Recently, arts such as writing, painting, and reading have become extremely mainstream, especially with posts on Twitter, Tumblr and even Facebook expressing how immensely creative a person is if he practices such art. However, one form of art didn’t get to experience the heightened rise in the level of importance as others. This method is Slam Poetry.
Firstly, what is slam poetry? It’s a type of poetry expressing a person’s personal story and/or struggle in an immensely emotional style. It’s very powerful and moving. Its origins go back to 1986, in a Chicago jazz club performed by poet Marc Smith for the first time. Surprisingly, a lot of people have no idea why slam poetry is important.
Poetry Slam competitions are one of the few where everything you say up on stage is valid. Slam Poets cover topics like rape, suicide, mental illnesses, racism, Islamophobia, feminism, LGBT+, and so many other topics that should be discussed in this day and age. They are not up on stage giving speeches, however, they are highlighting reality through heartfelt situations and sincere emotions.
One of the widely known Slam Poets is Neil Hilborn for his poem titled ‘OCD,’ where he explains his first-hand experience dealing with OCD and falling in love. The poem is heartbreaking and honest. Another poem that caught my attention is called ‘Why Are Muslims So..’ which is performed by two Muslim girls fighting against Islamophobia with their words. There are several organizations behind those performances and motivating those poets, among them being Button Poetry, Youth Speaks, and Poetry Slam Inc. Some Slam Poets even went on and performed in a TEDx event (TEDx is an independently organized event originating from TED which is a global organization that is devoted to spreading ideas through talks.)
The special thing about Slam Poetry is that it’s relatable, interesting, and even brutally honest sometimes. It’s underrated because just like normal poetry, there is a stereotype about it being limited to only those who can write it. But this is not true. All types of poetry are available to those who want to understand, learn and put things into perspective. Slam Poetry should be watched and appreciated more because it portrays what so many millennials want to highlight to the world. It puts us out there.
Here are some Poetry Slams that you should watch:
Rape Joke by the Los Angeles Team
Explaining My Depression To My Mother by Sabrina Benaim
The Type by Sarah Kay
14 Lines from Love Letters Or Suicide Notes by Doc Luben
