Media & Interviews
Poet shares work with Milton Artists’ Guild
WCAX - 03/17/2024
A highly anticipated return to the Milton Artists’ Guild - poet Rajnii Eddins of Burlington shared his work Saturday.
“The arts are primary, I think art is a crucial bridge to deepen recognition for the beauty of humanity and it’s a universal language of engagement that opens the doorways to imagination and openness to be our full selves in ways and dimensions we never knew we had access to,” Eddins said.
Local book lovers share recommendations for Black History Month
Vermont Public - 02/08/2024
Vermont Edition's latest winter books show focused on books that illuminate the Black experience, explain key historical moments, and uplift Black voices. Rajnii appeared on a panel with fellow spoken word poet and author Kekla Magoon, as well as Oceana Wilson, the president of the Vermont Library Association and Bennington College's library dean, to discuss Black literature and provide reading recommendations for Black History Month and beyond.
The Frequency: The Poetry Experience
Vermont Public - 06/12/2023
Rajnii is featured on Vermont Public’s daily news podcast to discuss The Poetry Experience, a Burlington-based poetry group where strangers gather to share words and inspiration.
The value of our voices: Poet Rajnii Eddins performs his work at the Milton Artists’ Guild
Milton Independent - 05/25/2023
Community members gathered at the Milton Artists’ Guild on Wednesday night to listen to author and poet Rajnii Eddins share excerpts from his texts, “Their Names Are Mine” and “In the Coded Language of this Mortal Tongue."
Present Time: Interview with Rajnii Eddins
Listen to the Present Time Interview with Rajnii Eddins, a Burlington, Vermont-based Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist. Present Time explores public affairs, culture, and the importance of sharing our individual and collective stories. From commentary, to interviews, to arts exploration and music, Present Time shares ideas---old and new---from a fresh perspective. Present Time is hosted by KB Stamper, an award-winning writer and self-proclaimed radio addict.
Peace Talks: Interview with Poet Rajnii Eddins
Rajnii sits down with Daniel Parkins on Community Wealth Development to discuss his work in peace building and anti-racism.
Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Richard Kemp Center MLK event hopes to "reclaim" the meaning of the day
NBC 5 - 01.17.23
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and Richard Kemp Center hosted both an in person and virtual event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Organizers called the gathering "Nothing About Us Without Us." The goal was to reclaim the legacy of Dr. King.
Cultural Bunker Interview
Media Factory - 12/06/2022
DJ Melo Grant hosts Rajnii to talk about his life, work, poetry, activism, and more.
Black Artist Showcase offers platform for local performers
WCAX - 12/02/2022
For nearly three decades, spoken-word poet and teaching artist Rajnii Eddins has worked to engage a diverse community of people, and for the past several years it’s taken the form of Black Artist Showcases.
The monthly performances for local poets, writers, musicians, painters, illustrators, and other artists. One of those takes place Friday night from 6 to 8 at the Richard Kemp Center in Burlington.
Poet Rajnii Eddins cultivates community in Burlington with the Black Artist Showcase
Burlington Free Press - 11/20/2022
When Vermont poet Rajnii Eddins performed at the Black Artist Showcase on Nov. 11 at Burlington's Kru Coffee, it was a participatory experience.
"Beautiful sun-kissed people!" Eddins and the audience chanted in a call-and-response.
C.H.A.N.G.E Program National Poetry Month Spotlight
New England Revolution - April 2022
Professional US soccer club, the New England Revolution chose Rajnii as an artist to spotlight as part of their C.H.A.N.G.E program. C.H.A.N.G.E, which stands for Converse, Help, Amplify, Nurture, Galvanize, Educate, is an athlete-driven social justice initiative focused on dismantling systemic racism. Rajnii was chosen for his lifelong dedication to this calling, and for his outstanding contributions to Black communities from New England to the Pacific Northwest.
Please visit the C.H.A.N.G.E website for more info and resources.
