Speak Up!

This activity has two parts. First, watch several spoken word poetry videos. As you watch the videos, think about what might have influenced the poets to write their poem. What were their influences? Who are they speaking to? What are they talking about? Consider where their inspiration for their poem came from. Were they influenced by their culture? Society? History? After watching the videos and completing your notes, add your response to the prompts provided to the discussion board. Discuss with your classmates what their thoughts are about the videos. 

Part 1

1. Open the Note Catcher and make a copy of it. 
2. Use the note catcher to take notes as you view the following videos. Consider these questions as you complete your note catcher: 

• Who are they speaking to (their audience)? 
• What is the subject/topic? 
• Is the topic culturally relevant? Historically relevant? Socially relevant? How so?

Socially relevant
How people lived, trends, and what people believed at that time 

Culturally relevant
The arts and popular interests associated with a particular time and place or common experiences (religion, race, geography, ethnicity, etc.)  

Historically relevant
What was happening in the world when the poem was written or other historical events from the past 

3. View each of these videos:

• Alex Dang “What kind of Asian are you?” by Alex Dang
• A Muslim girl and a Jewish girl  Washington DC team
• Spoken Word to His Mother by Brandon Leake
• Love you some Indians by Rowie Shebala
• Rise by Amanda Gorman
• To This Day by Shane Koyczan

4. Submit your Note Catcher when you have completed it.