Maria James-Thiaw

Poet, Playwright, 100% THAT Professor

Maria James-Thiaw is an award-winning poet, spoken-word artist, playwright, and educator whose work centers on social justice, identity, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. She is the author of several poetry collections and the creator of choreopoems such as Reclaiming My Time: An American Griot Project and HairStory: Reclaiming Our Crown, which blend poetry, movement, and oral history.

Maria is also the founder of Reclaim Arts, LLC, an organization dedicated to uplifting community voices through performance, storytelling, and arts education.

For more than two decades, she has taught writing and literature at the college level, inspiring students to use creativity as a tool for empowerment. Through her poetry, performances, and teaching, Maria James-Thiaw continues to amplify underrepresented stories and foster meaningful dialogue around culture, history, and resilience.