The newly revived anti-war movement is speaking out, and not only in prose. In addition to rallies and panel discussions, slam poetry is growing, in the Pioneer Valley and internationally, as a medium for political protest and expression.
Historically the lines dividing art and politics have been blurry, and some would argue non-existent. The early abolition of the African drum, Picasso’s “Guernica” and most recently anti-war statements at the Grammy Awards, all exemplify their unity.
Recently in the news was the cancellation of the White House’s symposium “Poetry and the American Voice” which was to feature the works of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman. The event was cancelled by Laura Bush after learning that one of the invited poets, Sam Hamill, urged fellow poets to protest the looming war with Iraq along with their presentations.
“It came to the attention of the First Lady’s Office that some invited guests want to turn what is intended to be a literary event into a political forum,” a White House statement said. “While Mrs. Bush understands the right of all Americans to express their political views, this event was designed to celebrate poetry.”
A group called Poets for Peace, part of the United Poets Coalition, responded to Mrs. Bush by inviting her to poetry readings across the country on February 12. In the letter to Mrs. Bush, the United Poets Coalition stated, “This is not the voice of ‘Political Poetry’ but simply the voices of Americans who are expressing their concerns and hopes, fears and passions as we are able.”
Poet laureate Stanley Kunitz’s response was less subdued: “I think there was a general feeling that the current administration is not really a friend of the poetic community and that its program of attacking Iraq is contrary to the humanitarian position that is at the center of the poetic impulse.”
The poetic impulse is coming to campus this Wednesday in a series of events organized around the national student anti-war walkout and “Books Not Bombs” initiative. The rally scheduled to take off at noon will feature a variety of speakers including renowned slam poet Magdalena Gomez. One of the day’s panels and discussions, “Poetry Slam Against War” will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Herter 301. Among others, UMass Alumna Bushra Mohammad, and senior Abe Henderson will read original pieces. Henderson, a BDIC major involved in New World Theatre, will look at how religion, music and values relate to the media in a poem titled, “Jesus and Applepie.” Anyone is welcome to read poetry, original or otherwise, at the event.
Information for this article was taken from www.unitedpoets.org
