Beloved Newark Poet Passes Away: Breya ‘BlkBrry Molassez’ Knight

NEWARK, NJ — Newark has lost one of its most beloved local poets and arts leaders. On Sunday, Breya “BlkBrry Molassez” Knight passed away, leaving a legacy of wordsmithing and an irreplaceable spirit behind.

Knight identified herself as founder/CEO/owner of The Breathing Poets Society, a hairstylist at Cut Creaters and the owner-operator at All Knight Artistry. She studied communication arts 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 front of Cut Creaters in her memory.

An online petition to establish a city holiday in her honor has gathered 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.”

Since news of Knight’s passing hit the local arts community, Newark residents have been flooding social media with messages of how the poet has touched their lives.

Photo: Newark Public Library

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