In his latest poem, “Grocery Shopping With My Mother,” renowned poet and author Kevin Powell offers a deeply personal reflection on his relationship with his mother, tracing her challenging journey as a dark-skinned Black woman in South Carolina. This moving piece is part of Powell’s Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, which has been nominated for the 2024 GRAMMY® Awards. The poem speaks not just to his mother’s upbringing but to universal themes of maternal love, struggle, and faith, themes that resonate with Powell’s fans across both spoken word poetry and Hip-Hop communities.
As Powell prepares for the 2025 GRAMMYs®, where he’s nominated for nine awards, his work continues to garner attention for its emotional depth and cultural significance.
A Poem About a Mother’s Resilience
In “Grocery Shopping With My Mother,” Powell paints a vivid picture of his mother’s difficult life in the segregated South. He reflects on the struggles she faced as a dark-skinned little black girl, whose own sense of worth was challenged by a society that undervalued her because of her skin color. Powell mentions how his mother thought of herself as Celie, the iconic character from The Color Purple, a woman who also battled oppression and systemic racism. This comparison highlights the emotional weight his mother carried throughout her life.
But beyond the pain and hardship, the poem also serves as a testament to the deep love Powell has for his mother, despite the challenging times they shared. At one point, Powell addresses God directly, pleading with “The Most High” not to take his mother away from him any time soon. It’s a raw, emotional appeal that shows just how much his mother means to him, even as they navigated a sometimes difficult relationship.
From South Carolina to the GRAMMY® Stage
Powell’s poem is a tribute not only to his mother but also to the countless Black women who, like her, have persevered in the face of adversity. Her experiences in the South, a region marked by racial and gender-based inequalities, shaped the woman she became, and by extension, shaped Powell himself. In an interview, Powell spoke of how these memories of his mother formed the foundation of much of his work, including this poem.
This poetic masterpiece comes at a significant time for Powell. His album, which includes “Grocery Shopping With My Mother,” has earned him a nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 2024 GRAMMYs®, a testament to his talent and the emotional power of his words. Powell’s work often blends the personal with the political, and this poem is no exception. By weaving in his mother’s story, he is able to connect with audiences who have experienced similar hardships, especially within the Black community.
What makes this poem even more poignant is the personal connection it fosters between Powell and his audience. Many listeners have reflected on how “Grocery Shopping With My Mother” reminds them of their own family experiences, particularly with their mothers. Powell himself noted that although his relationship with his mother was not always easy, it was filled with a love that transcended the hardships they faced together.
This is where Powell’s brilliance as a spoken word poet shines. His ability to take deeply personal moments and turn them into universally relatable art is what sets him apart. He draws on his own life while touching on themes that resonate with audiences far and wide. The emotional depth of his poetry is only heightened by his unique performance style, where each word is delivered with precision and passion, much like his performances that earned him multiple GRAMMY® nominations.
Faith plays a significant role in “Grocery Shopping With My Mother.” Powell frequently invokes spiritual imagery throughout the poem. This poem conjured up thoughts of my connection to The Most High God and the role of faith in my life. This singing by Tyneshia Hill gives rise to memories of attending Christ Memorial Church in Pacoima, California.
These reflections on faith and family not only make the poem more personal, but they also speak to a broader cultural experience. For many African Americans, church and family are deeply intertwined, providing both solace and a sense of community amidst life’s challenges. Powell’s reference to his spiritual upbringing adds another layer of richness to the poem, deepening its emotional resonance.
Powell’s work exists at the intersection of spoken word poetry and Hip-Hop, two art forms that are deeply rooted in Black culture and history. Over the years, he has solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in both genres, using his platform to address issues such as racial inequality, social justice, and personal identity.
With his nine nominations at the 2025 GRAMMY® Awards, Powell is not only being recognized for his technical skill as a poet but also for his contributions to these broader conversations. His work, especially poems like “Grocery Shopping With My Mother,” forces us to confront the ways in which personal and cultural histories are intertwined, shaping our identities and our relationships.
“Grocery Shopping With My Mother” is more than just a tribute to Kevin Powell’s mother; it is a celebration of resilience, her love of food, and faith in the face of adversity. As he prepares for the 2025 GRAMMYs®, Powell’s poem continues to resonate with audiences, reminding us all of the enduring power of family and memory.
By turning his personal experiences into art, Powell invites us into his world while also creating a space for us to reflect on our own. It is this ability to blend the personal with the universal that makes Powell one of the most compelling voices in spoken word poetry today.
