Though there are many forces conspiring in Tucson to silence its youth–from the anti-ethnic studies school officials to the extremists behind racial profiling legislation–young people in Tucson are still finding ways to take the mic and demand your attention. Recently the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam, with the help of CultureStrike artist Logan Phillips, brought several youth to Brave New Voices, a premiere international festival of spoken word. Here are some of the highlights of Team Tucson:
Alexia V on the colonization, and decolonization, of mother earth:
Enrique G on reclaiming the rhythms of a lost past and uncovering buried cultural gifts:
To learn more about the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam and their upcoming performances and projects, visit http://www.tucsonyouthpoetryslam.org/. Their new season starts in September.
Here are other young voices from BNV 2012, spanning the globe and many eras of history and social struggle. Listen closely and you might hear an echo of yourself, or the faint stirrings of part of your community that still resides behind walls, seeking to breathe.
Denver:
Richmond:
See more at Brave New Voices.
–Michelle Chen