Bio
Ebony Payne-English is a poet, playwright, filmmaker, and educator from Duval County, FL. She is author of graphic novel, The Random Happenings, as well as award winning poetry collection, Secrets of Ma’at, and New Reads Publishing release, Bits & Pieces: After Therapy For Black Women. She is the recipient of the the 2017 William Bell Humanitarian Award, the 2017 Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s Emerging Artist award recipient, Nicole "Nico" Holderbaum’s muse for her award winning College Station Mural Project on Arlington Expressway, as well as a 2020 Recipient of the Jessie Ball DuPont Center’s "Lift Every Voice" mosaics for most influential Black leaders of Jacksonville, FL. Her critically acclaimed play, On Purpose, was her debut as a playwright and was soon followed by her sold out 5-show series, The Goddess Experience. Ebony's original film, Kuongoza, is winner of Best Artistic Film at the 2021 Detroit Black Film Festival, Future of Fresh at the 2021 Hip Hop Film Festival, and honorable mention at the 2021 International Symbolic Film Festival in Russia.
As a musician, Ebony also boasts a 3 genre, 7 album discography: Old Soul (2006), Struggle’s Embrace (2010), EbEnFlo (2012), School Beats (2013), Know Love (2015), Kuongoza (2021), and Bits & Pieces (2022). As an educator, Ebony has taught invitational workshops at Jamaica Poetry Festival, the University of Florida, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, Morgan State University, HBO Brave New Voices, the National Afterschool Programming Conference, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Her performance accolades include The Bob Marley Museum, The New Orleans House of Blues, The Florida Theatre, TEDx, Broward Center for Performing Arts, and countless other venues. Through her collaborations with Brunet Garcia Advertising and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ebony’s writing has received a Gold National Advertising Award, 2 Telly Awards, 2 Clio Awards, and a Creative Floor Healthcare award within the last year. Ebony is the recipient of the USF sponsored African American Cemetery Alliance literary commission to memorialize the interments of historic landmark, Zion Cemetery, Tampa's first Black cemetery installed during the Civil War. She is also a contributing author for the in-process Federal Courthouse installation, "These Truths" by sculptor Cliff Garten. Ebony’s concert at Jacksonville Beach’s Blue Jay Lounge was selected by NPR as one of their top live session performances of 2022 and her band, Nakupenda, was featured on Episode 2 of Tiny Desk Top Shelf 2023.
Ebony has been featured in esteemed publications as well as digital outlets such as The Jamaica Gleaner, Forbes, Rolling Out, The Florida Times Union, PBS's Hometown, Derniere Vie Magazine, WJCT's First Coast Connect, and My Black Matters. In her 20 years of professional experience, Ebony’s performance accolades include being the first American to headline the annual Jamaica Poetry Festival, The Florida Theatre, The New Orleans House of Blues, The Houston House of Blues, Nuyorican Café, Crossroads Theatre, TEDx, Jax by Jax as well as countless other colleges, universities, and prestigious global entertainment venues.
As a musician, Ebony also boasts a 3 genre, 7 album discography: Old Soul (2006), Struggle’s Embrace (2010), EbEnFlo (2012), School Beats (2013), Know Love (2015), Kuongoza (2021), and Bits & Pieces (2022). As an educator, Ebony has taught invitational workshops at Jamaica Poetry Festival, the University of Florida, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, Morgan State University, HBO Brave New Voices, the National Afterschool Programming Conference, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Her performance accolades include The Bob Marley Museum, The New Orleans House of Blues, The Florida Theatre, TEDx, Broward Center for Performing Arts, and countless other venues. Through her collaborations with Brunet Garcia Advertising and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ebony’s writing has received a Gold National Advertising Award, 2 Telly Awards, 2 Clio Awards, and a Creative Floor Healthcare award within the last year. Ebony is the recipient of the USF sponsored African American Cemetery Alliance literary commission to memorialize the interments of historic landmark, Zion Cemetery, Tampa's first Black cemetery installed during the Civil War. She is also a contributing author for the in-process Federal Courthouse installation, "These Truths" by sculptor Cliff Garten. Ebony’s concert at Jacksonville Beach’s Blue Jay Lounge was selected by NPR as one of their top live session performances of 2022 and her band, Nakupenda, was featured on Episode 2 of Tiny Desk Top Shelf 2023.
