Dispatches from the Vanguard

“In the tradition of Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman, Howell writes a truly American poetry in the language of the streets, office cubes, living rooms, bars—the everyday landscape of humanity. In poems at once ecstatic and reflective, Howell celebrates his heritage while unblinkingly portraying the African American experience. A modern day hymnal for, of, and by the people, his music will reverberate long after the last page has been turned

— Angela Narciso Torres,  the author of Blood Orange, winner of the Willow Books Literature Award for Poetry

"Dispatches" is exceptional - the whole thing.  My oldest brother Danny grew up with art and giving to others in his heart. My dad wrote poetry and our mom painted Danny was lucky that those things rubbed off on him... the work he does with Rush philanthropy is a direct reflection of being at our dad's side during civil rights protests at an early age. What "Dispatches from the Vanguard" does is take our current moment and draw an oral history from architects of the culture.  From the Black Arts Movement and, before that the Harlem Renaissance to the Global International African Arts Movement."

—Rev. Run, Founder of Run DMC

“James Baldwin envisioned a metaphorical welcome table where all people(s) gather to love and laugh, to politic and swear, to breathe the same air and share what Dr. Nikki Giovanni calls “a good cry.” Patrick A. Howell’s Dispatches from the Vanguard is Baldwin’s dream manifested through art and culture, through porch talks, poetry and visual debates. In this carnival of a book, he manifests what the late great poet Larry Neale invoked—"visions of a liberated future”—with this dynamic treasure trove of Black passion, style, intellectual prowess, wit, grace and soul. Behold this beautiful bouquet of Blackness embracing the living with love and life, honoring the Ancestors with such a cavalcade clarion call continuum. Oh, I can hear Lucille Clifton now, Come celebrate with me…” 

—Tony Medina, author of Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy and Professor of Creative Writing at Howard University about the art movements and political science