My interview and reading with Cedric “Cedboogie” Arno was filmed in Worcester and streamed on Facebook. You can watch both through the link below:
Interview with Mass Poetry
Check out my interview with Mass Poetry
The Lives of Writers Podcast: Matthew E. Henry
Listen to my interview at The Lives of Writes from Autofocus (in which I was previously published).
Interview with Jacquelyn Scott
Click to read my interview with Jacquelyn Scott about my writing.
Interview with My Bad Poetry Podcast
A podcast where I (painfully) discussed some of the very first poems I wrote in college. Heaven help us all.
You can read the poems discussed —"musing,” “she says it’s only in my head,” & “(at) fireworks on the 7th" — below.
As I mention in the podcast, there is a good chance that some people reading these are mentioned in the poems. Sorry about that.
the Colored page on the Kickstart Farmington blog
In his blog post “Art in the Roots, #6: Captains and Pilots,” Mitch Nobis reflects on how the political is always with us in all areas of life including, especially, education.
My poetry the Colored page is a part of those reflections.
More from the same good people
Featured
Writers Read Series at Eastern Mennonite University
I recently had the pleasure of spending some time at Eastern Mennonite University discussing poetry, education, and theology.
"Lightning Round" Interview with Wellesley Books
From our event on October 7th, 2022: Matthew E. Henry, author of "the Colored page", answers some quick questions.
Interview about the Colored page
Don’t ask about what I’m wearing on my head…
My school newspaper wrote about my my collection the Colored page.
Read it here.
Feature at Kingdom Poets
It includes my theological sonnet [Say God is the Tough in the Prison Yard] which first appeared in New York Quarterly, and will appear in my forthcoming full length collection The Third Renunciation.
A Fevers of the Mind Quick-9 Interview with Matthew E. Henry
Interview with Fare Forward on education and the Colored page
I recently did an interview with Whitney Rios-Ross, poetry editor at Fare Forward in their education-themed issue.
We discuss my collection, the Colored page, and the intersection of career, faith, and writing. It also features three poems from the collection.
Read it here.
the Colored page in The Weston Owl
Author Interview about the Colored page
The scary thing about interviews is that I never remember what I said and I’m too afraid to read them afterward. So you’ll have to tell me what I said.
But here is my interview with Neha Peri of Sundress Publications about the Colored page.
"Award Winning Poet Matthew E. Henry Reads for Gordon College"
"Award Winning Poet Matthew E. Henry Reads for Gordon College"
Last fall, three-time Pushcart nominated poet Matthew E. Henry performed a poetry reading in the Barrington Cinema as a part of the Princemere Writers Series. Led by English Professor Mark Stevick, the Series invites renowned and emerging writers to Gordon College to share their art and engage with Creative Writing students. Henry also visited with Stevick’s Literary Journal class to discuss writing, editing, publishing, and teaching…[Click for full article]
Featured Interview with The Main Street Rag
Recently I had the honor of being interview by Shawn Pavey for The Main Street Rag about my first chapbook Teaching While Black, but also writing, education, creative, inspiration, race, and a host of other topics. The questions were thoughtful and timely and, as always, I tried not to bring shame on my family while answering.
An introduction to the interview by the Publisher/Managing Editor of The Main Street Rag, M. Scott Douglass:
Featured Interview
I need to give a shout out to Main Street Rag co-founder, Shawn Pavey for his wonderful interview with Matthew E. Henry and one to Matthew as well for his part in making it one of the best interviews Main Street Rag has ever published.
If that’s not enough to get you to turn the page and dive in, let me tell you two things about Teaching While Black by Mr.(Dr.) Henry. First, we knew the day it arrived for consideration that we wanted to publish it. It was a unanimous decision among all readers who just happened to read it at the same time (the wonders of Submittable). Second, as the interview will illustrate, when I read this as a manuscript, I was in the classroom. I was there. The scene was vibrant; the characters alive.
If you have not read Teaching While Black and this interview doesn’t inspire you to want to read this book, your poetic and social soul may well be lost.
The whole interview, as well as some poems from the collection, can be found in the latest edition of The Main Street Rag
A couple of pics…
Interview with Massachusetts Review
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to take part in Massachusetts Review's “10 Questions” interview series.
Interview with Apparel for Authors
As Black man teaching in a wealthy, predominately white environment, I am acutely aware that my appearance reflects on not only myself, but everyone else who looks like me…
Reading & Interview with Mitch Nobis an Wednesday Night Sessions
I was pleased to sit down with fellow teacher-poet Mitch Nobis at Wednesday Night Sessions to read and discuss selections from Teaching While Black, and other school-related poems.
The set list:
stop talking
etymology
when asked why “all lives” don’t matter
an open letter to the white girls caught chanting “NIGGER” on Snapchat, again
an open letter to those wondering why I’ve called this the most racist place I’ve ever worked
re: your aryan princess in my class
(Also, my former beard was having a good hair day.)
Reading and Interview with Chewing the Gristle
In this episode of Chewing the Gristle, poets Al Black and Tim Conroy chat with the Bostonian teacher, poet, and editor, Matthew E. Henry. Listening to Matthew’s poetry, I wondered where this poet got his bravery. Did it fester in youth silently until it exploded with prophetic courage reacting to the pretense of equality in a country that still privileges white lives over black lives? Matthew's poems are as spiritual as baptism down by a river, as bloodletting as Macbeth, and as authentic as a burial. His poems from Teaching While Black and Dust and Ashes wield images and sounds that wake us with undeniable truth and pain. Matthew expressed himself as a young creative soul during primary school and high school by writing short stories. Though he teased that perhaps he wrote better as an elementary school poet than now…
Gotta love that picture...