Newark’s Inaugural Poet Laureate

Published poet, open mic host, and community organizer Margie “Mia X” Johnson has been appointed as Newark’s very first poet laureate.

Poet Laureate is an esteemed literary honor for accomplished poets who have made a significant impact in the art form. Officials recognize laureates as conduits to inspire residents and bring positive programming to communities through poetry. 

Some famous poet laureates who have been appointed to the ceremonial role have been Amiri Baraka, the father of Newark mayor Ras Baraka, for the State of New Jersey from 2002 to 2003; Amanda Gorman, who performed at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021, was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate; and Gwendolyn Brooks, who was named poet laureate for the State of Illinois. Brooks and the elder Baraka are inspirations for Johnson; she told NJ Urban News in an exclusive interview. 

Johnson is a mother of three, a community organizer, and has hosted The People’s Open Mic in Newark for 16 years.

Of her new role, Johnson said she’s referring to it as a “poetry rock star” because of poets like Amiri Baraka, who she said made poetic stories “sound wonderful even though it was hard to live.” 

Johnson hasn’t always felt this famed status, though. 

The Newark native wrote her first poem in third grade during an emotionally challenging period. She had just discovered that she was adopted and was dealing with some difficult feelings surrounding that revelation.

“I got to express that in my notebook. I began to have a relationship with my notebook,” Johnson reflected. “Life was changing around me, and the words gave me some stability.”

Johnson continued that she was a young person growing up in Newark who needed guidance and whose talent was recognized by the late Rodney Gilbert, founder of Yendor Productions. This performing and visual arts organization engages underserved communities. 

Johnson has been a working actress since age 14. Today, she writes poetry every day. “I have 112 notebooks in my house,” she said. Johnson is also recording a spoken word album. 

When she hits the stage, Johnson transforms into “Mia X.” She is a graduate of Temple University, where she studied English and African American Studies, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in the latter. 

She uses her degree every day. “I speak several languages,” Johnson boldly declares, with community and poetry being just two of them. “I’m boots on the ground,” she explained, referring to her work as a teaching artist at NJPAC and as a community engagement worker responsible for arts and creative placemaking in Newark. “I feel the usefulness in what I’m doing.”

As poet laureate, Johnson will facilitate a large undertaking in each of Newark’s five wards. She and a band of poets from the city will conduct deep listening sessions with city residents. They will then translate what they hear into an array of poems to be recorded as an album. 

Excitement can be heard in Johnson’s voice when she runs down the plan. 

“Just think about various microphones being set up in various public spaces so the community can come and drop off their thoughts and whatever they want to say, their poems even,” she said. “Then we will go back into the lab and work on it. We will activate different spaces around the city like gas stations, laundromats, corner stores, and bus stops.” 

Johnson’s goal is to go where the people of Newark are and hear their stories, concerns, and anything they want to say. The creation of an assortment of poems will then occur through several workshops facilitated by Johnson with the poets. 

“We are gonna listen. We are gonna translate. Then we are gonna give it back to the people. Our stories are worthy.” Johnson said. 

The application process to become the inaugural poet laureate of Newark was vigorous. It consisted of multiple community recommendations, an interview, and a project proposal. 

Johnson will serve a two-year term as poet laureate of Newark.