by Annie Chiappetta
The Friends in Art “Poems of Protest, Resistance and Empowerment” presentation, which took place on June 28 via Zoom, did not disappoint. As the facilitator and coordinator, it felt relevant offering this topic in this time of uncertainty.
It seemed the presentation necessitated thoughtful content and a respectful conversation, and poetry would be the finest medium of expression to achieve this goal. What I did not expect was the deep level of appreciation and connectedness from those who participated.
I want to acknowledge the three individuals who recited their chosen poem: authors Nell Anthony, Lisa Busch and Peter Altschul. I believe these people caught the magic and sprinkled it into the hearts and minds of listeners. It resonated not only with me but also with the participants, inspiring them to dig deeper, to participate in a discourse related to what we believe and the current state of issues taking place in the here and now.
Modern protest poems continue the tradition of using verse to challenge injustice, raise awareness, and inspire activism. Let’s keep our voices and words active, engaged and courageous.
FIA is planning a second protest poetry presentation, and we’d love to hear your suggestions. Email president@friendsinart.org.
“Politics can be the graveyard of the poet. And only poetry can be his resurrection.” — Langston Hughes (1964)