Stranger Suggests: The Return of Former 206 Poet and Rapper Rajnii Eddins at Wa Na Wari
The Stranger - 04/21/2022
When Rajnii Eddins moved from Seattle to Vermont 12 years ago, I felt that this city had lost a big part of its culture. His mother, Randee Eddins, founded the African American Writers Alliance, an organization I became involved with during the first half of the 1990s. When I taught literature to high school students at Seattle Central College in the second half of the 1990s, the best mind in the class was undoubtedly Eddins'. Indeed, he read to the class the whole of Zora Neale Hurston's ebonics-rich Their Eyes Were Watching God flawlessly. They understood him, and he understood the novel.
Homegoings: Poet Rajnii Eddins on using ‘courageous vulnerability’ to navigate the darkness
Brave Little State speaks to Burlington-based poet Rajnii Eddins about life, art and “courageous vulnerability,” and Eddins performs some of his favorite poems, old and new.
Burlington celebrates Vermont First African Landing Day
VTDigger - 08/29/2021
Poet Rajnii Edinns speaks during the Vermont First African Landing Day commemoration at the Intervale Center in Burlington on Saturday. The day-long event, organized by the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, was held to mark the anniversary of when the first enslaved people from Africa landed in Virginia in 1619.
Commemorating the third annual African Landing Day
WCAX - 08/28/2021
First African Landing Day, an event originally rolled out in the state in 2019, is put on by the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance.
Among those in attendance was poet and author Rajnii Eddins. He says to reflect back on the experiences of those brought to America back in 1619, is what makes this event a success.
“Determination and faith it took to withstand such circumstances is a blessing to glorify, the ancestors for accomplishing that because we’re still here as a result,” Eddins said. “Also as a reminder to humanity of what we’re capable of.”
Rajnii Eddins Affirms Our Common Humanity Through Poetry
The Vermont Standard - 05/13/2021
This week spoken word poet and teaching artist Rajnii Eddins is returning to Woodstock to share his poetry, the art of writing poetry and his- tory — both his own and that of Black people — with the students at Woodstock Union High School and Woodstock Elementary School on May 13 and 14.
CLiF’s Book Club for Grown-Ups: Poet Rajnii Eddins
CLiF’s virtual Book Club for Grown-ups series continues! In Book Club, CLiF’s award-winning presenters share their work and answer your questions.
In November, we’ll be talking poetry with spoken word poet Rajnii Eddins, author of the poetry collection, Their Names Are Mine. According to his website, “Their Names Are Mine aims to confront white supremacy while emphasizing the need to affirm our mutual humanity.”
Talking about race, art and empathy with Burlington spoken-word poet Rajnii Eddins
Rajnii Eddins, who 10 years ago moved from Seattle to Burlington, is a poet who says he uses “performance art as a way to inspire, empower and encourage community.” Eddins is also an author whose latest book of poetry is titled "Their Names Are Mine."
From Slam Poetry To Mr. Rogers: What Vermont Artists Have To Teach Us About Race
Protests erupted across the country over the killing of George Floyd in police custody on Memorial Day. Calls for justice and the overthrowing of systemic racism in the U.S. echoed from Burlington to Seattle. In this recorded conversation, we speak with Vermont poet and educator Rajnii Eddins about how he views this historic moment.
A Conversation With Poet & Teaching Artist Rajnii Eddins
What follows are distilled quotes from a conversation with Burlington resident Rajnii Eddins, a poet, facilitator, activist, teaching artist, founder of the Poetry Experience at Fletcher Free Library and author of a poetry book, Their Names Are Mine, that aims to confront white supremacy.
Voices in ACTION Preview
Rajnii speaks with Emily Bender about Their Names are Mine and previews an upcoming performance at Voices in ACTION - Concert for Racial Justice.
Racism — And Anti-Racism — In Vermont
“Go ahead and buy White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo but also Vermont poet Rajnii Eddins’ book, Their Names Are Mine. I read it and I am better for it because it’s very deep and telling.” - Xusana Davis
A Reading, by poet Rajnii Eddins
Helen Day Art Center
Rajnii reads a new piece entitled In Our Wake for the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, VT.
