Celebrating the Black Sheep. How Brother Rennell Parker and Black Poets Have Always Led the Way

Brother Rennell Parker

It’s a distinct honor to have St. Louis very own Brother Rennell Parker share his gifts with the world. His poetry reflects the kindness of his heart, his commitment to community, and the deep well of inspiration he draws from. Brother Parker didn’t just write about standing out — he lived it. He brought his gift of poetry to the LMNT Poetry Iration and Vibration event, standing alongside many other gifted poets, motivating hearts and awakening spirits.

There’s nothing quite like poetry that transitions into positive vibrations, and we appreciate Brother Rennell Parker for doing such a phenomenal job. His words served as an eye-opener to many, reminding us all that words do have power — the power to heal, to awaken, and to unite.

This spirit of turning pain into power, isolation into inspiration, and difference into destiny isn’t something new. It’s the beating heart of Black poetry through history.

Since the earliest days, Black poets have been truth-tellers and torchbearers, speaking what others were too afraid to say. Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, used her verses to prove the intellect and humanity of enslaved Africans at a time when both were denied. Langston Hughes gave voice to Black America's dreams and sorrows during the Harlem Renaissance, weaving the music of his people into poems that still sing today. Maya Angelou taught us through her life and her words that no matter the oppression, still, we rise. Amiri Baraka lit the fires of Black consciousness during the civil rights and Black Power movements, showing that poetry could be both art and revolution.

And now, in our time, Brother Rennell Parker picks up the pen to do the same. His poem isn’t just a reflection of himself. It’s a mirror for anyone who has ever been called different. He reminds us that you are not a mistake; you are a masterpiece in progress.

In a world that tries harder than ever to force everyone into neat, silent boxes, Brother Rennell's message matters deeply. His words dare us to forge our own way, to dance to our own heartbeat, and to speak our own truth.

And when you do — when you stand up and say "I am" — don’t whisper it. Shout it. Shout it with every step you take, with every dream you chase, with every wall you break down.

When Brother Rennell Parker wrote his moving poem about being the "black sheep," he did more than put words on paper — he spoke life into everyone who has ever felt different, left out, or misunderstood.

In his piece, Brother Rennell flips the idea of being the "black sheep" on its head. Instead of seeing it as a curse, he reminds us that being the "black sheep" means being unique, being bold, and being chosen to break molds.

"I am the echo of my own name / Not set by the mold but by flame," he writes — a powerful reminder that we are not defined by society's expectations but by our own fire, our own passion.

Where others turn away at the first sign of mist and confusion, the black sheep keeps walking, keeps pushing, keeps dreaming. "I am not blend I blaze I beam." That’s not just a line — it’s a lifestyle.

Brother Rennell isn't just talking about himself. He’s talking about every one of us who has ever been told we were too different, too loud, too strange, too much. He’s calling on us to speak up, speak out, and own the truth that we are amazing, even when the world doesn’t always recognize it.

The beauty of his poem is that it doesn’t deny the struggle. It embraces it. "I've worn the label and felt the stare / Yet I found freedom living there." In those words, we see the truth that being different often comes with a price — but it also comes with a priceless reward: freedom. The freedom to live as you are, not as others think you should be.

"I am... AMAZING!"

Brother Rennell Parker’s poem isn’t just art. It’s a battle cry. It’s a love letter to the misfits, the dreamers, the world-changers. Black poetry has always been that — not just beautiful, but necessary. It has kept us alive, lit the way through dark times, and reminded us: we are not lost. We are unbound. We are skyward bound.

So if you ever feel like you don’t belong, remember this: you were never meant to blend in. You were born to blaze. Somewhere, someone is waiting for your light to show them they can shine too.

Reference:

Full Video of LMNT Poetry: https://www.youtube.com/live/XTqVFyRHQWQ?si=NUlp6Ly835nCzlFU