About Us

The Power of the Tongue Collections is a home for African American poetry and Power of the Tongue (Proverbs 18:21) themed gifts and merchandise. Founded in 2023 by renowned performance poet and performance arts educator, Ge’ylah Jones Allen, the Power of the Tongue Collections is the manifestation of her lifelong love of classic, textbook poetry and resounding belief in the power of positive dialogue. As a young child, Ge’ylah’s mother, Mary, a speech and drama major, taught her to memorize famous African American prose and poems, planting the seed for a massive repertoire of memorized literary works. Throughout her 40 plus year performance career, much of which she performed the one woman show “Power of the Tongue”, attendees constantly inquired about memorabilia of the poets they heard her recite in the show --poets whose meaningful and heartening words had long before left impending marks in their hearts.
After much thought, Ge’ylah began to see that there is an emotional connection between her audience members, the poems that she recites and the authors.  Because of the authors and their poetic works, people make it through life. Poets offer real experiences, offer real memories, cause people to come to real revelations, and encourage us to make real movement.
For Ge'ylah, this was the concretizing epiphany. Thus, the Power of the Tongue Collections journeyed from idea to reality. This offering of memorabilia, novelty gifts and merchandise will put a smile on someone’s face and warm their heart. There’s something comforting as well as empowering about having Maya Angelou on your tea or coffee cup, carrying our beloved Phyllis Wheatley on the outside of your tote bag or writing notes knowing that Langston Hughes is on the outside cover of your journal. It’s like being at home.

For more information on Ge’ylah’s show visit http://powerofthetongueshow.com