Director of Poetry and world renowned poet, Patrick Washington a.k.a., Black Picasso performs an original poem that let’s students know they are seen, heard and supported.

A poet during the golden era of hip-hop, Washington forged his fame as an activist through lyricism. An OG of DC's Black Broadway on U-Street, the king of lyrics a.k.a., Black Picasso, toured the country as a member of the legendary poetic group, the POEM-CEES. Washington has spit the illest of rhymes on Russel Simmons' HBO series Def Poetry and the NFL Network. His poetic work has been published in distinguished literary journals such as Rom Publications Life Through Black Eyes and the award-winning Beltway Poetry Quarterly. Washington's talent has been immersed in historic moments — notably he narrated Tavis Smiley's National Museum exhibition 'Amercia I Am'. In 2011, he stood alongside prominent leaders of the civil rights movement during the dedication ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. 's National Memorial. This significant moment in history included a keynote speech from President Barack Obama, a poem curated by Washington, and a performance by Aretha Franklin.

Learn how Washington is redefining the art of slam at our Academy as the Director of Poetry in an exclusive interview. In this Q + A, Mazi Mutafa, the Executive Director at Words Beats & Life, sits down with Patrick Washington to discuss how '90's hip-hop culture and its sub-genre go-go forged Washington's career path and influenced his values and identity as an independent artist. He walks us through the moments in his life that equipped him to step into his current role at WBL. Washington brings us into his vision for the future of the Youth Poet Laureate programs in Maryland, Washington, D.C. & Virginia. His twenty years of experience in the poetry slam circuit and the art industry allows him to provide youth poets with the platform to be heard by government officials and enact necessary changes — Washington helps fight marginalization by centering their voices.