At the Red Bull Word Clash on Friday, February 11, street poets from around the nation gathered at the Carolina Theatre for one purpose: to start a revolution. The group of poets came from every possible background and ethnic group with topics ranging from child abuse and molestation to the objectification of women in the media and first hand experiences of the war in Iraq. Despite all of their differences, the poets were unified in their desire to help bring about a drastic social change and to topple the Bush regime and everything it stands for.
The poets presenting during the Word Clash represent everything the founder of the event, revolutionary street poet Monte Smith, hopes to accomplish. Smith founded the event in 2002 as a reaction to what he feels to be an increasingly tyrannical and Orwellian government.
"The Patriot Act is limiting free speech everyday." Smith adds, "We have to take back our rights through poetic conviction and edutainment."
The poet, Brother Earl from Harlem, New York, has a similar sentiment to Smith.
"These are crazy and unbelievable times. People are crying out for a new voice. It's almost like an act of rebellion just to come to an
event like this," comments Brother Earl.
The Reverend Alabama Jones also adds, "There are a lot of poor disenfranchised people in this country. If protests can't change anything, maybe art can."
Smith has been frequently asked how he can reconcile preaching
revolution and anti-establishment while using a corporate sponsor like Red Bull. To this Smith replies, "When you can get a company to support a revolutionary cause such as a poetry event, than you're getting the establishment to pay for what will eventually topple it and what's a better way than to do that from the inside?"
Smith believes that street poetry, unlike traditional poetry, has an inherently unique ability to educate and create change through its connection to the common man.
"In street poetry you don't have to have a writing degree; you don't need a college education. A street poet is someone who can reach the common man and be able to relate his story, to be able to open line of communications," states Smith
The poet R.E Braziel from Toledo, Ohio adds, "I believe academic poetry has too many limits. Street poetry is raw. This is poetry for the common man, poetry in its rarest form."
The Carolina Theater opened its doors at 7:30 to a crowd near-frozen from the harsh conditions outside. Dj Soundmachine performed until the show began. At 8:20pm Smith finally took the stage to introduce the event. He opened up with a welcome to the Greensboro Police Department.
"There are probably members of the police department in the audience right now. Fuck you. The police is the man's muscle. They're not here to protect and serve, they're here to fuck you up."
After his welcome to the GPD, Smith introduced the four judges, which included Bruce George, co-founder of Def Poetry Jam.
The show began with 20 poets, which would be narrowed down to one winner after 3 rounds. Every poet was met with extreme enthusiasm from the audience, who were gasping for breath and nodding their head following the words of the poets.
After 3 hours of intense performance the judges had to make a decision. The winner turned out to be returning champion Queen Sheba. At the end of the competition Monte Smith challenged the poets to step up their game because next years event is sure to be even more awe inspiring.
The poet R.E Braziel from Toledo, Ohio adds, "I believe academic poetry has too many limits. Street poetry is raw. This is poetry for the common man, poetry in its rarest form."
The Carolina Theater opened its doors at 7:30 to a crowd near-frozen from the harsh conditions outside. Dj Soundmachine performed until the show began. At 8:20pm Smith finally took the stage to introduce the event. He opened up with a welcome to the Greensboro Police Department.
"There are probably members of the police department in the audience right now. Fuck you. The police is the man's muscle. They're not here to protect and serve, they're here to fuck you up."
After his welcome to the GPD, Smith introduced the four judges, which included Bruce George, co-founder of Def Poetry Jam.
The show began with 20 poets, which would be narrowed down to one winner after 3 rounds. Every poet was met with extreme enthusiasm from the audience, who were gasping for breath and nodding their head following the words of the poets.
After 3 hours of intense performance the judges had to make a decision. The winner turned out to be returning champion Queen Sheba. At the end of the competition Monte Smith challenged the poets to step up their game because next years event is sure to be even more awe inspiring.
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