Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway... and More

Would you like to be a poet?

Would you like to perform on Broadway?

Have you ever seen Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam?

Did you know they won a Tony Award for their performance on Broadway?

This book, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway... and More, edited by Danny Simmons and published by Atria in 2003, captures the photos, the biographies, and the words of nine spoken-word poets addressing issues from poverty, weight issues, race and gender issues, prison, relationships, hope, struggle, bravado, music, junk food, drugs, patriotism, religion, loyalty, and literature.

These works contain some strong language and are for high school age readers. The group of nine performers includes Black Ice, Tamika Harper, Lemon, Staceyann Chin, and Shihan. Their work reminds us of the strength and beauty of language and of the power of the human voice. Hear them, read them, and then shape your own message.

For biographies of the nine Def Poets who performed on Broadway, visit the following site entitled Def Poetry Jam on Tour:

http://www.defpoetryjamontour.com/

For some examples of the power of spoken-word poetry, see the following videos from Russell Simmons' HBO show Def Poetry Jam:

Compare this poem, entitled "Knock, Knock" by Daniel Beaty, to Theodore Roethke’s 1948 work “My Papa’s Waltz”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nktBsI0PYPs

http://gawow.com/roethke/poems/43.html

Compare this poem, called "Hell" by Talib Kweli, to Emily Dickinson’s “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church,” first published in 1924:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-6QJTMBzLM

http://www.bartleby.com/113/2057.html