Brave New Voices is an annual slam poetry competition hosted by Youth Speaks. Youth Speaks represents more than 50,000 poets from the United States and six places outside the United States. During the Brave New Voices competition, artists are able to attend workshops led by world renowned poets and writers and also compete with their hypnotizing words. This year it was held at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15 through July 18. These artists clearly came ready for their judges because they performed heart achingly painful, satirically funny and beautifully honest pieces. Here are 12 of my favorite pieces.
“Emmett”
This slam poem by Javon, Otter, Veronica and
Jamal haunt their audiences as they identify the stereotypical nuances of yet
another, death of an African American boy. This poem brings to light the lack of justice given to African American victims.
“Bras and Binders”
Ayla, Em and Abby set off on territories not often discussed by the public with this poem. They remark on the social constructs around bras and of course binders, as well as what they mean for the genders.
"Cat Poem"
Meow. Meoooooow. Meow. That's a cat's response to this poem.
"Fruit"
Because Miriam Sachs didn’t slay you hard enough in the “Cat Poem.” These words will cut you open and reap the meninist sweatshirt out of your soul.
"Superstitious"
A compelling poem on anxiety and how hard it is to accept our own flaws. Flaws are a part of life. Like being late, or perpetually being clumsy but no ghosts. It was the ghosts.
"Overachiever"
It says it all. High school in preparation for college has become a new way to lose oneself. It's easy to forget about the beautiful things in life to do the things that look good for college applications. It’s real, folks. The struggle is so real.
“A Letter To My Future White Son”
Otter and Veronica grapple with what it means to have white male privilege, and do so without boundaries. This poem is instructive and important. “To be an ally like your life depends on it, because it doesn’t. But it should.”
“Why Are Muslims So…”
These women, Sakila and Hawa, start their poem by saying “BOMB SQUAD!” “GET IT? BECAUSE WE’RE MUSLIM!” They confront the stereotypes American culture has made for Muslims and address the treatment of the Muslim community.
"Rosa Parks"
Bless African American feminism, because your white feminism just isn’t doing it. This poem wrestles with the treatment of black women and the lack of justice for them.
"Cracked Mirror"
This girl lays it out. Shasparay explains the struggles she’s faced being a woman with curves and her need for self worth despite what people say. Because she is beautiful. There’s no “but” that has anything to do with it.
"I Am A Man"
Ashton compares the brutality of men’s treatment of women to a series of killers. He makes his audience enter a place of violence and lack of understanding to invoke these arrogant attitudes women deal with every day. Ashton makes his listeners realize, if they have not already, what actions can do to a woman. He asks every person who identifies as male, what a man should be.
“Mass Graves”
These girls look at the amount of death
surrounding the history of the US. It's as haunting as the ghosts the United States have left behind.
