ACSJL: Just Words: Poetry for Social Justice

Just Words: Poetry for Social Justice

On February 7 and 8, 2011, the ACSJL - in partnership with the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service-Learning and Fire - hosted Just Words: Poetry for Social Justice. Just Words was a series of events showcasing poetry as a tool to create a discourse for social justice activism and construct a means for both personal and social transformation. Just Words featured three acclaimed activist poets: Cheryl Clarke (The Days of Good Looks, Living as a Lesbian, Humid Pitch and This Bridge Called My Back: Writings By Radical Women of Color), Willie Perdomo (Where a Nickel Costs a Dime, Smoking Lovely, and Aloud!: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café), and Def Poetry Jam standout Staceyann Chin (The Other Side of Paradise).

The events of Just Words included two classroom visits; poetry workshops led by Willie and Staceyann; a luncheon featuring Willie and Cheryl that provided an opportunity for reflection on the role of poetic language and poetry in movements for social justice; a poetry reading at Fire; and a poetry reading on K's campus. Both poetry readings featured the work of our invited activist poets, alongside readings by K College staff, K College students, Kalamazoo community members, and youth participants. The ACSJL and its partners engaged over 200 campus and community members through the Just Words program.

Untitled from ACSJL on Vimeo.

Willie Perdomo explains the evolution of poetry over the past century during the "Making the Road Poetics" poetry workshop.

Lee Caldwell, K'12, shares his experiences writing poetry in high school during the "Making the Road Poetics" workshop.

Fire's Denise Miller reads one of her poems at the "Just Words: Poetry for Social Justice" poetry reading at Fire.

Donna Lartigue, Associate Director of the ACSJL, shares the inspiration behind showcasing poetry as a tool for social justice, during the "Just Words" poetry reading at Fire.

Marjorie Stinson, a programmer in K College's Information Services department, performs her poem, "The Sole-idarity of Shoes."

Community youth participant Jake Nivala performs "Haiti" at the Fire poetry reading.

Fire youth staff member Adelita Gallegos performs "Not Good for Me" at the Fire poetry reading.

Michelle Johnson, Executive Director of Fire, performs her poetry at the Just Words poetry reading.

Adriana Garriga-Lopez, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and co-organizer of the "Just Words" program, performs her poetry at Fire.

Tyrice Fitzpatrick, K'11, performs "The Real Popular Demand" at the Fire poetry reading.

Angela Gross, Assistant Director of the Center for International Programs, performs "Man Arrested" at the Fire poetry reading.

Community youth participant Marlye Morrison performs "One Star to Another" at the Fire poetry reading.

Fire youth staff member "Preacher C" Shaw performs "Slice of the Pie Called Equality" at the Fire poetry reading.

Fire staff member Jan de la Torre performs "You Are Invited to the Picnic" at the Fire poetry reading.

Cheryl Clarke performs selections from her poetry collection at the "Just Words" poetry reading at Fire.

Willie Perdomo performs selections from his poetry collection at the Fire poetry reading.

Def Poetry Jam standout Staceyann Chin leads a poetry writing workshop during the "Just Words: Poetry for Social Justice" series of events.

Kalamazoo community members participate in Staceyann Chin's poetry writing workshop.