KIMMIKA L. H. WILLIAMS
Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, PhD (Cultural Anthropology), M.A. (Anthropology), MFA (Theater), Graduate Certificate)Women's Studies, B.A. (Journalism); is an Associate professor of Urban Theater in the Theater Department at Temple .
Along with collaborator Eugene Martin (Film and Media Arts) Williams-Witherspoon is the 2008-2009 winner of the Provost $50,000. Seed Grant Award, the 2001 Independence Foundation Theater Communications Group Grant, the 2000 winner of the PEW Charitable Trust $50,000 fellowship in scriptwriting, and the 1999, winner of the DaimlerChrysler "Spirit of the Word" National Poetry Competition (Seattle) at the Unity'99 Conference, Kimmika Williams has also been the recipient of a host of awards and honors, including: the DaimlerChrysler Regional Poetry Contest (Philadelphia), the 1996, Lila Wallace Creative Arts Fellowship with the American Antiquarian Society and a two-time returning playwright with the Minneapolis Playwrights' Center and Pew Charitable Trusts Playwrights Exchange.
The author of Through Smiles and Tears: The History of African American Theater—from Kemet to the Americas. Saarbrucken, Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG. 2011 and The Secret Messages in African American Theater: Hidden Meaning Embedded in Public Discourse” (Edwin Mellen Publishing, 2006) Williams was, at one time, Arts Producer for public radio, WXPN-88.5, reporter and columnist with the Philadelphia Tribune and television editor for the Chicago-based "Maceba Affairs Media Review Magazine.
As a journalist, Williams' articles and essays have appeared in the "Hammer" Journal, "Dialogue", the Philadelphia REAL NEWS, POETS & WRITERS Magazine, THE OTHER SIDE, the New York GUARDIAN NEWSWEEKLY, the DAILY MUSE, BLACK AMERICA MAGAZINE, PHILLY BEAT, HIGH PERFORMANCE MAGAZINE and the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. In 1986, she was commended for outstanding journalism by the Philadelphia Veterans Administration.
Her stage credits include, “SHOT”; “Damn Yankees”, “No Mo’ Blues”; “Shakin the Mess Outta Misery”, "From Brillo Pads To Feminine Pads: Raw Abrasives", "A Product of Pop Culture and Pissed", "Nappy Truth", "Common Folk", "A CHAINED FOOT STUMBLING ON A NEW WORLD", "GUMBO", "WE THE PEOPLE","IZZY","THE BLACK DIAMOND" and "WHERE WERE YOU IN '65". As a playwright, Williams-Witherspoon has had fourteen of her plays produced in professional theater, including "From Brillo Pads To Feminine Pads: Raw Abrasives" (Women's Festival/Painted Bride), "Dog Days: The Legend of O.V. Catto" (Venture Theater),"By What Price: Unity" and "Nappy Truths" (Penumbra Theater, Saint Paul, Minn.).
Williams is a recipient of numerous Residency, Teaching and Community Service Awards, including citations from City Council, The Goode Admin., the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the key to the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania by Mayor James P. Connors in 1992. A contributing poet to several anthologies including(2001) Houston Poetry Fest Anthology; (2000) Split Verse: Poems of healing; (2000) Houston Poetry Fest Anthology; (2000) Austin Poetry Anthology; Sunlight on the Moon (1999), 1999 Essence Magazine; Hard Love: Writings on Violence and Intimacy,(1997); Hip Mama", EROITQUE NOIRE: BLACK EROTICA, (1992), NEW BLACK POETRY (1988), SAY THAT THE RIVER TURNS (1987) and CONCERNED POETS ON THE MOVE (1986), Williams-Witherspoon is the author of eight volumes of poetry, the spoken word CD Spoken Word, and the 1985 spoken word hit tape, Don’t Call Me a Bitch.
http://www.2deep.com
Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, PhD (Cultural Anthropology), M.A. (Anthropology), MFA (Theater), Graduate Certificate)Women's Studies, B.A. (Journalism); is an Associate professor of Urban Theater in the Theater Department at Temple .
Along with collaborator Eugene Martin (Film and Media Arts) Williams-Witherspoon is the 2008-2009 winner of the Provost $50,000. Seed Grant Award, the 2001 Independence Foundation Theater Communications Group Grant, the 2000 winner of the PEW Charitable Trust $50,000 fellowship in scriptwriting, and the 1999, winner of the DaimlerChrysler "Spirit of the Word" National Poetry Competition (Seattle) at the Unity'99 Conference, Kimmika Williams has also been the recipient of a host of awards and honors, including: the DaimlerChrysler Regional Poetry Contest (Philadelphia), the 1996, Lila Wallace Creative Arts Fellowship with the American Antiquarian Society and a two-time returning playwright with the Minneapolis Playwrights' Center and Pew Charitable Trusts Playwrights Exchange.
The author of Through Smiles and Tears: The History of African American Theater—from Kemet to the Americas. Saarbrucken, Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG. 2011 and The Secret Messages in African American Theater: Hidden Meaning Embedded in Public Discourse” (Edwin Mellen Publishing, 2006) Williams was, at one time, Arts Producer for public radio, WXPN-88.5, reporter and columnist with the Philadelphia Tribune and television editor for the Chicago-based "Maceba Affairs Media Review Magazine.
As a journalist, Williams' articles and essays have appeared in the "Hammer" Journal, "Dialogue", the Philadelphia REAL NEWS, POETS & WRITERS Magazine, THE OTHER SIDE, the New York GUARDIAN NEWSWEEKLY, the DAILY MUSE, BLACK AMERICA MAGAZINE, PHILLY BEAT, HIGH PERFORMANCE MAGAZINE and the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. In 1986, she was commended for outstanding journalism by the Philadelphia Veterans Administration.
Her stage credits include, “SHOT”; “Damn Yankees”, “No Mo’ Blues”; “Shakin the Mess Outta Misery”, "From Brillo Pads To Feminine Pads: Raw Abrasives", "A Product of Pop Culture and Pissed", "Nappy Truth", "Common Folk", "A CHAINED FOOT STUMBLING ON A NEW WORLD", "GUMBO", "WE THE PEOPLE","IZZY","THE BLACK DIAMOND" and "WHERE WERE YOU IN '65". As a playwright, Williams-Witherspoon has had fourteen of her plays produced in professional theater, including "From Brillo Pads To Feminine Pads: Raw Abrasives" (Women's Festival/Painted Bride), "Dog Days: The Legend of O.V. Catto" (Venture Theater),"By What Price: Unity" and "Nappy Truths" (Penumbra Theater, Saint Paul, Minn.).
Williams is a recipient of numerous Residency, Teaching and Community Service Awards, including citations from City Council, The Goode Admin., the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the key to the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania by Mayor James P. Connors in 1992. A contributing poet to several anthologies including(2001) Houston Poetry Fest Anthology; (2000) Split Verse: Poems of healing; (2000) Houston Poetry Fest Anthology; (2000) Austin Poetry Anthology; Sunlight on the Moon (1999), 1999 Essence Magazine; Hard Love: Writings on Violence and Intimacy,(1997); Hip Mama", EROITQUE NOIRE: BLACK EROTICA, (1992), NEW BLACK POETRY (1988), SAY THAT THE RIVER TURNS (1987) and CONCERNED POETS ON THE MOVE (1986), Williams-Witherspoon is the author of eight volumes of poetry, the spoken word CD Spoken Word, and the 1985 spoken word hit tape, Don’t Call Me a Bitch.
http://www.2deep.com