Inside the Virtual Open Mic!

During April, National Poetry Month, I had the chance to be a part of a digital collective of poets, writers, and literary enthusiasts. MoAD, the Museum of African Diaspora, recently held a virtual Open Mic and I was one of the featured poets! This experience was one benefit of having to shelter-in-place for the last few months.

MoAD typically hosts an open mic night in the Bay Area and showcases local talent. Yet, due to the pandemic, Nia McAllister, the host of MoAD Open Mic Night and an incredible poet, thought to widen the net and let more creatives be a part of the spectacular night. I’m so glad Nia thought of this! Since writing my poetry collection, I set a goal earlier in the year to share my poems with more people. I hadn’t been on a stage sharing my work in a few years since college and being a WriteGirl alum, but I wanted to challenge myself. This virtual experience, shared with over 50 people, was the perfect chance to get my rhythm back.

During the open mic, I shared poems Fear Less and Their Tears from my upcoming poetry volume. The poems expand on my thoughts about anxiety, feeling self-doubt, and what I imagine to work through it. You can start from the beginning or catch my poems at 15:30. I was so happy to share the virtual stage with the featured poet of the night, Javier Reyes, and co-founder of Gold Beams, Tayleur Crenshaw. Reyes (56:19) shared a glimpse of his life through succulent, powerful, and vulnerable language. Tayleur (38:47) brought the heat with a powerful delivery and vivid spoken word on the Black female experience in America.  

Check out MoAD for their next Open Mic! The event happens Thursdays, twice a month.

Stay Strong, Hygenic, & Compassionate!

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Best,

Kai 😀