Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton considered it more than an honor to be named Houston’s first Black Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019. It was a vocation.
At a time when book bans and restricted access to educational materials were all too common, she aimed to promote reading and increase awareness of the literary arts.
At Austin’s Texas Book Festival, Mouton carried on with her mission.
One of the most important yearly literary events in the country is the Texas Book Festival. Through events that honor the culture of reading, ideas, and creativity, it fosters connections between writers and readers. Attracting 40,000 readers, the festival showcased more than 250 authors of the year’s top books. Additionally, it creates effective programs all year round throughout the state.
Houston’s literary and creative communities have long relied on Mouton’s voice. From her tenure as Poet Laureate to her present-day endeavors as a writer, actress, and filmmaker, Mouton’s commitment to elevating underrepresented voices has established her as a formidable presence. Nevertheless, there were difficulties along the way.
Mouton recognizes the increasing number of book bans that have occurred in Texas and other states around the US. “We’ve seen book banning take an even bigger stage in recent years,” she says. Even my own children’s school has a list of books that are prohibited, and I have friends who are Texas authors who have been banned.
It was important to Mouton to write poetry and make sure that real Black tales were respected and heard. During her tenure, she concentrated on increasing access to literary arts and inspiring authors to start community-driven projects.
Making the publishing industry realize the value of our stories and encouraging writers locally to stop feeling like we were working in silos were the goals, she says.
Mouton examined how Black bodies are portrayed in the media in her first book, Newsworthy, published in 2019. She used poetry as a means of advancing important but challenging discussions about justice and racism. As she reflects on the work she had been honing for years prior to its publication, she says, “It was a time capsule of where my mind was.”
As a writer, director, and performer, she has perfected the knack of blending several mediums with ease. Her inventiveness is limitless, whether she is performing or writing. She continues, “I’ve always had the rule that the work will tell me what it wants to be.” It’s more important for me to be open to where the work wants to lead me than it is for me to dictate where it will go next.
Mouton has taken on projects that defy convention because of his openness to inventiveness. She wrote a stage play during the pandemic, when theaters around the world were shuttered. However, her insight paid off. She laughs and adds, “Sometimes the work knows where it’s going before you do.” She says, “I was one of the only playwrights that had work ready to go when restrictions were lifted.”
Reaching global audiences
One of Mouton’s most recent musical endeavors is a Juneteenth tribute alongside composer Joel Thompson. For her, Juneteenth is more than just a holiday; it’s a means of embracing the joy and resiliency of Black people on a daily basis. Third Ward is where Juneteenth resides. In Emancipation Park, it resides. “It’s practically baked in the soil here,” she says.
These stories are at the heart of the Juneteenth song cycle that will be performed next year. According to Mouton, it’s about the delight of each day and how amazing each day is on its own. Instead of concentrating only on Juneteenth’s historical significance, the project seeks to demonstrate how the holiday’s legacy still influences and motivates communities today.
Mouton’s roots are in California, but she has established herself in Houston. It wasn’t an easy transition when Mouton relocated to Houston in 2006. She laughs as she acknowledges that at first, I detested it. Simply put, it was cultural shock.
Over time, however, she came to appreciate the city’s distinct cadence and tempo. Her writing and other creative endeavors are always inspired by Houston. Stories abound in Houston. “I’m always inspired by the resilience and spirit of the people here,” she says.
Because of her work, Mouton has been able to reach audiences all across the world, even outside of Houston. She has had the chance to see how her storytelling appeals to audiences around the world, from Canada to Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. Afro-Germans, who recognized similarities between her stories and their own encounters with racism and identity, were among the people who surprised her the most.
While on a 14-day European tour to promote her memoir, she met readers and students in Austria and Germany. She was shocked to learn how much Afro-Germans identified with the racial difficulties she talked about, but she also experienced prejudice overseas. She described how her identities as a woman and a Black American created complicated relationships in unfamiliar environments, saying it was a mixed bag. Despite these obstacles, Mouton’s experiences around the world continue to influence and enhance her narrative, enabling her to interact with the wider diaspora.
According to Mouton, these are issues facing the diaspora as a whole, not simply Americans. My dedication to producing art that resonates with the universal human experience has only grown as a result of my international travels.
Mouton brings the essence of Houston and the tales that influenced her path to the Texas Book Festival stage. Her poetry, performances, and most recent Juneteenth initiative serve as a reminder that Black experiences are important and should be shared, honored, and told.