But Why Live: Poetry
Vermont Public Radio - 05/13/2020
But Why Live talks poetry and writing with Poetry Guy Ted Scheu, Rajnii Eddins, and listeners’ poems! Get your pencils ready for fun writing exercises as well. We also hear from Iris Robert of the Young Writer's Project who has her own podcast called Line Break.
Westminster West Library Hosts Poet & Artist
During February vacation week, the Westminster West Library hosted poet Rajnii Eddins and Artist Amber Paris. A group of kids spent all week writing poetry and creating great works of art.
Originally from Seattle Washington, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist Rajnii Eddins (at right in photo) has been engaging diverse community audiences for over 27 years. He was the youngest member of the Afrikan American Writers Alliance at age 11 and has been actively sharing with youth and community in Vermont since 2010. His latest work, Their Names Are Mine, aims to confront white supremacy while emphasizing the need to affirm our mutual humanity.
The children started their morning writing poems from prompts such as: “If my imagination was a nation… If the ocean could speak… and: Write a poem as if you are truth personified. You are traveling the world. Who do you meet and how do they greet you?”
[Please click the photo to read more]
I am a Vermont Artist: Rajnii Eddins
Vermont Arts Council
“Living in Vermont has influenced my art in many dynamic ways. The homogeneity has increased my awareness of the need to speak up about white supremacy and to hold space more intentionally for a myriad of underheard voices and narratives. I have also been inspired by many different artists to expand my capacity for collaboration across multiple genres of musical expression. The land itself being the original home to the Abenaki people has often spoken to me in profound ways and being in nature I feel there is so much to be gained from the spirit that existed here prior to colonization and is still here.”
‘Poetry Is A Spiritual Language’: Burlington Poet Rajnii Eddins
Vermont Public Radio - 08/11/2019
On an evening in late June, Burlington poet Rajnii Eddins stood at a podium at the Fletcher Free Library. He wore a sweatshirt printed with Malcolm X’s face and looked out at the room through large, gold-rimmed glasses…
Book Review: 'Their Names Are Mine,' by Rajnii Eddins
Seven Days - 07/31/2019
In his new book of poetry, Their Names Are Mine, Rajnii Eddins says his New Year's resolution is "to tell the truth to white people." For me, it's hard to think about this without my mind wandering off to Christmas and Kwanzaa, which ultimately makes me think of snow, and, well, snow — that's white, and that's Vermont. But it's the good green warmth of summer right now and perhaps not a good time to talk about the cold white snow and telling the truth to white people or beating around any white boneset bushes in peaceful Vermont.…
Q & A with Rajnii Eddins
Children’s Literacy Foundation - 04/26/2019
CLiF is proud to work with 64 talented authors, illustrators, poets, graphic novelists, and storytellers from every corner of Vermont and New Hampshire to inspire low-income, at-risk, and rural kids to love reading and writing. We send our amazing presenters to schools, libraries, after school programs, childcare centers, summer camps, affordable housing developments, and other spaces where low-income kids spend time in NH and VT…
Young Writers Project's 'Soundcheck' Addresses Gun Violence
Seven Days - 03/19/2018
The Burlington-based Young Writers Project held a special Soundcheck event last Friday to address gun violence, youth activism and school safety.
Twice postponed due to inclement weather, the event at the BCA Center consisted of a writing workshop led by slam poets and educators Rajnii Eddins and Denise Casey, as well as an open mic session…
Got Poems? A New Vermont Zine Is Looking for You
Seven Days - 05/12/2016
When Randee Eddins was a little girl — the second youngest of five children — she had difficulty expressing herself with the same verbal-whiplash wit as her family and siblings. Instead, she told Seven Days, she would use poetry to respond after the fact; her family would find "poem rebuttal[s] taped to the bathroom mirror."
Fast forward to 1998, when Eddins founded THE POETRY EXPERIENCE with her son Rajnii in their then-home in Seattle, Wash…