Author Archives: William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Unknown's avatar

About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

William Eric Waters is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, educator, criminal-justice scholar, and nonprofit executive. Writing as William E. Waters, he is the author of the epic poem Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass and three poetry collections: Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, The Black Feminine Mystique, and The Black Blood of Poetry. Under the pen name Easy Waters, he is the author of the novel Streets of Rage and the short-story collection Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice. His work explores Black history, race, law, punishment, institutional power, accountability, redemption, and resilience.

For Black People and All Peoples who Supported the Right to Vote for Blacks

Posted on November 5, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Vote! There was a time when Black people and all women could not vote in this country. The Union was formed in 1776, and Black men did not get the right to vote until 1870, with the passage of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, History & American Society | 1 Comment

Voting in NYC — for District Attorney of Kings County

Posted on November 5, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

No excuse not to vote, especially for Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney. Let Charles Hynes know that he can’t jump from the Democratic to the Republican and Conservative parties because he lost the Democratic primary to Ken Thompson. He had … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics & Public Affairs | Leave a comment

Waiting for Parole — Between Hope and Despair

Posted on October 29, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters
Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment | 1 Comment

“The Gift of Story and Song” — From my book, “Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass

Posted on October 15, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

From Griots to the Last Poets From Phillis Wheatley             to Gwendolyn Brooks. From highly imitative                     to Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry. From Various Subjects, Religious and Moral             to Annie Allen. From Zora Neale Hurston             to Toni Morrison. From … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Writing Projects | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Review of my book, Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, by Norman Leer

Posted on October 12, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Following is a review of my book, “Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass,”when it was first issued, by Norman Leer: “…this poem is a powerful expression of black anger and despair.  Waters clearly knows his history…  I’m impressed … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Writing Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Three Erics

Posted on October 10, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Three years ago, when I turned 50 years of age, I wrote a poem in the tradition of Ginsberg’s “Howl!,” talking about what had happened to some of the best of my generation. I titled it “Celebrating Fifty Years of … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment, Race, History & American Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prison Stargate

Posted on October 5, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

A number of years ago I was on a panel. Jan Agostaro, a fellow poet, was also on this panel. We were doing a poetry reading of poems from prison when the subject of Reentry came up. Jan described the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reentry & Community | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Juror B in the Zimmerman Trial

Posted on July 26, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Juror B in the Zimmerman trial came out and said her heart said something different than the law and the verdict. Really? A standard charge in almost any criminal trial by a judge is: “As jurors you are solely judges … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment, Justice Chronicles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Reflections on Black Patriotism

Posted on July 12, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I remember, in the summer of my life, when my blood boiled, as hot as the sun, with righteous indignation at American injustice. This, from a native son, a born and bred Brooklynite. I remember, in my youth, questioning Black … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice Chronicles, Race, History & American Society | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Statue for the Unknown Slave Woman?

Posted on July 5, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I was watching the news, and saw people at the Statue of Liberty, which was reopened today, the Fourth of July. Many people commented on this statue as a symbol of freedom. And it made me think of that other … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, History & American Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment