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Poets celebrate heritage, overcome fear
By Kristen Kubisiak
Published:
Thursday, October 23, 2003
The lights were low but there was something electric about the atmosphere in the Atwood Quarry and 12-year-old Brianna Higgens could feel it as she walked on stage.
The South Junior High School student recited a personal poem before a large group of college students in SCSU's Atwood Quarry, an undertaking that might make the majority of high school-age students a bit apprehensive.
"I was really nervous," Higgens said.
Higgens and friends Kianna Burks, also from South Junior High School, and Tech High School students Sherell Williams and Allenia Burson were four of the 16 poets who shared their individual lyrical stylings during the open microphone segment of Black Poetry Night, sponsored by the Council of African American Students (CAAS).
"This is the third year we've had black poetry night and we are going to do it again next year for sure," said Calvin Mosby, CAAS president.
The program is a celebration of all poetry, but also pays a special tribute National Black Poetry Week, which began Oct. 17.
"The purpose is to educate the community and provide a warm atmosphere for all who appreciate poetry," Mosby said.
Higgens, Burks, Williams, and Burson were guests of CAAS member Decontee Kofa, who helps lead the organization's mentorship program, Today's Women.
"I want to do it again," said Higgens. "I was digging Sherell's poem, and Dee's."
The evening was divided into two segments, the professional poet segment (predominantly CAAS members) and the open mic segment. Rhapsodists could share individually crafted rhymes, or just popular favorites.
Alisha Kitchen, fourth-year student and CAAS secretary shared "Stank Love" by the musical group OutKast.
"OutKast is great because they always do something new, they're innovative," Kitchen said. "As OutKast would say, they are 'fantabulous.'"
The poems students shared ranged in their rhythms and themes, and attacked issues such as the changing forms of racism, as in David Mendez's poem "It's not the '60s," and finding courage and self-confidence in a world where people often put each other down, as in Kofa's "Unstoppable."
New this year at the reading was a contest. After the open microphone session, poets who wanted to enter took the stage once more to determine, by audience applause and overall volume, who was the favorite of the evening.
Joe Mitchell, who in an untitled poem declared that "ignorance is a choice" and "without out the bad, there is no good," won the contest and was awarded a commemorative certificate and a B.Dalton gift card.
"We've also got salsa this year," Mosby said.
The Multicultural Student Services supplied a variety of cookies and beverages for the empty stomachs and parched throats of the student poets. External support is important.
"It allows the event to get bigger each year," Mosby said.
Kitchen agreed.
"We expected to get about 30-40 people and we have gone way over that," Kitchen said.
Black Poetry Night took about two months to plan, Mosby said, but the effect may be a bit more lasting.
"We all want to go to St. Cloud State," Burson said.
Upcoming Event
The Paperweights, a group of SCSU student poets will bring a blend of visuals, poetry and music to the Atwood Quarry Nov. 5, 7p.m.
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