Dwayne Morgan facts for kids

Dwayne Morgan is a talented Canadian artist from Toronto, Ontario. He is known as a spoken word artist, which means he performs poetry in a powerful, rhythmic way. He is also a motivational speaker, inspiring people with his words, and an event organizer.

Dwayne started his journey as a spoken word artist in 1993. A year later, in 1994, he created a company called Up From The Roots Entertainment. This company helps showcase the amazing artistic talents of Black Canadian artists and those inspired by city culture.

Dwayne Morgan's Career and Achievements

Dwayne Morgan has achieved a lot in his career. In 1998, he received two important awards: the African Canadian Achievement Award for Youth Achievement and the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts. He has also published several books of his poetry.

Organizing Big Events

As an event organizer, Dwayne has put together over 100 shows! Some of his biggest annual events are When Brothers Speak, When Sisters Speak, and the Toronto International Poetry Slam.

• When Brothers Speak: This event started in 1999. It's the largest and longest-running show in North America for Black male spoken word artists. It's a special place where Black men can share their voices, stories, and talents through poetry.
• When Sisters Speak: Founded in 2000, this is North America’s largest and longest-running event for Black female spoken word artists. It celebrates their unique voices and experiences.

Film and Media Work

Dwayne worked with Driftwood Studios to create a short film called Three Knocks. This ten-minute film is based on one of his poems about important social issues. It was first shown at the Reel World Film Festival in Toronto in 2006.

In 2007, Dwayne was part of the Toronto Slam Team, which was formed by his company, Up From The Roots. This team came in second place at the 2007 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dwayne also hosted a monthly spoken word radio show called Diasporic Music on CKLN-FM. He used to write an advice column for the free daily newspaper, 24 Hours, in Toronto. He is also involved with organizations like Spoken Word Canada and the Spoken Word Arts Network (SWAN).

Awards and Recognition

Dwayne Morgan has received many honors for his work:

• African Canadian Achievement Award for Youth Achievement, 1998
• Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts, 1998
• The Evolution, Canadian Urban Music Award for Best Spoken Word Recording, 2001
• Soul Searching, Canadian Urban Music Award for Best Spoken Word Recording, 2003
• "Mother I Understand" from A Decade in the Making, Canadian Urban Music Award for Best Spoken Word Recording, 2005
• Sheri-D Wilson Golden Beret Award for Career Achievement in the Spoken Word, 2018
• Scarborough Walk of Fame Inductee, 2013

In 2013, Dwayne Morgan was honored by being inducted into the Scarborough Hall of Fame. More recently, in January 2024, he was appointed to the Order of Ontario. This is one of the highest honors a person can receive in the province of Ontario.

Political Involvement

Dwayne Morgan was a candidate for the New Democratic Party in the area of Scarborough North during the 2018 Ontario general election. He finished in second place in that election.