited by Maj Ragain)
