Jacques Stanley Fleury is a Haitian-American Poet, Author and Educator. He holds an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing graduate studies in the literary arts at Harvard University online. Once on the editing staff of The Watermark, a literary magazine at the University of Massachusetts, his first book Sparks in the Dark: A Lighter Shade of Blue, A Poetic Memoir was featured in and endorsed by the Boston Globe. His second book: It's Always Sunrise Somewhere and Other Stories is a collection of short fictional stories dealing with the human condition as the characters navigate life's foibles and was featured on Good Reads. His third book and hitherto magnum opus Chain Letter to America: The One Thing You Can Do to End Racism, A Collection of Essays, Fiction and Poetry Celebrating Multiculturalism is about social justice in America and his fourth book You Are Enough: The JOurney to Accepting Your Authentic Self invites us to embrace all of who we are. All books are available at public and University libraries: The Boston Public Library, The Minuteman Library Network, University of Massachussetts Healey Library, Wyoming University, Askews and Holts Library Services in the United Kingdom, The Harvard Book Store,Porter Square Books, The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Amazon etc... His work has been published by Poets Reading The News, Synchronized Chaos, Oddball Magazine, The Boston Haitian Reporter, TANBOU:The Haitian trilingual journal of political and literary studies , Spare Change News, The Somerville Times, Patch News, Boston Events Insider, Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene, The International Network of Street Newspapers (INSP) reaching over 120 countries and languages, 'HOME Anthology' of prose and poetry edited by Anne Brudevold of Eden Waters Press, the Cornell University Press anthology 'Class Lives: Stories from across Our Economic Divide' edited by Chuck Collins et al, Muddy River Poetry Review among local and worldwide Poet Laureates, Litterateur: Redefining World Anthology out of India and the international Cooch Behar Anthology of poetry edited by Sourav Sarkar, a world renown poet & literary figure based from India. He was the Official Poet for the Annual Urban Walk for Haiti and has made personal appearances at many Boston and Cambridge area venues including Harvard and North Eastern Universities and many others. His Cd A Lighter Shade of Blue as a lyrics writer in collaboration with the neo-folk musical group Sweet Wednesday is available on Amazon, iTunes & Spotify to benefit Haitian charity St. Boniface. He is Cantabrigian living in the great state of Massachusetts.

Some of my major influences have been my English teachers at Boston English High School who introduced me to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, England of the English Renaissance Theater Genre. After studying Julius Caesar, I was inspired by the orbiting electrons by the waters of the muses to write my first poem about civil rights iconoclast and national historical figure Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for which I was beckoned to the Principal's office for an inquisition regarding the legitimacy of my writing, for it was determined to be of a higher caliber than expected at that time. The ONLY time I had been called to the office and it was for writing TOO well, which I now take as a modest compliment.

My influences continued throughout my college years and even post college when I immersed myself with writers, authors, professors, and journalists, all of whom propelled my writing on a path to lapidary clarity and precision through discipline and craftsmanship. To them I am forever indebted...


www.facebook.com/J.S.Fleury.

                             

Author of Four Books of Essays, Fiction and Poetry

Two books Archived in the permanent research special collections section at the University of Massachusetts Boston's Healey Library

Former Television Host/Producer of "Dream Weavers" at Cambridge Community Television (CCTV)

Official Poet for the Annual Urban Walk for Haiti

Lyrics Writer for folk musical group Sweet Wednesday

Certified Tutor (College of Learning & Reading Association)

Provider of Human Services Certificate

Top Three Finalist for Valedictorian in College

National Honor Society Inductee

Student Government Recognition Award

Computer Programming/Business Communications Diploma

Member of the Business Professionals of America

Son, Brother, Uncle, Friend & Community volunteer

I have published Poetry, articles, essays about the history of Haiti, African-American & United States History, the Civil War, Oppressive Pedagogy, Fiction, original Haitian Folklore, critical reviews of American,English, Russian and Irish literature, theater reviews etc... In addition to my professional pursuits, some of my more personal ventures include a regular practice of Yoga, Pilates and Meditation to connect with my visceral and ethereal self and have come to understand that the truth of who we are is not "I am this" or "I am that" but "I am." I, like Herman Hesse, truly believe that "the true profession of man is finding his way to himself"...