Earning a Master of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Shirley Sarmiento was conditioned in the European poetic traditions, as all American students, during her formative years of schooling.
Her love of poetry itself drew her close to the works of the greatest poets in that tradition. As with the European poetic tradition; in the 1960s & 70s her passion for poetry drew her to the poetics of the African tradition – poetry bursting with truth and energy — being advanced and advocated by The Black Arts Movement. In all honesty, not totally abandoning her favorite poems by the European poets of that time, she is adept in both traditions with her works skillfully embodying both traditions while throbbing with her own love of life.
Sarmiento is a published poet; however, to tell the truth, she is primarily a writer, a lecturer, and a performance poet. She has worked with over 200 unknown upcoming artists of various mediums, helping them complete their own projects for public viewing. She secured alternative spaces, workshops, and performance places for artists.
Sarmiento has several noteworthy literary and professional accomplishments such as founder of Buffalo Urban Arts, Inc.; editor of Drum Beats (anthology, 1st ed. Urban Arts). The Meeting (play, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Black n Blue Theater). The National MAMAPLOOZA (Rustbelt Books); Just Kickin` It (27 week run, Public Cable TV); Beyond Bones (poetry vol ll Fall 2010): Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady (poetry /stage); Nickle City Nights/Voices from Buffalo, New York. Moreover, her poems appear in several Maja Black History Birthday Booklets (MBHBB) and are featured in the booklet titled National Women’s History Month: Impactful Black Women (2019), complied by Black History Historian Dr. Kuda Kuumba for White Rock Missionary Baptist Church, Buffalo, New York. In March 2020 she had her first reading/performance of her original play script “Tolley’s Place” at the New Phoenix Theater/2nd reading/performance at the New McCoy Center. Partnered with Lisa Brown and Jalen Law of “Buffalo’s Own” artist venue. I was very fortunate to have the outstanding actress Verneice Turner(May) for my director.