Kevin Powell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Powell
Born	(1966-04-24) April 24, 1966 (age 59) Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Rutgers University
Occupation	Political activist, writer, reality television personality
Spouse(s)	Jinah Parker ​ ​ (m. 2017; div. 2020)​

Kevin Powell (born April 24, 1966) is an American writer, activist, and television personality. He has written 14 books, including The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy's Journey into Manhood and When We Free the World. The latter was published in 2020.

Powell was a senior writer for Vibe magazine from 1992 to 1996. His activism focuses on ending poverty and promoting social justice. He also works to stop harm against women and girls through various projects. He ran for the United States House of Representatives in Brooklyn, New York, in 2008 and 2010.

Kevin Powell helped create the first exhibit about hip-hop history at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2014, he visited the United Kingdom for talks about the poet Dylan Thomas. He was named the International Ambassador for the Dylan Thomas Centennial in America. Cornell University keeps The Kevin Powell Archive. This collection includes his writings, photos, videos, and notes. It also covers his time on the first reality TV show, MTV's The Real World: New York in 1992.

Early Life and Education

Kevin Powell was born and grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. His parents moved there from South Carolina. His father left, so his mother raised him alone. They lived in a small apartment with his aunt and cousin.

Even though he grew up with little money and tough times, Kevin loved to read. He spent many hours at the public library. He says his mother made sure he got a good education. She taught him to always keep learning. He and his cousin were the first in their family to finish high school.

In 1984, Powell went to Rutgers University. He joined a program called the Educational Opportunity Fund. This program helps young people from low-income families. His book, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy's Journey into Manhood, shares his childhood story.

At Rutgers, Powell studied political science, English, and philosophy. He wanted to become a professional writer. His professor, Cheryl Wall, taught him about writers from the Harlem Renaissance. These included Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston.

He read many important African-American books. These included The Autobiography of Malcolm X and works by poets like Sonia Sanchez. These books inspired him to become an activist and student leader. He helped organize support for the anti-apartheid movement. He also worked on Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign and voter registration.

Career Highlights

Starting His Career

Powell began his journalism career in college. He wrote for the Black American newspaper. He covered important stories, like the racially motivated killing of Michael Griffith in New York.

In 1992, Powell was part of The Real World: New York. This was the first season of the MTV reality show. It showed a group of strangers living together. On the show, Powell discussed important topics like racial stereotypes.

In one episode, MTV followed Powell to the Nuyorican Poets Café. He often performed his poetry there. This episode helped make poetry slams popular across the country. In 1993, MTV chose Powell to host Straight from the Hood: An MTV News Special Report. This show looked at the lives of young people in Los Angeles after the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Writing for Magazines and Books

While still on The Real World, Powell joined VIBE magazine. He worked there from 1992 to 1996. He wrote the first cover story for the magazine about the group Naughty by Nature. He also wrote the first profile of Snoop Dogg. He reported on many famous hip hop and black music artists.

Powell wrote several cover stories about rapper Tupac Shakur. He once said that Tupac wanted him to be like Alex Haley (who wrote Roots) to his Malcolm X. This was because Tupac felt he had a short time to live. Powell's 1995 story on Shakur, "Ready to Live," was very popular. It featured an interview done while Shakur was in jail.

Powell has written for many other well-known magazines and newspapers. These include Esquire, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Essence, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. His articles often connect pop culture to the history of black artists and writers. For example, he wrote about comedian Dave Chappelle's return to the public eye in Esquire.

He has also written about his own life experiences. These include "Letter to my Father" and "Me and Muhammed Ali." He also wrote a piece that started his work on redefining black manhood and supporting women and girls. His articles have covered important topics like the life of a family facing the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bronx.

Since 1992, Kevin Powell has written 14 books. His first book, In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers, was co-edited with Ras Baraka. It featured over 50 writers. His first poetry book, recognize, came out in 1995. In 1997, he published Keepin' it Real: Post MTV Reflections on Race, Sex and Politics, a collection of essays.

In 2000, Powell released Step into A World: A Global Anthology of the New Black Literature. This book included works from more than 100 writers. In 2002, he edited Who Shot Ya?: Three Decades of Hip Hop Photography. This was a major photo history of hip-hop culture.

Other books include Who's Gonna Take The Weight? Manhood, Race, and Power in America (2002) and Someday We'll All Be Free (2006). His 2008 book, The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life, discussed important issues for young men. It also focused on promoting safety and respect for women and girls.

After the presidency of George W. Bush, Powell wrote Open Letters to America (2009). This book explored America in the time of Barack Obama. His next book, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and the Ghost of Dr. King, discussed current events and social concerns.

In 2015, Powell released his memoir, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy's Journey into Manhood. Kirkus Reviews called it a "powerful and unsparing" story. It shows not only his life but also how society is still affected by a difficult history.

In 2018, he published My Mother, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and The Last Stand of the Angry White Man. In this book, he looks at big issues of the time. He also reflects on his own journey of growth and becoming a better person.

In 2020, Powell released When We Free the World as an e-book. He wanted to make his books more accessible. In 2021, he curated 2020: The Year that Changed America, an e-book dedicated to Miguel Algarín and those affected by COVID-19. The money from this book helps a youth writing program.

In 2022, Powell published a poetry book called Grocery Shopping with My Mother. He talked about the book and his family history on National Public Radio. The album version of Grocery Shopping with My Mother was nominated for a 2024 GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

Social Activism and Community Work

Kevin Powell is known for his work in the community. In February 2011, the social networking site BlackPlanet recognized him for his support of the African-American community.

Political Aspirations

In 2006, Powell first tried to become a member of Congress. He ran in New York's 10th congressional district in Brooklyn. He stopped his campaign that year.

In 2008, Powell ran for Congress again. His campaign had support from people like Chris Rock. During the campaign, his opponent, Edolphus Towns, mentioned Powell's past. Powell addressed this in an open letter. He said he had grown and changed. He also asked his opponent to focus on important issues. He believes public figures should be open about their past.

Powell lost the 2008 election. He received 11,046 votes, while Edolphus Towns received 22,586 votes. Powell ran again in 2010 but lost once more. He decided not to run in 2012.