Dred Sista Ren/LaTressa R. Hodges-Lumpkin considers herself a "WEstorian because their history is fiction, give it back." And a Poetical Commentator "things that are overstood never need to be explained." She is a sought after poet, political organizer and lecturer. Her work emphasizes the impact history, spirituality and culture has on our political outlook. Sista Ren is a founding member of the Vanguard Black Underground with twenty years in the game. She hails from Fitzgerald's, Spices, Dejoie's, the Bop Shop, the Literary Guild Complex, Rituals, A Touch of the Past and most importantly Literary Explosions (Lit-X) Anotha Level. She has performed and/or hosted at universities, venues and festivals around the country and Canada.
Ren has shared the stage with famed poets, writers and performers Elder Sister Sonia Sanchez and Elder Brothers Amiri Baraka, Sam Greenlee, Useni Perkins, Quincy Troupe, Sterling Plumpp and Phil "Kelan" Cohran. Her contemporaries Brothers Avery (Big Daddy) R. Young, Cashus D, Chuck D, Chuck Perkins, Tyehimba Jess, Denizen Kane, Still Black See, Triple Blak, Reality, Eduardo Arocha, Ben Ortiz, Alphonso Hunter, Malik (the WordSmyth) Yusef, Khari B., Quaraysh Ali Lansana, J. Ivy, Gregorio Gomez, C. Otis Grant, Oliver Grimball, Common, Stan Skibby, Charlie St.Cyr-Paul, Mark Stampley, David Boykin and Marc Smith. Sisters Tina Howell, Tara Betts, Maria McCray, Smokie and Brenda Mathews.
She has recorded with RIAA certified platinum producer Mr. FREAK, Regie "love jones" Gibson, Jauqo III-X, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Calvin Weston. She will release a forth coming album 'mississippi roots... on my head inside out'. She has held elective office, was an election monitor for the historic South African election & successfully lobbied the U.S. Justice Department. She has shared podiums and panels with Mr. Dick Gregory, Gator Bradley, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Conrad Worrill, President Barack Obama; Mrs. Merlie Evers, Ms. Bev Smith, Alexis Herman and Farai Chideya. She has served as VP Proviso West Suburban NAACP, Chicagoland Urban Coordinator Rock/Rap the Vote HipHop Coalition, Chicago State University's National Association of Black Professors Award. She has appeared nationally in publications and on media outlets such as BET, CNN, PBS & MTV. She is the 7th CD's Con. Danny K. Davis' Political Action Chairperson. She's digging being a nana to her GrandManSun & GrandButterfly.
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