By Rodd A. Amos
FROM: L.A. Sentinel

Lynne Thompson is an award-winning African American poet of Caribbean heritage. She is nationally recognized as a trailblazer in contemporary literature. Lynne was appointed the City of Los Angeles poet laureate by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2021.

The native Angeleno is a recipient of an Individual Artist Award and an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship. Lynne sat down with the L.A. Sentinel to reflect on her tenure before passing the torch.

L.A. Sentinel: Your job description reads, “Official ambassador of L.A.’s arts community; promoting and celebrating the written word, and representing the city’s rich literary scene.”

Lynne Thompson: I try not to think about that description. I was at a conference somewhere and someone asked poet laureates from all over the country about the size of their city or town. A friend of mine said, “So Lynn, how many people are in Los Angeles?” I replied, “13 million?” Yeah, I try not to think about that [job] description.

LAS: You paid your dues at The World Stage, the educational and performance art space in Leimert Park Village.

LT: At The World Stage, there’s a little sign at the edge of the podium that depicts a bull with a line through it. In other words, “No bullsh*t. Bring your real, genuine, authentic self to this mic.” I always think of that when I’m working on a poem or any form of writing. Bring the best poem that you can write that will resonate because it’s honest. Read Rest of Interview Here