Nebraska’s next state poet is a Jewel, first African American to fill role

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s next state poet is a fixture around poetry slams and political events in the state’s largest city, having spoken beside mayors and members of Congress. 

But Jewel Rodgers of Omaha stepped on to a larger stage Monday, when Gov. Jim Pillen named her state poet and charged her with inspiring a new generation of Nebraska readers and writers.

Rodgers had Pillen and the rest of the Governor’s Hearing Room crowd at the Capitol snapping and saying, “Mmm hmm” to her spoken-word performance of the poem “Humble.”

The poem speaks to the importance of understanding the value of one’s self and one’s contributions and of not letting outside negativity or the impulse to blend in hide one’s ability.

“Humble does not make you whole,” she performed. ”Humble will not pay your bills. It does not wash your clothes. Humble does not pay that car note … won’t teach you that skill you lack.”

Rodgers is the first Black Nebraskan to hold the five-year renewable post, which requires nominees to compete with finalists from across the state and be screened by the Nebraska Arts Council.

Rodgers took a deep breath when asked what it means to be poet laureate of Nebraska. She credited others in her past who saw possibilities “she didn’t even know to be thinking about.”

“For me … being the first African American woman to hold this position … is to show folks what’s possible, to instill a vision in them that they may not have had for themselves,” she said.

Rodgers said she plans to get out into the state and share her love of poetry and literature. She said she wants to make sure more people encounter her form of spoken word poetry.

Pillen said she will light sparks of interest everywhere she goes. She is a teaching artist with the Nebraska Writers Collective, and she co-hosts the Nebraska Poetry Society’s monthly open mic night for spoken poetry performance.

Rodgers was twice a nominee for Best Performance Poet in Omaha by the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. She also hosts gatherings in Omaha aimed at boosting civic engagement. 

She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Buffett Scholar, and she earned a master’s degree in real estate development from New York University.

Pillen acknowledged that Rodgers is a daughter of the governor’s fellow Nebraska football alumnus, Johnny Rodgers. But he said she showed the room why she won a competitive process. 

The Arts Council forwarded him four finalists.

“You’re here because you’ve worked your tail off,” Pillen said.

State poets lead poetry workshops and discussions in Nebraska schools, libraries and businesses. They are tasked with being ambassadors the written word for rural and urban residents. She replaces former State Poet Matt Mason.

“We really really look forward to working with you in your efforts to bring poetry to our schools and our libraries and our communities and help us … lift people up,” Pillen said.