The eNotes Blog Are You Listening Poetry Slam and SocialCommentary

Are You Listening Poetry Slam and SocialCommentary For  National Poetry Month we were tempted to pay homage to classics like Poe, Whitman, Neruda, and all the other greats. But  much of the buzz in the poetry world is not around words on a page, but rather the voice and performance of the poet. Were talking about  poetry slam, and its been  growing in popularity thanks to the web and social media. You no longer have to head to a club to see a live performance YouTube brings the hottest slam poets right to your screen. And if youve never heard of this art form, prepare to emote (hard). So what is a  poetry slam? According to Poetry Slam, Inc., its  the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts a dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what theyre saying and how theyre saying it. The live performance encourages poets to be expressive and emotional not only in the words they choose to say but also in how they say them. Because slam poetry often includes an element of competition, poets strive to bring as much energy and passion as they can to their readings in order to beat out the competition. Of course, performance poetry  isnt a new concept, as its  vibrant and varied history encompasses ancient  Greek lyric and Shakespearean plays (and lots in between). And most,  if not all, art forms throughout global history have  continually reflected and were influenced by their political, cultural, and economic  contexts. Similarly, slam poetry  can  take any format, theme, or topic of the poets choosing (within the confines of any  competition parameters). Unsurprisingly, the most popular topics tend to be  unapologetic social commentary, recited through the lens of personal experience and delivered with  raw  emotion. Then whats so new? Well, couple  all of the above  with sharable video tools  like the aforementioned YouTube and youve got an undeniable platform calling for social revolution. We put together some of our favorite spine-tingling (and in my case tear-inducing, no shame) poems below. Let us know your favorites, any that we missed, and your reactions in the comments! Happy National Poetry Month! Want to get involved? Find a Poetry Slam near you. Gender and Sexuality *This video has some language that may be offensive. *Dear Straight People by Denice Frohman  |  A call for equality. Pride by  Sibel Sayiner and Violet Trachtenberg |  Criticism of corporate sponsorship and a lack of  intersectional and inclusive pride. Hir by  Alysia Harris and Aysha El Shamayleh  | The dual identities of a transgender person. Misogyny  and  Gender  Roles *The Period Poem by Dominique Christina  | Response to a boys disgust over female anatomy. *10 Responses to the Phrase Man Up by Guante  | Criticism of telling men and boys to man up. The Type by Sarah Kay  | Urging women not to define themselves through men. Race and  Ethnicity What Kind of Asian are You? by Alex Dang  | A response to ignorant questioning. *Cuz Hes Black by Javon Johnson  | Commentary on hardships of Black men and young boys. *Mixed, Not Exotic by Sarah ONeal |  A response to ignorance on mixed ethnicities.