Black Cat Cafe welcomes artistic community of Prairie View

On Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, The Black Cat Café took place in a dimly lit ballroom on the 2nd floor of the MSC. There stood many musicians, poets, and vocalist who gthered to share their talents in honor of homecoming. The ambiance was relaxed and inviting.
Poets included Eric Martinez who recited a poem called measure of a man, in which he depicted the essence of manhood as he perceives it. Roger Thomas wooed the audience as he began his poem "A Kiss" with alluring alliteration. He continued to describe a kiss as more than just a physical occurrence but as an intimate bond between two people. The crowd filled the room with ad-libs signifying understanding and of what Thomas was saying.
Another prominent poet was Malcolm Jackson. He recited a poem that began by drawing pictures of his beloved grandmother from both an internal and external viewpoint. He ended by discussing the divinity of life. When asked about the meaning of his piece, Jackson said., "It was about old religion and modern spirituality."
One of the most powerful performances of the night was by Willie Rhodes and Kerryea Martinez who recited a poem called "Rickey's Mother." Together Rhodes and Martinez captured the audience by demonstrating a very real and vivid picture of domestic violence and its ability to taint a child's view of normalcy, causing them to see fear and love as one in the same. It was a cinematic-like expression of how abuse can be inherent and viewed as tradition.
Traveling from Fresno, Texas, Prairie View alumnus Benjamin O'Neal graced the stage with poems of resilience such as Bounce Back, No One There, and his new album Man vs. Self. There was even a performance by Mr. Prairie View A&M University, Aaron Fowler, who recited a poem about love beyond sex.
Ka'Vonda Woodrow sang Chrisette Michelle's "If I Had My Way" with such soul adding a boost of essence to the aura of the night. The moment she uttered her first note, her razor sharp voice cut through listeners and penetrated their hearts. Her vocals were smooth and sultry. Ending on a high note - literally, she brought several audience members to their feet.
Vocalist Kenneth West, sang a beautiful rendition of Drake's "Hold On We're Going Home. while singer and song writer, Tony Henry was crowd also a crowd favorite. He tantalized the room with original songs such as Little Birdy, Searching, and the crowd's favorite of the night Sweet Tooth. The audience implored earnestly for encores. When the night was over, Henry had sung Sweet Tooth three times. The night ended with audience members dancing to it a final time. Henry proved himself to be a true artiste.
PV Mime members Mike Preston and Mikel Willis mimed to Jonathan McReynold's "Why." This event was a microcosm of talent. Black Cat Café Poetry Night was well-worth attending.