Interview: Chris L. Butler

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Chris L. Butler is an African American and Dutch poet, essayist, and historian from Philadelphia, PA. Chris graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown, where he earned a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, History. He also graduated from Xavier University where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. His work has been featured in The Journal of International Relations and Diplomacy, Versification Magazine, Perhappened Mag, Trampset Magazine, Lucky Jefferson Literary Journal, Medium, The Daily Drunk Mag, and NewPages. He currently spends his time between Houston, Texas and Calgary, Alberta as his wife is Canadian.

Interviewed by Nazli Karabiyikoglu

Looking at the U.S. government’s recent political moves after George Floyd’s homicide by the police force, do you think that your poetry has a connecting point with Black Lives Matter?

I definitely feel my poetry has a strong connecting point with the Black Lives Matter movement. My current WIP is a poetry collection surrounding BLM, capitalism, war, and social inequality.

Trampset published “Discernment” on June 12th. What did you feel while writing “Discernment”?   I felt a deep frustration with society. A lot of people joined the BLM movement after George Floyd’s death, but many of us have been asking for solidarity since Trayvon Martin. Our parents and grandparents have been fighting this fight a lot longer, we have inherited it. The name keeps changing, but the movement continues. When Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd were slain during a pandemic, I kind of was at a tipping point for me. I wasn’t able to peacefully protest, because as an asthmatic I should be staying home during a pandemic as much as possible. This was hard for me as I was a part of Occupy Wall Street’s peaceful protests as well as protesting the current administration. Ultimately though, I knew I had to use my voice and privilege as an artist to speak out.

When did you first realize your affinity for poetry? What is your “origin” story?

I have been a fan of poetry since reading Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Frost in my youth. But in all honesty, hip hop created my interest in poetry and writing. Jay-Z and Ludacris played a big influence on me. I used to write raps, and then began writing poetry shortly after. I have been freestyling as a hobby since middle school. I am a late bloomer. I don’t have an MFA or an English degree. I have a B.S. in History and an Associate’s in Liberal Arts. I guess that makes me a bit of an underdog of a writer. Many people know me as a poet, but I am also an essayist and an aspiring academic. I’ve published educational research and hope to publish more essays in addition to poetry in the future. I’m inspired by poets like Jericho Brown and Terrance Hayes, but also nonfiction writers like Malcolm Gladwell. Truthfully I’m a creative, and would like to dabble in a lot of different creative mediums. Stay tuned!