On Friday, Jan. 29, a group of about 25 students filled the Arncliffe Art Studio for the latest Spokes poetry slam.
“I thought it [the slam] was an awesome way to engage the community, not just the people who went up as poets but also the audience members, and [to] create a safe space for people to talk about anything and everything," remarked Christine Choi ’17. “I liked how engaged everyone was and the supportive atmosphere that was in the room.”
Formed in the fall of 2014, Spokes is dedicated to providing a venue for poets' voices and, according to their Facebook page, strives to “offer a safe space and outlet for the experiences of people of color, LGBTQ people, women, and every intersection of identity.”
In addition to hosting slams, Spokes provides space for workshops, performance, and conversation.
Spokes’ readings and slams have become an increasing presence on campus thanks in large part to the work of its current executive board.
“We didn’t create the group but we have been able to sustain it and make it grow,” says board member Noura Brock Jaber ’17, who is joined on the board by Carol Bowe '17, Mary Sweeney '17, and Shreekari Tadepalli '18.
Noura also participated in the slam, placing second based on the scores of the crowd-sourced judges.
“I don’t always dare to be powerful.
But when I do, watch this muzzle
snap from my jaw opening battle
cry, black skin all war paint, teeth
bared, naked to the wind.” ~ Noura Brock Jaber '17
Spokes currently hosts a workshop every Wednesday at noon in Denbigh Common Room and plans to hold a semester showcase with the intended theme of “Taking Up Space.”
The group will be sending a team of five poets to Austin, Texas for the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational in April. The CUPSI team is made up of Noura, Carol, Sanam Sheriff '18, and Sophia Brown '19. The team is coached by spoken word artist Julian Randall, a Swarthmore alumnus (Class of 2015) who is a former member of the Swarthmore spoken word team. The team has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of going to Austin.
For more information, inquiries can be directed to Noura at njaber@brynmawr.edu.
~ Zubin Hill '17