Shock Value! Comes to The August Wilson African American Cultural Center Next Month

Poetry Unplugged returns to the main stage at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAAC), 980 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, on Friday, January 20, 2023, 8:00 p.m., with Shock Value! , a night featuring daring and diverse group of critically acclaimed spoken word artists including Danny Simmons Jr. with bassist, Pittsburgh native Dwayne Dolphin, Malcolm Jamal Warner, poets Tera Jasmine, Asi Education and poet/DJ Rich Medina.

This episode of the AWAAC series, in its seventh year, honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (January 15). The event is hosted and organized by Orlando Watson, writer, spoken word poet, voiceover talent, recording artist and AWAACC’s new programming director. Watson has worked with Terence Blanchard, Lala Hathaway and Braxton Cook and released his latest CD, Story Corner, in 2021.

Danny Simmons, Jr., older brother of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Joseph “Run” Simmons of Run-DMC, is a poet, author, attorney, philanthropist, visual artist, and curator. Simmons co-created and co-produced the hit HBO show, Def Poetry Jam, and won a Tony Award for the Broadway adaptation of the show. Simmons’ legacy will live on forever alongside the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which he co-founded with his brothers. Through Rush Arts, Simmons has created a movement and platform that has supported thousands of uninvested inner-city youth across the arts as well as supporting professions…