National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month started back in 1996 as a way to give poetry a little extra love and attention. Every April, it’s all about celebrating how poems can move us, make us think, and bring people together. Whether it’s reading old favorites or discovering new voices, the month is a reminder that poetry isn’t just for English class — it’s for everyone.
In Black communities, poetry has always been prevalent and used for more than art. Many of our beloved renowned poets quote it as a tool for survival and resistance, for transformation. Two Minnesota-based poets, Joe Davis and Jandeltha Paylue, reflect on how poetry continues to shape culture, spark change, and speak truth in the face of adversity.
“Poetry saved my life,” said Davis, a nationally acclaimed poet, musician and educator. “I was in and out of the hospital, struggling with anxiety and depression. It was kind of therapeutic for me. Even now, I use poetry to power possibility.”
For Paylue, a longtime spoken word artist and community organizer, poetry has been the “ultimate form of resistance.”
“It gave me the courage to make something with pain other than travesty and war,” she said. “There is something about reciting a poem in the heart of an open wound that is both healing and radicalizing.”
This capacity for healing — on both individual and collective levels — is central to their work. Through performance, writing and education, both poets wield language as a lifeline. Their stories highlight the significance of poetry not just as a personal outlet, but as a catalyst for change in communities burdened by generational trauma and systemic injustice.
They agree that Black literature, from the griot traditions of West Africa to the hip hop cyphers of today, has long carried the pulse of resistance. Davis traces this lineage through time: “You could pick any era in Black American history and find those threads… It’s always been about reclaiming identity, speaking outside colonial perspectives, and carving out a niche for ourselves.”
Paylue echoes that sentiment, emphasizing the role of Black poets in social justice movements past and present. “We are a crucial part of keeping record of not only the injustices Black people have faced, but also serve as a timestamp of the progress being made. Our voices speak for us long after we’re here.”
In a world often overwhelmed by headlines and fast-moving news cycles, poetry offers reflection. It slows the moment down and centers the emotion, the truth, the humanity.
Open mic spaces have been critical sites for this exchange. Davis, founder of the HQ’ed open mic series in Minneapolis, said, “We literally just made the space for ourselves… We needed to rage. We needed to grieve. We needed to express ourselves unapologetically.”
Paylue adds, “There’s a certain energy about experiencing poetry live and being able to react alongside community.”
Hip hop, both artists say, is poetry in motion. The synergy between spoken word and music forms a cultural bridge that connects generations.
“Rap stands for rhythmic American poetry,” said Paylue. “Poetry is the foundation of the genre that we all know and love. Many may not see it that way, but hip hop is poetry in motion — live action lyricism — giving vibrance to words and stories that may have been overlooked otherwise.
“I think poetry by itself can feel one-dimensional, although it’s not; and frankly, many people don’t enjoy the art of reading. Hip hop gives life and way for those stories, experiences and feelings to exist and resonate with the consumer.”
She adds, “There’s an element of challenge to it. Taking a poem and giving it cadence, rhythm, vibrance, etc., supersedes ordinary songwriting. There’s so much that can be said in an eight count.”
Davis sees today’s youth as the next generation of griots. “I get excited when I work with young folks. They don’t see a lot of limitations. They just take it farther than I ever imagined.”
That excitement is rooted in transformation. For Davis and Paylue, working with youth isn’t just about mentorship — it’s a reciprocal relationship that fuels creative courage and cultural healing.
Both poets have led workshops, residencies, and classroom experiences that empower young people to find their voices. They understand that poetry is more than just a literary exercise — it is a channel for emotional clarity, confidence and community. In these spaces, the page becomes a mirror and the mic becomes a megaphone.
“Watching their minds work, watching them grow courageous and confident about themselves and their stories — it doesn’t get much better than that,” said Paylue. “Watching them fuel their own fire with experience and demand space to tell what happened — I love watching their ‘becoming.’”
Davis adds, “Especially with incarcerated youth, I’ve seen how poetry becomes a doorway into deeper emotional work. We talk about emotional regulation, accountability and responsibility. Poetry becomes a tool — not just for expression, but for transformation.”
As for how they hope their own words live on, the answer is the same: with honesty. “I never write to be like anyone else,” Paylue said. “I write in the way my spirit needs the story to be spoken.”
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@spokesman-recorder.com
Wonderful ♥️