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Growing, Learning, Progressing in Literature
Writers Alliance
Featured Author
Eboniramm (eh boh nee ram)
"In the absence of my music, my mind, body and soul are drifting. No longer will I hide all this love I have inside...I will express it till the day I die." –Eboniramm
Yes, express it she will. These words best describe the sensual art form of Eboniramm, a performance artist who tells her story evoking vintage Harlem flair. Growing up in rural South Carolina, she credits her strong spiritual roots for the shaping of her performance style--a seamless blend of deeply emotional poetry infused with mellow jazz vocals. Her recently released jazz/gospel CD, Passion, is a fine example of her talent.
Eboniramm fell in love with the arts at a very young age. She started performing in her community at open mic forums. In October 2002, Eboniramm debuted her first one-woman show, An Evening with Eboniramm, to sold-out venues. In 2003, a partnership was formed with both the S.C. Poetry Initiative and the Auntie Karen Foundation to conduct spoken word and poetry workshops within local schools.
She served the city of Sumter, S.C. in 2004 as their first Poet-in-Residence and in 2005 was commissioned by the S.C. Heritage Corridor as Poet-in-Residence for the Benjamin Mays Homstead in Greenwood, S.C.
Faced with a threatening health issue, months spent in recovery provided time for reflection and a strong realization of her passion for jazz and poetry. Eboniramm gathered a small group of talented musicians and formed her band, Rain. Together, they were featured artists in the SCETV Sound Stage at the 2005 S.C State Fair as well as featured entertainers at the 2005 S.C. Poetry Summit, 2005 S.C.
Poetry Initiative Statewide Awards Ceremony, and the 2006 S.C Book Festival.
Eboni is a prominent cultural artist in and around South Carolina, well lauded by many for her work…
Eboniramm’s rich voice combined with her poetic language brings music to life in unique styles. Her love of communicating saturates her performance.” ---Susan Aude’---Former News Anchor, WIS-TV, Columbia, SC
“I was profoundly struck by her poetry and her presentation of it, both spoken and in song.”---Betsy Newman---Producer/Writer/Filmmaker, Creative Services Division - SCETV
“Eboniramm is the epitome and caliber of talent coming out of Columbia. Hooray, hooray! Sunny, sultry, velvety…these are but a few words to describe the luscious voice and spirit of Eboniramm.”---Chuck LaMark---Director of Development, Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties
“I love her work. It’s powerful.” ---Bess Daniels---Jazz and Blues Vocalist/Playwright/Poet
“For our Arts & Culture module, the Youth Corps students had the opportunity to spend an evening with Eboniramm. It was one of the highlights of the year for us. She coached the students in writing their own poetry which they got to perform on stage in front of one another. It will be a session that we will definitely want to have on the calendar in future years. Eboniramm does a great job of interacting with the students and I would highly recommend any school or other group to take advantage of an opportunity to experience a session with this artist. It will be well worth it!”---Jeff Becraft---Director, Youth Corps
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2008, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – A RENAISSANCE WOMAN, POETESS AND JAZZ VOCALIST, EBONIRAMM NOW EMBARKS ON A NEW CAREER AS THE AUTHOR/EDITOR OF WITHIN HIS STAR: THE STORY OF LEVI PEARSON.
EBONIRAMM WAS BORN IN MANNING, S.C. AND IS A DESCENDANT OF THE GULLAH CULTURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S LOW COUNTRY. SHE IS A JAZZ VOCALIST; HOWEVER, HER FULL RESUME REFLECTS THE TALENTS OF A TRUE RENAISSANCE WOMAN AS POET, VOCALIST, EDUCATOR AND NOW AUTHOR.
THIS DEBUT BOOK IS ABOUT HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER, MR. LEVI PEARSON, WHO WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER. IN 1947, MR. PEARSON FILED A GROUNDBREAKING COURT CASE AGAINST CLARENDON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA THAT SOUGHT TO OBTAIN BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COUNTY’S BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN. THIS CASE ULTIMATELY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE HISTORIC 1954, SCHOOL DESEGREGATION CASE, BROWN VS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. HER BOOK TITLE COMES FROM A COMMENT DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYES MADE IN REFERENCE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DURING HIS EULOGY. THE VOICE AND TONE OF THE BOOK SHOWS MR. PEARSON’S STRONG FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO DO THE BEST HE COULD FOR HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. THESE ARE LESSONS WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM TO BUILD OUR OWN CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY TODAY.
THE LIFE OF HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO EBONIRAMM, AS HIS COURAGE AND DEDICATION SHOWS HIS WILLINGNESS TO, “SACRIFICE SO MUCH TO OBTAIN SIMPLE JUSTICE.” SO, ON MOTHER’S DAY 2005, SHE EMBARKED ON HER OWN PERSONAL JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AS SHE SAT AT THE KITCHEN OF HER GRANDPARENT’S HOME LISTENING TO HER GRANDFATHER, MR. FERDINAND PEARSON SR., SHARE THE STORY OF HIS FATHER, WHICH SHE NOW BRINGS TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE THROUGH THE BOOK, WITHIN HIS STAR: THE STORY OF LEVI PEARSON.
FOR ADDITONAL INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE A BOOKSIGNING OR WORKSHOP/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT, PLEASE CONTACT EBONIRAMM AT 803.665.7036 OR SHE CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL AT EBONI@EBONIRAMM.COM.
AUTHOR, EBONIRAMM RELEASES NEW BOOK,
WITHIN HIS STAR: THE STORY OF LEVI PEARSON
Within His Star
Contained energy
traveling
at the speed of life
born of former slaves
wearing the skin
of Negro heritage
innately knowing
dangers, barriers and pitfalls
must be endured
understanding
creation expresses
the Creator’s ideals –
he walks the high road
making his mission
his life
© 2005 Eboniramm. All rights reserved.