Raymond Quattlebaum: Retracing His Journey for The Color of Love

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Raymond Quattlebaum is a writer and poet extraordinaire. He has examined his life, the lives of others, and the world around him to better understand the universal and inexhaustible force that is called love. Having published his first anthology of poetry, The Color of Love, he has since been retracing his journey, writing from a fresh new perspective and learning more about himself, others, and the world around him.

If you want to understand the themes in Raymond Quattlebaum’s poetry, you need to retrace his journey.

A MASTER ON THE COLOR OF LOVE

As an African-American poet and author, Raymond Quattlebaum is deeply knowledgeable about the intersection between perspective and background. This is not something that is uncommon when it comes to poets of minority backgrounds. This foundational wisdom from not being a part of the hegemonic over-class has allowed him to be a keen and insightful writer, and though he may not be a widely recognized name in the field, his passion for poetry and his unique outlook on things shine clearly and brightly in his works.

Rooted in a love for language and inspired by the world around him, his journey is an inspirational glimpse into the experiences that have thoroughly shaped his creative voice.

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RETRACING HIS JOURNEY FROM THE BEGINNING

A native of New York City, living in the Westside of Manhattan was transformative for Raymond Quattlebaum, who was the third son in a family of five.

Even in his childhood, he was already enamored by the scope and impact of poetry.

During third grade, this passion for the verse was recognized by a teacher, who subsequently helped him publish his first work in the school newspaper. While this might not have meant much to others, this early success was pivotal in inspiring him to further explore what poetry could do and what he could do with poetry. This was the inception of his spirit as a writer and a poet. The encouragement to publish his works, despite it then being a passing hobby, fueled his desire to write more and further.

As he matured as a writer, he found inspiration and perspective in the works of other poets and other artists, especially from African-American singers and musicians, such as Earth, Wind & Fire, whose lyrical constructions and stylings had a profound influence on Quattlebaum’s own personal writings.

While youth is the farthest and earliest point of his journey through poetry, it wasn’t until he was an adult that many of his ideas and perspectives on writing and everything else coalesced and matured. Thus, The Color of Love was conceived–not the idea for the whole book, but many of the poems that would later be included in the aforementioned anthology.

The Color of Love is the culmination of Quattlebaum’s over-arching belief that “love makes the world go around.” Although this sentiment is by no means unique, it is the foundational bedrock of his writing. Coupled with his passion for crafting poetry, this maxim led him to compile his work into a book, which became The Color of Love, whose title was to help potential readers key themselves into the universality of its themes, viewed through the personal lens of Raymond Quattlebaum.

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A PASSION THAT BURNS FOREVER

Quattlebaum’s love for poetry is not just a hobby; it’s a driving force of everything that he does. He describes it as his passion, alongside his enjoyment of working out, listening to music, and even “partying and clubbing.”

Yet, despite these other interests, it is poetry that is central to his identity and creative expression. His dedication to writing poetry underscores his commitment to sharing his perspective and connecting with others through the power of language.

Raymond Quattlebaum’s journey is characterized by a deep-seated love for poetry, which was nurtured from a young age and fueled by diverse inspirations.

In retracing the journey of Raymond Quattlebaum, we encounter a poet whose early experiences and artistic inspirations culminated in The Color Of Love. His story is a testament to the power of early encouragement, the influence of music and language, and the enduring belief in love as a central force in life.

The Color of Love is a wonderful and powerful collection of poems that flesh out Raymond Quattlebaum’s perspectives not just on love but on a myriad of other things. Get the anthology now!