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Tuesday, March 19
The Indiana Daily Student

Strivers Row poets share powerful voice

Joshua Bennett, a doctoral candidate in the English Deparment at Princeton University performing at the BlackBoard Poetry Night on Thursday at the Whittenburger Auditorium. Bennett has recited his work at events such as the Sundance Film Festival and President Obama's Evening of Poetry and Music at The White House. Bennett together with Mile Hodges of the Strivers Row headlined the BlackBoard Poetry Night.

Spoken word poetry filled Whittenberger Auditorium at the Indiana Memorial Union Thursday night.
The headlining performers of BlackBoard Poetry Night, Joshua Bennett and Miles Hodges, used no
microphones.
The two, both spoken word poets of the Strivers Row collaborative arts troupe, alternated sharing their voices on stage. Six student poets opened the show before them.
Topics ranged from love and mothers to stereotypes and social action.
The Strivers Row poets encouraged enthusiastic responses in lieu of traditional snapping.
“We need you to be a little more turned up,” Bennett said.
Many verses were met with sounds of agreement from the audience.
Vice President of the Black Student Union Janelle Jones was especially enthusiastic about the Strivers Row poets. She said she has wanted to see them perform live for three years.
“The two artists coming tonight are creative
geniuses,” Jones said.
The Strivers Row poets are known to promote social justice and awareness, Jones said. According to their website, Strivers Row poets are a group formed from the “collision of passion and page.”
“It’s not necessarily your standard poetry,” Union Board Director of Films Trevor Smith said.
In his introduction, Hodges said the spoken word could be thought of as a social space.
“We are here with our stories on our backs to come share with you,” he said.
Similarly, Bennett said he considers every time he sets foot onstage as a
historical interruption.
He said he performs spoken word partially because of his hatred for Thomas Jefferson’s idea that slaves were not capable of love, and means to change the stereotype of his heritage.
In a poem praising his students at Princeton University, he said, “May your voice be atmospheres
imploding.”
Smith said the Board collaborated with the BSU to sponsor this event with the goal of reaching a more
diverse audience.
One member of the audience, senior Jason Schmidt, said he had not had much exposure to spoken word poetry. As a member of the BSU, Schmidt said he came to support his peers.
“I’m probably just here to take it all in,” he said. “I don’t get inspired very
easily.”
Kristian Patterson, sophomore, said she expected a heartfelt performance from the poets.
“A lot of people speak from their heart when it comes to spoken word,” she said. “You definitely get a lot of insight about their
feelings.”
Sophomore McKayla Bull said her piece “Bask,” or “The Story of the Lost,” was inspired by her own experiences and the idea of wanting relationships to be something they once were.
“I think this is a piece everyone can resonate with,” she said.
Bull said she had never performed spoken word before, but felt the urge to
perform.
“I knew in my heart I needed to audition for this,” she said. “I just want to be able to jump into it.”
Smith said BlackBoard Poetry Night was an opportunity for student performers to gain exposure to
spoken word.
“It’s exciting for students to be able to open up for people who have name recognition,” he said. “These are important issues, and it’s nice to see students be able to get that exposure for a big audience.”
During the performance, Schmidt sat, attentive and quiet. Eventually, he said he was very impressed.
“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed,” he said.
Jones said she hoped students witnessing spoken word for the first time would be open and feel the joy it can bring.
“I hope that people in the audience tonight get new perspectives, whether they’re black, white, any race,” she said. “Everyone’s going to leave this show
being moved.”

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