Beloved poet from Newark Breya ‘Blkbrry Molassez’ Knight passes away

NEWARK, NJ — Newark has lost one of its most beloved local poets and art leaders. On Sunday, Breya “BlkBrry Molassez” Knight passed away, leaving behind a legacy of legendary poetry and as friends describe her, an unique spirit.

R.I.P. BlkBrry Molassez

Knight is as founder/CEO/owner of The Breathing Poets Society, a hairstylist at Cut Creaters and the owner-operator at All Knight Artistry. She also studied communications at Essex County College and attended both Newark Vocational High School and Weequahic High School.

On Tuesday, the Newark community held a candlelight vigil on Halsey Street in her memory.

An online petition to recognize a city holiday in her honor has garnered more than 800 signatures as of Wednesday. The petition, which can be seen here, reads:

“Her powerful uplifting words have changed the mentality of so many people in her community… Breya Blkbrrymollasez Knight’s individuality seeped into the city in a way that has awakened the sleepy and energized the ambitious. We want every second Sunday of August to be a city holiday representing her poetry and all she stands for.”