Page 13 - My FlipBook

Research & Act

Many young residents of Flint are quick to point out that the picture of their city
painted by the media isn’t complete. These tweens and teens use art and poetry
to express their own thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Their words show that real
people of all ages are impacted by—and can impact—politics and policy. Teen
poet Destiny Monet, who participates in the arts organization Raise It Up!, told
PBS in March 2016:

“ Poetry matters everywhere. Specifically, spoken word matters
everywhere, and especially in places like Flint where people are
being looked over and ignored. We need poetry here because it is
a platform for our pain and the injustices we witness every day,
whether it’s here in Flint or all over the world. Poetry is a way to
let the world know that we are here and we aren’t going anywhere.
[It’s] a way to provide knowledge to the unknowing in hopes that
the more we educate ourselves on the issues, the more we can
collectively come up with some solutions.”

Research the tradition of activist poetry. Then, think about a concern in your
community. How can you use poetry to educate yourself and others about the
issue? Write a poem that calls out the problem and your feelings on it.

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