Activism and Spoken word: The Correlation

 

When hearing the word poetry, the first thing that may come to mind might be words strung together with the intention of rhyme. It might be the thought of old dead white guys, complex metaphors that most people just pretend to understand, soliloquies, and maybe even snapping. Although poetry dates back centuries, it has since progressed from its former cliche, has opened avenues, and paved paths toward social justice and the fight for equality and progression.

Poetry, throughout the years has evolutionized, with the help of poets, to the forefront of change. A form of literacy that reflects a collective identity, encourages positive change, and can be used as a vessel for hosting a voice for so many voiceless. Though it has evolved to many forms, from hip-hop music to utilized as a literary tool in classrooms, the most relevant form of poetry that has engulfed present day activists and freedom fighters is Spoken Word.

Spoken Word Poetry is a form of poetry that is used as an artistic platform and spoken in a performance manner. Poetry has been around for centuries, however it wasn’t until early forms of hip hop in the 1980’s where spoken word began to become more relevant and socially accepted (Fiore, M., 2015). As a sub outlet of spoken word, hip hop brought awareness to issues that reached nations and eventually led to present day acknowledgment of the impact that spoken word can have on the community (Johnson, 2007). The Black Arts movement of the 1960’s promoted social justice and change that lasted all the way to present day activism (Fiore, M., 2015). Spoken word, although its own unique form of spoken literature, has been used as an outlet not only for raw emotions, but also for social justice and activism.

Spoken Word as a literary device

Spoken word is used in contemporary society as a performance based medium. Poets take the stage and use their platform to bring light to socially unaccepted issues with hopes of bringing awareness and progression. Not only has spoken word traveled its way through minority neighborhoods to gentrified locations, it has also made its way into classrooms and is now being taught as a form of expression (Fiore, L., 2010).

Gabrielle Shirley, a Youth Developer and Reference Librarian by day and Award Winning Slam Poet by night, sits on the board of the NAACP as a Youth Advocate. “My role is to make sure the youth stay involved in the community,” she said, “I am in charge of having a voice for them, and making sure they know how to use theirs. Once a week I sit in meetings and talk about the inequalities going on in the community in which I live. We are constantly faced with discrimination, and my duty is to call it out, and make sure it diminishes.”

Gabrielle Shirley, aka "Queen Gabby" performing at a slam competition

Shirley utilizes her love and passion for spoken word to promote and encourage literacy among her students. She incorporates poetry into her classrooms in order to teach the students to think outside of the box and outside of the realm of simplicity.

“I use spoken word as a literary tool, because I have heard so many of our young people say they are failing in literacy classes,” she said. “As I began to unfold as to why this was, I realized they were bored. I in no way want a student to be bored with me. The youth can be taught in fun innovative ways. I am a creator, so finding ways to keep them interested, is helping them pass classes. We learn new words, we find rhyming words. We also work on articulation, diction, delivery, and teamwork. It is extremely productive, and I hope that teachers keep literacy alive. It promotes critical thinking because we speak about real issues that they are seeing and being exposed to. I prompt them, and they lead the way.”

As a poet and an educator, Shirley says that poetry is at the center of her curriculum. “I give them a ‘thought of the day’ each day,” she said. “I want them to pick it apart, analyze it, think deeper than they ever have. Then they write a story, in whatever rhythm they want. I see minds unfold and I am proud of the progress that the students are making. In our free time we cypher of course. I also perform for them as an incentive for being GREATER!”

Shirley isn’t the only who who is incorporating poetry into elementary school classrooms. According to the article Using Poetry in Social Studies Classes to Teach about Cultural Diversity and Social Justice, poetry is now being utilized in elementary school classrooms across the country to bring awareness to social issues and to promote literacy among students (McCall, 2004). Not only is it being used in classrooms and more easily disseminated throughout social media, many empowering artists are using spoken word in their platforms to spread awareness to communities worldwide. Spoken word is a form of literacy that has survived and evolved throughout decades of transformation; spoken word hasn’t just been surviving all these year, it’s thriving.

Shirley, who goes by the stage name “Queen Gabby,” began her journey through spoken word at the tender age of nine years-old because she was inspired by her mother and aunt who are both poets. “I started writing about social justice issues, because I grew up in a small predominantly white town,” she explained. “Being from Chicago this was culture shock, but I studied the behaviors of the people around me. I saw how I was treated being a dark skin African American woman. I often felt like I did not fit in, and I journaled about it daily. My mother would have conversations with me about working harder, and thinking smarter to beat the system. I understood I was not like them, and I needed to leave and explore something of a greater capacity. I was able to travel more and see if everyone acted the same, and they didn't. I had grown up in a town that was pretty much segregated, and no one else in the world knew that.

Systemic oppression, colorism, and racism has been deeply rooted into our society as a whole. Throughout generations, minorities have had to learn through trial and error which tactics will allow them to be heard. Poets, activists, and artists have discovered many tools to aid them in their fight for justices, spoken word being an imperative medium, has assisted with guiding this process and has become an active part of many movements.

Today, spoken word is used for storytelling and activism. The article Activating Politics with Poetry and Spoken Word touches on how spoken word is more than just poetry, it’s a movement. “Poets use spoken word as a platform to advocate for issues, a mechanism to build allies and networks, and a means to engage and mobilize these networks” (p. 45). Activists take a social or political issue that may seem like a difficult pill to swallow for many, and transform it into an easily digested seed. Poets humanize issues with words, paint pictures with metaphors, and reach out in relatable fashions by “strategically integrating poetry, personal storytelling, and social media” (p. 44).

Queen Gabby touched on her thoughts on activism through spoken word through life experiences growing up as an African American poet in a predominantly white community. Her voice and her story has been heard all throughout the U.S. through various slam competitions, open mics, and social media.

“I believe spoken word and activism go hand and hand,” she said. “We sometimes act as the voice for others, a whole community even. Things that people want to say, but do not have the courage, falls on us. We are conscious in every way, and don't mind shaking up the world when we see or hear about an injustice,” she continued. “Spoken word brings people together. A wide range of people listen to what the artist is saying, and agree or disagree. It can invoke change, because it is filled with confidence, and who doesn't want to be as confident as they possibly can? Sometimes people don't form an opinion until they hear one that sounds rational to them. Spoken word offers opinions, and truth! Once people become familiar with the art form, they latch on to the movement and want to be apart of where and how they can fit in.”