DAYTON — News Center 7 continues to highlight Black History Month.
On Thursday, News Center 7′s Xavier Hershovitz spoke with Poet David matthews. (He spells his name in lowercase because he says, “I believe that my name is insignificant compared to my message that I have to give in my poetry.”)
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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, matthews’ career includes performances all across the country.
He received two keys to the city of Dayton first from Mayor James H. McGee and most recently from current mayor Jeff Mims.
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“I have no control of this talent. I never have,” said matthews.
He has been writing poetry since he was a teenager. He had no idea it would turn into a five-decade career as a poet with more than 300 performances in 21 states and several books.
“I had no idea when I started that it would last this long. That I would get the attention. That I would win the awards. That I would be published as much,” matthews said.
One of his inspirations is poet and activist Nikki Giovanni. He took a chance by sending her his poems, leading to a decades-long connection.
His wife, Hsanni Scott-matthews, pushed to get them reconnected in 2023.
“It was important for me to give him that renewal because we didn’t know how much longer we would have her,” Scott-matthews said.
Giovanni died last year. However, matthews continues to share the things he taught her.
His poetry mostly focuses on social commentary.
“I’ve been seeing violence for the longest, and then one day, finally, something just hit me, and it was just like a rush, and it wouldn’t stop,” matthews said.
“Each particular poem has its own individuality, so it takes its own structure and design on stage with me,” he said.
Last year, Mayor Mims declared November 11, “David Matthews Day,” in Dayton and gave him a key to the city.
His wife has become his biggest champion working to make sure the community grew up in, honoring his life’s work.
“I just fell in love, because he’s an activist, but he’s an activist that says, ‘Can’t’ we all just get along?’” says Scott-matthews.
Hoping to leave something behind for young poets, the same way it was done for him.
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