Maurice’s first book, launched at the Arena Theatre I n Wolverhampton, summed up the life-journey of a Jamaican who realised his true potential late in life while living in the city of Wolverhampton. The book, called Ticket - Admit One, has since been used in schools and youth centres by Maurice, a criminal defence lawyer who represents suspects at police stations and prisons around the UK. "Poetry has become a way of life,” he said "as I now find myself writing my own history from the experiences of living on this earth. My background and all of my life’s battles, conquests and traumas make me who I am".
The career of Maurice Malcolm has given him an invaluable insight into human nature, which forms the backbone of his poetry and music. Maurice’s creative company, Poetry in Motion, targets inner city issues like drug addiction, knife crime and prostitution. Following Maurice’s debut performance at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival in 2017, he was asked to perform twice on Made in Birmingham TV, the Love Music Hate Racism Festival, the 2018 Wolverhampton Literature Festival and with Poets Against Racism at the 2019 Wolverhampton Literature Festival. Maurice was also asked by West Midlands` Stand Up To Racism to perform for the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s controversial "Rivers of Blood" speech in a landmark coalition against racism in Birmingham.
"Writing was my survival mechanism,” explained Maurice. "To begin with it was a means to an end although it has now become integral to my life. It’s like drinking a beautiful cool glass of water or eating a luscious I mouth-watering fruit. Its nutritious properties nourish my heart and soul for it purges my mind of any impurities or toxins which attack my constitution."
Maurice’s CV of performances include the Wednesbury Art Gallery, Sandwell Farm, Mapseekers Gallery & Studio, the Sant Nirankar Mission, the Streets of Dialect Festival and the National Dialect Festival at Wednesbury Town Hall. In 2017 he was nominated for the Creative Black Country Master Award. He performs his poetry and music in both Jamaican patois and conventional English. "I can find myself writing in the moment" Maurice said "when all is lost and my heart is heavy and grieving, searching for an answer yet it can bless me with treasures beyond my imagination! Poetry unravels the bewildering complexities and perplexities of everyday life regardless of what this life throws at me".
Maurice Malcolm has appeared on Black Country Radio, in the Black Country Bugle, at various venues to celebrate National Poetry Day and the Black Country Living Museum as part of the Black Country Festival. Described as "Wolverhampton’s answer to Benjamin Zephaniah", a second poetry collection is due to be published, which tackles hard-hitting contemporary issues. "As long as I educate my mind and exercise my body", Maurice said "in preparation for the tasks at hand the spoken word will assist me to achieve my goals. Nature, love and life are the central focus of my deliberations".
Maurice’s main source of inspiration has been his hard-working late mother, Icilda from Hanover in Jamaica who instilled in him her golden rules of good manners, respect, self-discipline and ambition. "I work hard for social justice through my poetry and music", said Maurice "and contemporary issues inform my work. Prevention is better than the cure so let’s work with our children now!"
Please see Maurice Malcolm’s performance with Riley Daley at Wolverhampton Literature Festival with Poets Against Racism (YouTube, Pat the Bull Films) or go to www.mauricemalcolm.com