Ebony has been featured in esteemed publications as well as digital outlets such as The Jamaica Gleaner, Forbes, Rolling Out, The Florida Times Union, PBS's Hometown, Derniere Vie Magazine, WJCT's First Coast Connect, and My Black Matters. In her 20 years of professional experience, Ebony’s performance accolades include being the first American to headline the annual Jamaica Poetry Festival, The Florida Theatre, The New Orleans House of Blues, The Houston House of Blues, Nuyorican Café, Crossroads Theatre, TEDx, Jax by Jax as well as countless other colleges, universities, and prestigious global entertainment venues.
C.V.
Education
01/05-12/06 Florida State University, Public Relations
08/03-12/04 Florida A & M University, Public Relations
08/02-04/03 New World Conservatory, Theater
08/99-05/02 Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Theater
08/03-12/04 Florida A & M University, Public Relations
08/02-04/03 New World Conservatory, Theater
08/99-05/02 Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Theater
Performance
2023
2022
2020
2018
2017
- 08/27 63rd Commemoration of 1960 NAACP Youth Sit-Ins, DuPont Center, Jacksonville, FL
- 08/23 Alamo Drafthouse, Austin, TX
- 06/17 Bistro 808, Dallas, TX
- 05/26 Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville, FL
- 03/30 Women Of The World Poetry Festival, Baltimore, MD
- 02/03 Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Pompano Beach, FL
- 01/18 Write About Now, Houston, TX
2022
- 08/25 Civil Rights Conference, Southbank Hotel, Jacksonville, FL
- 08/16 Bob Marley Museum, Kingston, Jamaica
- 08/14 Jamaica Poetry Festival, AC Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica
- 08/09 Busboys & Poets DC, Washington DC
- 08/08 Busboys & Poets Shirlington, Arlington, VA
- 07/30 Bits & Pieces Jam Session, James Weldon Johnson Park, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/26 Winterland Music Festival, Riverfront Park, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/21 Storytellers, The Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/21 JME Music Showcase, Blue Jay Listening Room, Jacksonville Beach, FL
2020
- 02/23 Godder Than A Muthafucka, 1904 Music Hall, Jacksonville, FL
- 11/18 Jax by Jax Literary Arts Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL
- 10/31 Urban Grind Coffeehouse, Atlanta, GA
- 08/11 The God In Me, Brunet Garcia Advertising, Jacksonville, FL
- 07/13 Flopocalypse, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 06/08 Southern Fried Poetry Finals, Cumberland Hall, Fayetteville, NC
- 04/27 Jax Poetry Fest, Hemming Park Jacksonville, FL
- 04/07 The God MC, Museum Of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/06 Black Excellence, Art Walk, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/05 Chalk, Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
- 01/06 God Is Experience, B & Sun Arts and Culture Center, Jacksonville, FL
2018
- 12/15 Color Me Kona, Kona Skate Park, Jacksonville, FL
- 12/14 Holiday Jamboree Community Hospice Benefit, 1904 Music Hall, Jacksonville, FL
- 12/8 Gaines Street Festival: Jelly Stage, Serenity Kava Lounge, Tallahassee, FL
- 11/17 Jambalaya Soul Slam, Hayti Heritage Center, Durham, NC
- 10/13 We Rise Festival, Eastside Brotherhood, Jacksonville, FL
- 06/16 Southern Fried Poetry Slam Finals, Carver Community Cultural Center, San Antonio, TX
- 05/19 Black Girls Rock, ASALAH, Tampa, FL
- 05/13 Kisses and Pearls Mother’s Day Brunch, The Fig Room, Jacksonville Beach, FL
- 05/09 Mayor’s Young Leaders Advisory Council “Mind Over Matter” Conference Artist, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
- 04/22 Queens of Poetry, Bohemian Lounge, Jacksonville, FL
- 04/20 Black on Black Rhyme, Tampa Heights Junior Arc Association, Tampa, FL
- 02/24 The Royal Family Gala, San Marco Library, Jacksonville, FL
- 01/25 Love LetHer, The Cypher, De Real Ting Café, Jacksonville, FL
2017
- 12/16 Truth & Proof Youth Open Mic, Studio One Black Box, Jacksonville, FL
- 06/09 Southern Fried Poetry Slam, Mayor's Office, Louisville, KY
