YWCA Evanston/North Shore hosted its second annual open mic poetry reading titled “The Soul of Black Poetry” on Wednesday evening. The Black History Month program focused on poetry centering the Black Diaspora.
Several community members performed poems, spoken word, song and music. The event was moderated by YWCA Senior Director of Institutional and Community Equity Roger Moreano.
Moreano said he previously hosted a similar event as director of intercultural student affairs at Elmhurst University and decided to bring the concept to Evanston to create “pockets of joy” focused on racial justice.
Moreano opened the event by presenting Langston Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again,” connecting the piece to struggles marginalized groups face today. He later emphasized keeping history alive, speaking “truth to power” and highlighting “the beauty of humanity” through art.
Rapper, poet and author Ken’Te Kizer said he was “born” to be a poet.
“Anytime a mic is open, I’m there,” Kizer said. “I have something to say, and I want to hear what others have to say, and I just want to add value to the program.”
He presented two original spoken word pieces exploring prominent Black men throughout history and the problems a young Black boy faces in his everyday life.
Skokie resident Kojo Sheppard did not plan to present a piece but decided to share a poem he wrote and last performed 20 years ago about his mother, who died when he was one year old.
“One belief I have, my ‘why,’ my personal racial equity purpose, is to create and be in spaces to share my story and also uplift the stories of other Black people, Black women, boys and girls,” Sheppard said. “Storytelling is what inspires it.”
Sheppard explained he doesn’t see as many people that “look like” him in Skokie, adding Wednesday’s event has inspired him to connect with Evanston’s Black community and continue writing.
Evanston resident Abigail Aziza Stone performed a poem and song about the perseverance and strength of Black mothers. The gospel song Stone took inspiration from equates Black people’s struggles to climbing up the “rough side of the mountain,” as opposed to the smooth path traveled by others.
Stone said she enjoyed last year’s event and added it’s “even more important” to support cultural programming as diversity, equity and inclusion policies have been rolled back.
“It’s so necessary in our society, I don’t want us moving backwards when it comes to inclusion and all these things,” Stone said. “We are supposed to be a melting pot society, but yet these are divided states of America.”
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