Artist Bio

Rashad Wright is the poet laureate emeritus of Jersey City, New Jersey and a teacher on behalf of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Foundation and Passaic County’s Theatre & Poetry Program. He is a graduate of New Jersey City University, receiving his BA in English: Creative Writing. He is the author of Romeo’s Whiskey, published via Rebel Ink. Rashad’s poetry has been heard from both local and national stages via slam poetry, currently recently was a member of the 2023 New Jeru Slam Poetry team whom placed second in the country at the Southern Fried National Poetry Slam. He is the only person to be titled the “Grandslam Champion of Jersey City Slam” twice.

He has competed in Slams in the Tristate area, Oakland, San Diego, Spokane, and Denver, once ranking 25th in the country at the 2019 Individual World Poetry Slam. He has coached Jersey City Slam, the UACHS Poetry Club, and 6th Borough Slam whom placed 10th in the world at Brave New Voices 2019. Rashad has also been awarded First Place at the Walter Glospie American Academy of Poets Prize, being inducted into the Academy of American Poets. He can be found on multiple podcasts and radio interviews most notably NPR’s Here & Now and WBGO. Outside of poetry Rashad’s work expands into memoir, fiction, short story, performance art, music, film, neo-soul alongside his band ChillBrown, jazz alongside The Just Now Orchestra, and theatre with the completion of two one-man plays Romeo’s Whiskey & Nimbus Presents Etu’s Raucus Caucus Tango. His work can be found in multiple online journals and magazines. Rashad has performed alongside Amiri Baraka, Rudy Francisco, Tyehimba Jess, Emi Mahmoud, and many others. He currently is working on his sophomore book entitled, Papa’s Tango.