Activism through poetry with Speak Fresh
Sydney McLane | Oct. 27, 2016Speak Fresh, the spoken word poetry club at AU, hosted an open mic in Leonard Hall formal lounge on September 26 where almost 20 people gathered. Both members and nonmembers went in front of their peers and a friendly audience to pour their hearts out and deliver impactful performances. Themes touched on why boys compare girls to natural disasters, breakup letters, mental illnesses, racism in America and at AU, and other sensitive topics. At open mics, poets wear their hearts on their sleeves, and bare their souls for all to witness. The beauty of spoken word is that people are openly honest, vulnerable, and human. Spoken word can also develop connections between the artist and the audience, as people can relate to the words and they can help cope with emotions. More often than not, the best poetry starts with a funny, light story, and ends with a deep, resonating argument about the world.