MOTIVATION MEETS KARAST #INSPIRATION AT HIS BEST.
Raised in Harlem N.Y. and breast fed by the rough streets of sugar hill; Karast Is
(which is an Egyptain/kemetic concept for the western term Christ) was an
Aspiring cartoon artist who loved perusing the minds of great African artists and
Poets…But like so many young Black males trapped in the squalid realms of ghetto
Reality, while at the same time striving to germinate into manhood without relevant
Fathers or father figures, karast became another prey to the vulturistic sadisms of
The street Life.
As a result, it cost him over a decade imprisoned in America’s prison industrial
Complex. It was there (where violence, fear, hate, racism and dehumanization is
the acceptable norm) that karast spiritually, politically, and poetically transformed
himself into an educator…teaching/facilitating cultural awareness classes at Clinton,
Elmira and Attica correctional facilities at upstate New York.
Karast, while serving time for armed robbery and assault, also wrote a book
which he began writing while locked down in SHU special housing unit at Comstock
correctional facility in 1996. His book, “From Universal Builder to Modern Day
Destroyers” addresses the various issues concerning African people in American
Society today.
Since karast’ release he has been very active in his community.
He is a part of “World Youth Movement for Global Peace” at Medgar Evers College
In Brooklyn, where he is a psychology major.
Eventually, karast decided to utilize his gift for poetry and spoken word in the
service of creating pertinent/relevant dialogue and social consciousness within the
grassroot masses.
His journey reads: At the 2003 Million Youth March he received an award
For his support at the MYM. He also featured at the Martin Luther King Jr. labor center
for The commemoration of Black liberation army member Safiya Buhkari; as well as
Developing Justice Leadership Program/Workshop and
Project REAL, where as a graduate, has been instrumental in bringing a
Positive social message to at-risk youth at local schools,
and various social institutions. He tours various colleges, universities, prisons,slams,
homeless shelters, poetry workshops, panel discussions, and community meetings
around the country using the microphone as his weapon against oppression.
Karast was also a guest on the talk show: The Next Level hosted by Darlene Brown.
He released his first poetry album in 2004 called “GHETTO SCRIPTURES.”
his poems were played on 93.5fm radio. And 90.3fm radio…
karast’ poetry speaks to the crying souls of every ghetto in America, and it was said
of him; he is the Tupac Shakur, Marvin Gaye and Malcolm X of spoken word.
Features Include:
· Jacobi Hospital…2nd annua Breast Cancer Fundraiser…Bronx NY
· BK’s…Manhattan N.Y
· Soul Cafe…Manhattan N.Y
· Sister’s Uptown Bookstore…Manhattan N.Y
· Willie’s Lounge…Manhattan N.Y
· New black panther party headquarters…Manhattan N.Y
· City college…Manhaattan N.Y
· Hoftra university…Long Island N.Y
· N.S.B.E Conference…Boston
· Just Reas…New jersey
· R.L’S Lyrical Lounge…Brooklyn N.Y
· Nubian Heritage Bookstore…Brooklyn N.Y
· Employment Readiness Program on Riker Island…Queens N.Y
· Solomon’s Porch…Brooklyn N.Y
· Open Arms/Project Trust Program…Weschester N.Y
· African Poetry theatre…Queen N.Y
· Nubian Heritage Bookstore…Harlem
· Columbia University…Manhattan N.Y
· Nubian Heritage Bookstore…Harlem
· Martin Luther king Jr. Labor Center…Manhattan N.Y
· River Bank State Park auditorium…Harlem
· Food for Thought Cafe…Brooklyn N.Y
· Masa lounge…manhattan
· 90.3fm Radio
· Iona College…
· Church On The Hill…Washington Heights
· Cafe’ Liberation…Harlem
· 116st. Baptist Church…Harlem
· The Five Spot…Brooklyn N.Y
· Moca…Harlem
· Fifth Avenue Committee…Brooklyn N.Y
· Medgar Evers College…Brooklyn N.Y
· Fashion Cafe…Brooklyn N.Y
· Utopia….Brooklyn N.Y
· Casper Jones…Brooklyn N.Y
· Yosemite Park Concert…Greenburg N.Y
· CBGB’s…Manhattan N.Y
· Jazz Poetry Concert…Connecticut
· African American Family Festival…Mount Vernon
· Bristen’s Cafe’…Brooklyn NY
· Two Cousins…Bronx NY
· Rose M. Singer…women’s prison…Queens N.Y
