The Importance of Spoken Word

I have always been moved by the way words can jump out of the binding and seem to scream at me and rattle my bones. Some of my favorite poets such as Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath have transformed poetry into a gateway for people to walk blindfolded and allow themselves to feel the words. The very way the letters spill across the pages is an art form in of itself. And yet I have always been inspired by the voice of the poets, the way the vowels curve around their tongue and the hushed sounds of pauses. The idea of one person standing up on a stage and willingly giving their soul to the audience seems fearful, if not completely insane.

As of late, Spoken Word has become a big part of my creative life. Seeing as it was only touched upon in “Poetry For Beginners”, because it's hard to explain in written-form, I would love to explore the history and importance of spoken word.

(NYU Local)

Oral readings have been around since Homer's The Odyssey and were popular because of the necessity of oral teachings before the printing press was invented. African American and Native American poetry combined both the oral aspects of poetry and music so that it could be passed along through generations.

What began with The Beat poets in the 1960's inspired poets like Maggie Estep and who gave poetry a voice on stage. National organizations have sprung up since the 1990's, promoting the importance of women and youth and of poetry.

While some identify rap with spoken word, many poets insist that they speak in prose and rhythm compared to merely rhyme. Many educators believe in the importance of spoken word such as Sarah Kay who is an internationally known spoken word poetry teacher as well as the founder of Project V.O.I.C.E. which is a national movement that helps push spoken word into being included in lesson plans. Kay believes that spoken word encourages young people to speak their mind with the confidence that they will be heard. (Source) Spoken Word poets teach children that being different is beautiful, that their voices do matter, and while the world make kick them down for trying, there are people who will praise them for rising again.

Unlike the typical poetry reading where a poet will stand and read a perfectly constructed poem from a book, poetry slam events allow the speaker to start a riot with her message and earn her right for the spotlight in every syllable. I've heard poets from Taylor Mali speaking about the importance of teachers as role models to Katie Makkai talking about the problems with our society's twisted version of beauty and perfection.

Spoken Word poets force us to break down the barriers between fantasy and reality and confront our fears with pride. The Spoken Word movement has birthed prophets and preachers who transcend the societal cages that our modern world has constructed. They turn words into heroic measures, saving lives of young children caught in the winds of puberty and insecurities.

When I was first introduced to spoken word it was a breathtaking experience. There was a poetry event at the college I attend and a guest poet, a freshman at Syracuse University, read a poem about the girl he was in love with. His love turned out to be New York City. I remember how every word was powerful because of how he closed his eyes or the way his hands moved, the way he'd scrunch up his body just to reach to the skies as if proclaiming some bible verse. For those few minutes he taught me precisely the impact poetry can have.

-Claire Kennedy

Summer Intern