Watch the poem here! Everyone has different opinions on how to wear — or not wear — makeup, and none of them are more correct than any other. In fact, the best part about beauty is that it’s totally personal. The problem comes when people feel the need to comment on how other people choose to experiment … Continue reading “In My Skin” Makeup Poem Women of the World Poetry Slam 2016 (via Teen Vogue)
National spoken word artist and Tony Award winning poet Georgia Me has been named as the opening act for Grammy Award winning vocalist Jill Scott. Georgia Me, who performed alongside a lineup that was hosted by Scott in May, will travel with her and band mates in a 23 city tour across the United States. … Continue reading National Spoken Word Artist Georgia Me is Opening Act for Jill Scott Aug. 24 (via The Chattanoogan)
Robert Frost enthusiasts are familiar with the poet’s written work, and perhaps some recordings of his performances, but now they can hear previously unreleased recordings on PennSound, the free, web-based archive offered by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing. The recordings, made in 1933 and 1934, were discovered by Penn Ph.D. student Chris Mustazza … Continue reading Penn Offers Previously Unreleased Recordings of Robert Frost Reading His Poetry (via Penn News)
Like Audre Lord, Mariah Ivey's poetry "is not a luxury. It's an obligation," — and it could be how Indy tackles issues like police brutality and racism. Ivey is often reminded of the Audre Lord quote when she is speaking on stage for That Peace open mic, a spoken word and arts night that she … Continue reading A fist is more powerful together: Spoken word that’s shaping Indy activism (via NUVO)
Watch the poem here! Jade Cho grew up scouring the libraries and schools of Oakland, California, looking for narratives that reflected her own: a third-generation, Chinese-American female desperate, but unable, to communicate with her ancestry. Years later, Cho credits this desire to honor her grandparents as one of the major influences behind her pursuit of … Continue reading In First Poetry Collection, Jade Cho Is Speaking ‘In the Tongue of Ghosts’ (via NBC News)
Stephen Gibson has won the 2017 Miller Williams Poetry Prize from the University of Arkansas Press. Gibson's book, Self-Portrait in a Door-Length Mirror, was chosen for the honor by Billy Collins, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, and will be published by the press this spring. Gibson lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., and is a retired … Continue reading Florida man wins UA poetry prize (via Arkansas Online)
Poetry is flying around Texas during July, as CantoMundo, one of the most respected Latino poetry programs in the nation, brings poets to Austin for their annual national retreat, and Houston is presenting some of the writers for live readings and performances. This week, Houston's Tintero Projects (Inkwell Projects) presents four young CantoMundo fellows in two performances. … Continue reading Houston and Texas, the inkwells of poetry for Latino writers (via Houston Chronicles)
Pride and delight animated Elli Tzalopoulou-Barnstone as she talked about her daughter the poet. "She is very sociable. We always have guests for dinner. We always dance in our house. We enjoy life,” Tzalopoulou-Barnstone said in a FaceTime interview on July 1 from Greece, where they live every summer. A few minutes later, Aliki Barnstone walked … Continue reading Aliki Barnstone: A journey of discovery through poetry (via Columbia Missourian)
Video below. Thoughts? An Atlanta eighth-grader’s slam poetry performance about the privileges he enjoys for being a “white boy" has become a viral sensation. Royce Mann, 14, a socially conscious middle school student, recited an electrifying poem about the “unfair” benefits of growing up a white teen in an affluent Atlanta community. “When I was … Continue reading Atlanta teen’s slam poetry performance on ‘White Boy Privilege’ goes viral (via NY Daily News)
Four girls from Vermont are using their voices and powerful performance poetry to get their message out about being Muslim in America, stereotypes, and other issues near to them. Five months after forming their slam poetry group, Muslim Girls Making Change is competing this week in the Brave New Voices international youth poetry slam competition … Continue reading Muslim teens spread messages of change through poetry (via Boston Globe)