- 06/07 Southern Fried Poetry Slam, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, KY
- 04/22 Queens of Poetry, Main Library Auditorium, Jacksonville, FL
- 04/07-04/09 On Purpose, WJCT Television Studios, Jacksonville, FL
- 03/16-03/18 Women of the World Poetry Slam, Dallas, TX
- 03/04 Levelz Lounge, Mobile, AL
- 02/28 Ybor City Jazz House, Tampa, FL
- 02/25 Shantytown Pub, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/24 Ritz Theatre and Museum, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/24 A More Perfect Union Exhibit: Space Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/23 Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/18 Nighthawks, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/12 Lift Every Voice Exhibit: Cummer Museum and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/12 We Spoke Femme Fatale: Women of the World Qualifier, Tampa, FL
- 02/01 Kesha Exhibit: Jax Library Makers Space, Jacksonville, FL
- 01/31 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- 01/15 Writers Resist: Raindogs, Jacksonville, FL
- 01/01 Mercury Cafe, Denver, CO
2016
- 12/30 Crossroads Theater, Denver, CO
- 12/27 Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Café, Boulder, CO
- 12/03 In The Midst: Foundations Academy, Jacksonville, FL
- 11/12 Poetry & Party: Odyssey Lounge, Jacksonville, FL
- 11/10-12 Art Republic International Mural Expo, Jacksonville, FL
- 11/12 Jax by Jax Literary Arts Festival, Jacksonville, FL
- 10/26 The Writers Block: Tea N Tea Café, Winter Park, FL
- 10/20 The Cypher: Real Ting Café, Jacksonville, FL
- 10/18 Nefetari’s Fine Cuisine & Spirits, Tallahassee, FL
- 10/09 Goddess Talk: Mynt Lounge & Bistro, Columbia, SC
- 07/31 Apache Café, Atlanta, GA
- 07/30 Hourglass Pub, Jacksonville, FL
- 07/08 Civil Rights Museum, Greensboro, NC
- 07/09 Cultural Arts Center, Greensboro, NC
- 06/21 Intersecting at the Arts: Storytellers, Cummer Museum and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL
- 02/27 Harambe Festival, Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL
- 01/18 Deconstructing MLK, Breathing Room, Chicago, IL
Press
Wolfe, Nicki; Void Magazine; The Performers Academy: Therapy In Disguise for At-Risk Youth; http://voidlive.com/good-spotlight-performers-academy
Manning, Tiffany; Arbus Magazine; The Conversation; August 2017; http://arbus.com/conversation-ebony-payne-english/
PBS; Hometown WJCT; On Purpose: Ebony Payne-English; June 2017; http://www.wjct.org/on-purpose/
Kerekes, Dick/Sansom, Leisla; EU Magazine; When Women Speak On Purpose; April 2017; http://eujacksonville.com/2017/04/10/when-women-speak-on-purpose/
WTLV Channel 12; First Coast Living; Ebony Payne-English Feature; April 2017; http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/first-coast-living/fcl-thursday-april-6th-ebony-payne-english/429236337
Ross, Melissa; First Coast Connect; On Purpose; April 2017; http://news.wjct.org/post/452107-betty-griffin-center-moliere-dimanche-art-public-places-purpose
Fisher, Patrick; Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville; Struggles Embraced: 10 Questions with Poet Ebony Payne-English; October, 2016; http://www.culturalcouncil.org/news/struggles-embraced-10-questions-with-poet-ebony-payne-english
The Chat; First Coast News; The Chat Tuesday featuring Ebony Payne-English; February, 2017; http://www.firstcoastnews.com/entertainment/television/programs/the-chat/the-chat-tuesday-february-28-ebony-payne-english/416247690
Duvall, Tessa; Florida Times Union; Ebony Payne-English: A Place I Could Put My Sadness; January, 2017; http://jacksonville.com/arts/2017-01-06/ebony-payne-english-place-i-could-put-my-sadness
Wednesday Open Words; Time Out Orlando; Things To Do featuring Ebony Payne-English; October, 2016; https://www.timeout.com/orlando/things-to-do/featuring-ebony-payne-english
TedxFSCJ; Salon Blog; Bio: Ebony Payne-English; August, 2016; http://www.tedxfscj.com/blog/2016/8/23/bio-ebony-payne-english
Thomas, Rema; WJCT The World; Forging New Frontiers in Education; February, 2014 http://news.wjct.org/term/ebony-payne-english
