Poetry Slam Helps Young People Express Black Joy

Adia Fienagha Data News Weekly Contributor

From poems that explored what it means to be a Black man in America, to how White Supremacy affects American Society, to the silences Black women endure in corporate settings, young people are turning to forms of expression to evoke Black joy and love at a time when they say there is much going on that concerns them.

“The gratification and relief found in poetic expression is unmatched,” said Ásháki Haroon, who is the Head of Access Services and Student Resources at Xavier University of Louisiana’s Library.

“We hosted a poetry event in 2022 featuring a New Orleans native poet, Sunni Patterson. The response from the students were overwhelmingly enthusiastic,” Haroon said, so they revived the poetry slam for college students on Sept. 16th, with winners earning cash prizes.

Each poet was given a time limit of three minutes to present their piece to a panel of judges. The first-place winner received an award of $300; second-place winner received an award of $200; and third place winner received a prize of $100. The runners-up received library branded swags filled with school supplies, hand sanitizer, and post cards.

“The event was really cool. Y’know poetry is something really personal. It was nice to have that community,” said Gabrielle Mitchell, a senior psychology student attending Xavier, from Vacherie, LA, who participated in the event with her poem “A Tale of Three.”

“Just do it! I believe in exposure therapy so even if it’s embarrassing now, you’re not going to be embarrassed the next time you gotta do something like that,” Mitchell said, encouraging others to put themselves out there in creative platforms.

The goal was to help students find an escape through expression and relaxation with carnival games to trivia games including Something Fishy, Guess the Target, Cups of Knowledge, and Library Plinko that entered them in a raffle to receive $100, $50, or $25 Visa Gift Cards and a catered meal from Boswell’s Jamaican Grill.

“Poetry has impacted my idea of expression. The library is giving chances to be heard and motivating people to be listened to,” said Nia Youngblood, a second-year psychology student at Xavier, from Henderson, Nev., who was an audience member at the poetry slam.

“They feel they aren’t just making it for themselves or for nothing,” Youngblood said.

Haroon said she hopes that these activities will provide much needed release for the challenging times ahead.
“[We] support accessibility, collaboration, and community…providing young creatives with a space that allows for creative expression,” Haroon added.