Second annual KnockOut Poetry Jam to feature students speaking about their generation

Coming from a different country, different culture or place of origin and just speaking about it may not be enough to paint a picture of the environment. Expressing it through song, poetry or dance is what students take on in hopes of speaking out about their generation and experiences at the second annual KnockOut Poetry Jam.

Started last year by the Mixed Student Union and the Social Awareness Network for Activism through Art, the event aims to be an outlet for students who wish to come together and assert their creativity.

“People write poems on (their experiences) through their art and performances and that’s what this space is created to do,” said Isaiah Lauwerys, a third-year political science student and MSU coordinator. “The whole space for the poetry jam is … created for students to express themselves.”

The event will feature UCLA students and will be headlined by spoken word artist Chinaka Hodge.

According to Xihuanel Tutashinda, a third-year world arts and cultures student and programming director of SANAA, the audition process whittled prospective participants down to nine students who MSU and SANAA believed best represent this year’s theme, “My Generation.”

“It’s basically a way for the poets to talk about their generation and how they feel about it in whatever way they want to,” Tutashinda said.

The poetry jam is not limited to any specific race or culture. Both Lauwerys and Tutashinda said the event is about community rather than exclusivity.

“It’s a great opportunity to see (social, racial and cultural) topics explored that you never thought about from other people’s perspectives,” Lauwerys said.

Tutashinda said everyone is welcome and wants students to find common interests with one another by attending the event.

“We wanted to attract people from all walks of life without a cultural divide because there are a lot of organizations on campus that are cultural, which is very good. But at the same time, we wanted to make it more inclusive,” Tutashinda said.

As a way of congratulating a stellar line from a fellow group member, they snap instead of clap as a form of commendation and respect.

After the first hour of student performances and a 10-minute intermission, Hodge will take the stage.

Hodge is a 27-year-old poet from Oakland. She is also the Associate Program Director at the Bay Area teen organization, Youth Speaks, a screenwriting graduate student at USC and has appeared in HBO’s television series “Def Poetry Jam.”

Despite all of these accomplishments, Hodge has not lost perspective and connections with her roots.

“I would say I’m writing more about home and place (and) family. I’m writing about the history of Oakland in a couple of my pieces. I’m really influenced by dialogue in general, the way people sound when they talk.”

She also enjoys her work and finds intriguing ways to play with words.

“I’m a total word nerd. I’m interested in the way words sound together and innovating in that way. … I did a poem … in the Bay Area, where I did a live crossword puzzle. The clues for the crossword were in the poem,” Hodge said.

As for her performance at the poetry jam, Hodge said she plans on reciting some rap songs, a cappella verses and possibly an excerpt from one of her plays.

“I’m hoping that folks who wouldn’t necessarily be interested in poetry or rap come out to see me. I think there’s something in there for everybody.”