Manning, Tiffany; Arbus Magazine; The Conversation; August 2017; http://arbus.com/conversation-ebony-payne-english/
PBS; Hometown WJCT; On Purpose: Ebony Payne-English; June 2017; http://www.wjct.org/on-purpose/
Kerekes, Dick/Sansom, Leisla; EU Magazine; When Women Speak On Purpose; April 2017; http://eujacksonville.com/2017/04/10/when-women-speak-on-purpose/
WTLV Channel 12; First Coast Living; Ebony Payne-English Feature; April 2017; http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/first-coast-living/fcl-thursday-april-6th-ebony-payne-english/429236337
Ross, Melissa; First Coast Connect; On Purpose; April 2017; http://news.wjct.org/post/452107-betty-griffin-center-moliere-dimanche-art-public-places-purpose
Fisher, Patrick; Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville; Struggles Embraced: 10 Questions with Poet Ebony Payne-English; October, 2016; http://www.culturalcouncil.org/news/struggles-embraced-10-questions-with-poet-ebony-payne-english
The Chat; First Coast News; The Chat Tuesday featuring Ebony Payne-English; February, 2017; http://www.firstcoastnews.com/entertainment/television/programs/the-chat/the-chat-tuesday-february-28-ebony-payne-english/416247690
Duvall, Tessa; Florida Times Union; Ebony Payne-English: A Place I Could Put My Sadness; January, 2017; http://jacksonville.com/arts/2017-01-06/ebony-payne-english-place-i-could-put-my-sadness
Wednesday Open Words; Time Out Orlando; Things To Do featuring Ebony Payne-English; October, 2016; https://www.timeout.com/orlando/things-to-do/featuring-ebony-payne-english
TedxFSCJ; Salon Blog; Bio: Ebony Payne-English; August, 2016; http://www.tedxfscj.com/blog/2016/8/23/bio-ebony-payne-english
Thomas, Rema; WJCT The World; Forging New Frontiers in Education; February, 2014 http://news.wjct.org/term/ebony-payne-english
Texts
Payne-English, Ebony; Secrets of Ma'at; September, 2016
Payne-English, Ebony; Life from the Beehive; November, 2013
Payne-English, Ebony; Harmonious Skunk & the Lovebirds; October, 2013
Payne-English, Ebony; Kyo Gets a Neighbor; September, 2013
Payne-English, Ebony; Life from the Beehive; November, 2013
Payne-English, Ebony; Harmonious Skunk & the Lovebirds; October, 2013
Payne-English, Ebony; Kyo Gets a Neighbor; September, 2013
Teaching/Speaking Engagements
Panelist Cultural Council Entrepreneur Symposium for Creatives March 2017
Panelist TEDx: FSCJ September 2016
Managing Director The Performers Academy Spring 2016-present
Creator/Facilitator Jax Youth Poetry Slam Saturday Workshop Series Jacksonville Public Library Fall 2013-present
Head Coach Team P.O.M.E Brave New Voices International Slam Team Fall 2013-present
Co-Coach Shattered Thought Brave New Voices International Slam Team Fall 2009-Summer 2012
Speaker Edward Waters College Women's Health Fair March 2017
Speaker BOOST Best Of After-School Programming Conference May 2013
Speaker National After School Association July 2013
Developer/Author School Beats K-12 STEAM Curriculum June 2013
Workshop Facilitator HBO Brave New Voices July 2011
Keynote Speaker Morgan State University Symposium for Middle School Girls October 2010
Keynote Speaker Department of Juvenile Justice August 2009
Panelist TEDx: FSCJ September 2016
Managing Director The Performers Academy Spring 2016-present
Creator/Facilitator Jax Youth Poetry Slam Saturday Workshop Series Jacksonville Public Library Fall 2013-present
Head Coach Team P.O.M.E Brave New Voices International Slam Team Fall 2013-present
Co-Coach Shattered Thought Brave New Voices International Slam Team Fall 2009-Summer 2012
Speaker Edward Waters College Women's Health Fair March 2017
Speaker BOOST Best Of After-School Programming Conference May 2013
Speaker National After School Association July 2013
Developer/Author School Beats K-12 STEAM Curriculum June 2013
Workshop Facilitator HBO Brave New Voices July 2011
Keynote Speaker Morgan State University Symposium for Middle School Girls October 2010
Keynote Speaker Department of Juvenile Justice August 2009